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December brings an increased use of some home appliances, and with colder weather, keeping the warm air in is essential. Keeping your home running like a well-oiled machine and avoiding expensive repairs can, luckily, be easy if you perform some basic maintenance. Here are all the home maintenance chores you should complete in the month of December.
Appliances that use water usually have hoses for drawing in water and for drainage. Over time, these hoses can get damaged from regular wear and tear. Taking the time to inspect the hoses on your dishwasher, washing machine, and refrigerator can prevent expensive leaks and help you avoid water damage. If you find damage, turn off the power and water to the appliance before replacing your hose to avoid the risk of shock or flood.
Ice dams can form on your gutters or along the edges of your roof if weather conditions cause water to freeze before it can run off into downspouts. To prevent ice dams, clear your gutters, and check your downspouts for blockages. To help prevent ice dams from forming in very cold climates, you can use heated cables to keep the edges of your roof warm. This will melt ice dams and keep your roof safe from the damage the ice can cause. If you notice that you have a chronic problem with ice forming on your roof, you might need to have roof vents installed to prevent them in the long term.
If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, December is a good time to clean them. Buildup of creosote inside your chimney can cause a fire hazard, so regular sweeping is essential for fireplace safety. Hiring a professional chimney sweep to clean your chimney and do a safety check is the best plan, but if you’re confident in your DIY skills, you can opt to use a DIY chimney sweeping kit.
If you have pipes that run through a crawl space or an unheated area, adding some insulation can help to prevent burst pipes. Other areas that can be vulnerable in case of a power outage are under sinks or in closed-off laundry areas, where heat from the rest of the house might not make it. You can use foam pipe insulation to cover exposed pipes and give them an added layer of protection in freezing weather. You can also consider adding insulation foam to crawlspaces and under sinks for added protection.
Since you might be hanging Christmas lights anyway, testing your outlets can be a part of this festive chore. To make sure your outlets work, you don’t have to do anything besides plug something into them and see if it comes on. To test GFCI outlets, use the “test” button to check that they trip when the button is pushed and then reset them for normal use. While you’re at it, this is also a good time to install safety covers if you have small kids. If you find an outlet that isn’t working the way it should, you should turn off the breaker to that outlet and call in a pro to help you sort out the problem. An electrical fault is a dangerous issue that you shouldn’t handle on your own.
