Drain and perform maintenance on your hot water heater.
Proper maintenance of your hot water heater can help it last for decades, and will save you a ton of money in repairs down the road. Leaks can develop over time and can slowly destroy a water heater from the outside. Also rust and sediment can build up in the appliance. A regular “tune-up” will prevent these problems. You can certainly drain the heater yourself, but a good plumber can do that plus inspect and repair your shutoff and connections… as well as your temperature and pressure relief valves.
Search for cracks and holes where animals can invade your home.
Now that the cold weather is finally settling in for winter in most areas of the country, animals such as possum, mice and squirrels will sneak into hidden openings in your home to look for warmth. Before you know it, you’ll hear scratching and squeaking noises from your attic or walls and it’ll be time to find a pest control company that specializes in getting rid of rodents. (Not always an easy task. And if you want to do it humanely-even more difficult.) Think you already have some furry invaders? Read Kudzu’s article on hiring an animal control specialist.
Inspect and seal your deck and fence.
50% of homes in the U.S. have a wooden deck or fence. Without protection, wood can rapidly deteriorate when exposed to water, sun, mold and even dirt. You can protect your deck yourself, using a variety of stains and sealers (though you’ll need to budget an entire weekend for the job). Or you can hire a professional NOW, when business typically slows down for outdoor maintenance contractors and you’ll get a better deal.
