The cold weather we’ve had this month gives you an opportunity to tackle some of those inside chores. Do them now so you can enjoy the warmer, springtime weather when it arrives (and it will come).

• Organize your closets. Go through the closets, toy chests and basement and figure out what you are going to keep, what you are going to sell in your spring yard sale and what you will donate. Even if you only do a little bit at a time, you’ll immediately begin to see the rewards of your hard work with all of the space you gain.

• Organize your crafting area and/or workshop. If your fun space is feeling a little out-of-control, take some time to organize it. Buy some bins, jars and/or peg-boards to help you stay organized. You’ll probably find some tools that were misplaced, too.

• Clean the mud room / entry way. This time of the year, the salt, sand and dirt that your family brings into the home can really play havoc on your floors. Take some time to clear the clutter out of the mudroom and give your floors a thorough cleaning.

• Clean the inside of your windows. After the cold, gray winter we’ve had, we all want to be able to enjoy as much natural light as possible.

• Clear out the “junk drawer.” Every house has at least one, so take a few minutes and clear it out. You may be surprised what you find and what you kept that you no longer need.

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Last year WGAL ran this“8 On Your Side” story about ice damming and featured our friend and 2014 BIA president, Phil Eby, of Eby Exteriors, Inc. In the online article, Phil mentioned that ice damming, in fact, is the number one problem home exteriors face during winter.

Unfortunately, homeowners typically only realize they have a problem when they see water stains on ceilings and walls.

Phil explained how ice damming occurs: “The warm air from your attic melts the snow on your roof, the water runs down to your eaves and there, the snow isn’t melted because it’s cold and it creates a backup. It gets down there and freezes, hits the gutter and creates a dam.”

The best thing homeowners can do now, when it is still extremely cold outside, is to make sure that downspouts aren’t covered with snow, ice and debris. If you suspect an issue with your gutters or downspouts, please do not attempt to handle it yourself in these slippery conditions. Call an expert who can diagnose and resolve any problems.

NOTE: Image courtesy of WGAL.

January is an excellent time of the year to look at some of those items within the house that you may not think about too often. This is the focus of our January Home Maintenance Checklist.

• Clean bathroom drains – This is never a fun job, but keeping your drains running free and clear of gunk and hair will prevent back-ups and also reduce the growth of mold and mildew within your pipes.
• Water filters – With Lancaster County’s hard water, many homes have at least one water filter, if not more. Now is the time to replace all of those filters – on your refrigerator, under the sink or the whole house – to keep your water tasting (and feeling) clean. Also, if you use a water pitcher filter, like Brita®, now is a good time to replace that, too.
• Organize the closets and other storage areas – Before you put away those holiday decorations, now is the ideal time to go through them. Purge what you won’t use by throwing out broken items and donating others. While you are at it, go through your closets and do the same with your clothes and linens. (Linens are often accepted at local animal shelters.) Make January the month that you de-clutter your home.
• Compile or update your home inventory – While this isn’t the most pleasant job, it is a necessary one. You’ll want a fairly detailed list of your belongings in case of a fire, theft or natural disaster. Use the video mode on your phone to document the rooms and outside of your home, and then the camera mode to take pictures of individual items. Focus on one room at a time, and you’ll get it done. Make sure you store your inventory in a safe deposit box, fireproof safe or on the “cloud” so you have it, if you need it. Make this an annual event.
• Monitor snow and ice to prevent furnace shutdowns – If you heat your home with a natural gas furnace, you probably have two pipes that lead to the outside of your house. One is an “intake” pipe that brings fresh air into your furnace, which is needed for combustion. The other is an “outtake pipe” that pushes warmer air outside. When the warm, moist air hits the cold air outside, it can freeze, and over time it could clog up your pipe – causing your furnace to shut down. Monitor the pipes and knock the ice chunks off regularly. This will allow air to flow in and out of your furnace, and is an easy fix to avoid a major catastrophe.

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Planning for the holidays is a busy and joyful time. But all of the decorations, extra electrical cords and the parade of people going in and out of your home calls for more safety precautions to help you make this holiday season safe and happy for you and your family.

Here’s a checklist for home holiday safety:

• If you plan to spend the holidays away from home, ask a friend or neighbor to watch your house and take in your newspaper and mail. Throughout the home, put lights on timers to turn them on and off in your normal living pattern.

• If you display a live Christmas tree or live greenery, select the freshest possible. A moist tree is less likely to catch fire. Look for a trunk sticky with sap and for green needles that bend and are secure on the branches.

• Place trees a safe distance from stoves, radiators, vents, fireplaces and any other heat source that may dry the tree. Inspect the tree for dryness daily and water as needed.

• Inspect all holiday light wiring. Don’t take any chances with this: Defective, worn or frayed electrical wiring should be thrown away! Check the UL label on lights and also be sure to use fixtures specifically designed for outdoor use if you decorate your house, trees or yard.

• Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Also, don’t run electrical cords under rugs. Be sure all lights are turned off before you go to bed or leave the house.

• Place candles and other open flames away from decorations. Never leave burning candles unattended and always supervise children when burning candles.

• Never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace or wood stove. Certain ink pigments react with heat and create airborne particulates that are dangerous to inhale. Also don’t burn evergreens; they could flare out of control and send flames and smoke into your house.

• Cooking is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. When you cook, be sure to wear clothes that fit close to the body so they won’t be ignited by hot burners. Do not leave items cooking on the stove and be sure that pot handles are turned in.

The decorations around your house, lights, gifts, music and the presence of loved ones make the holiday season festive and fun, and with the proper precautions, safe. The team at Metzler Home Builders wishes you and your family an enjoyable holiday season!