5 Home Maintenance Tasks for November

Now that we’re well into November and the cold weather appears to be here for good, you will need to perform some basic home maintenance tasks to keep your home in tip-top shape. Parties and gatherings are very popular this time of year. Aside from making sure your home is safe and sound, these maintenance steps will get your home ready to host friends and family as well!

Clean Your Garbage Disposal

While this might not initially seem like a vital step, cleaning your garbage disposal should be near the top of any November maintenance checklist – just think of everything you put through your garbage disposal! It is incredibly easy to do and will make a noticeable difference around your kitchen!

The best way to clean your garbage disposal is by pouring a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar down the drain which will cause foam and bubbles to form. Once the bubbles have dissipated, you will need to pour a medium sized pot of boiling water down the drain to rinse the drain and leave your garbage disposal refreshed and smelling great!

Test Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are a vital component of any home and should always be in working condition. If you are planning a large gathering for Thanksgiving or any other event that involves lots of cooking then you need to especially make sure your smoke alarms are in working order.

Smoke alarms come equipped with a “test” function that allows you to make sure it is fully operational at any time. If the alarm doesn’t sound when you test a smoke alarm, you should immediately replace the batteries and try it again. It’s a good idea to keep track of when you replace smoke detector batteries; you should never leave batteries in one for over a year.

Treat Indoor Pipes

One of the worst surprises a homeowner can wake up to is a busted pipe. Extreme temperatures will cause water inside of pipes to freeze and expand, which can eventually lead to a busted pipe in your home. Luckily for homeowners, the process of protecting your pipes is very easy and inexpensive. The best way to prevent this unfortunate situation is to wrap any exposed pipes with blankets, insulation or other warm material.

Inspect Your Fireplace

A fireplace can prove to be an invaluable aspect of a Middle Tennessee home in the winter. Unfortunately, they also present a threat to your home if not thoroughly inspected before extensive use. This is an instance where a professional might be the best option unless you have any experience cleaning / inspecting a chimney.

Using your fireplace before it is inspected and deemed safe can result in a devastating and potentially deadly house fire. Prevent catastrophic damage and never use your fireplace without having it inspected first.

Put Up Holiday Lights

Image Credit: http://bestandworstever.blogspot.com/2012/12/best-your-whole-house-with-christmas.html

While some would argue that November is too early to put up holiday lights, it is simply much easier to decorate your home before the extreme cold of December arrives. Getting decorative lights hung up now will save you the headache of climbing a ladder in freezing temperatures. You don’t have to put out all of your Christmas decorations in November, though. Any yard signs or decorations can wait until closer to the holidays, as they are much less intensive and difficult to set up.

What are you doing to get your home ready for winter?