Here comes the rain (and) fall – 3 things to do

• Posted on September 19, 2018
• by mikew
• in Fix It & Use It
• No Comments.

There a few things you can take care of to prepare your house for the impending wet season.

1. Replace your furnace filter. If it is a washable, hose it out and air dry it before replacing it in the furnace. If it is disposable, take a look at the measurements and buy a replacement at the hardware store or online. A clean filter will allow your furnace to work easily prolonging its life, and heat your house more quickly. If you write the date on the filter you can remember when you installed it. I recommend that these be changed every 6 months (though I just changed my own after a year).
2. Clear your gutters of all debris. During these early rains put on your coat and go look at all your gutters and the extensions (pipes channeling water from the gutters to the drains below). See that water is flowing properly and not backing up. Puddling of water on the ground is a sign of a drainage issue. Last week I noticed water gurgling out of a joint. When I opened it a massive pile of tree debris washed out followed by a column of water.
3. Be sure your driveway and yard drains covers are clear of debris. This is especially important if you have a slope to your yard. This will ensure water is moving away and around your house rather than in or under!