Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

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Yard Clean Up
Mow, rack and manicure your lawn to prepare it for its winter hibernation. This is also a good time to drain your water system, shut off outside facets, store hoses and other equipment.

Clean and Reverse Ceiling Fan Direction Fans that spin clockwise push the air down, keeping the room cool. Conversely fans that spin clockwise distribute warm air. To change directions, turn the fan and wait until blades come to a full stop, find the switch and change the direction.

Remove and Inspect Air-Conditioners
As the days get cooler, it is time to remove, inspect and store your air conditioner(s).

Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
Experts recommend cleaning your home gutters twice a year- usually in the spring and fall. If you decide to do it yourself, make sure all drainage areas are unblocked and consider installing gutter guards. Gutter guards reduce the amount of gutter buildup, offering protection and leading to reduce gutter cleaning needs, particularly if your home is near trees.

Wash Windows and Screens
Wash windows and screens. Wash your windows inside and out to will help keep your home looking good. Also, clean windows will allow more energizing light into your living spaces, while providing a more enjoyable view.

Winterize Windows
Before the cold weather hits, set aside a day to replace your door and window screens with storm windows. This is also a good time to add weather stripping to doors and windows to help keep warn inside and prevent cool air from seeping inside.

Inspect Roof
It’s important to check your roof for problems before cold weather hits. Check for loose shingles and make any necessary repairs before the late fall arrive.

Check Smoke Detectors
Replace the batteries in your home’s smoke and vacuum them with a soft brush attachment.

Power Wash Deck, Siding and Other Surfaces
Spring and fall are the best times to clean your home’s exterior surfaces.

Deck Cleaning and Inspection
Before the snow flies, it’s smart to clean and inspect your deck for any issues including warped boards, cracks, rot, mold and mildew. You may also want to test the seal by sprinkling water on the boards. If the deck absorbs the liquid, it’s time to reseal the deck.

Clean Dryer Vents and Exhaust Duct
Vents filled with dust and link present a house fire risk. Consequently, it’s important to regularly clean fan vents, the dryer vent and exhaust duct.

Inspect Fireplace
To ensure your fireplace is safe for use this winter, look up inside it with a flashlight. Make sure the damper is free of any obstructions such as branches, leaves or bird nests, and that it opens and closes correctly.

Chimney Cleaning and Heating System Maintenance
Before the cold hits, ensure your home’s furnace, boiler and/or chimney are properly cleaned and are functioning correctly before you use them. If necessary, hire professionals to conduct the inspections and cleanings.

Energy Audit
A savvy way to keep energy costs low is to hire a qualified energy auditor to evaluate the current level of your home’s energy. Following the inspection, the auditor will make improvement recommendations which may include weather-stripping, Energy Star appliances, insulation and more.

My Window Washing offers professional and affordable window washing, gutter cleaning and power is washing services. Call 1.800.941.2790 to schedule your appointment.

Power Washing Tips

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Why power wash your home’s surfaces? Overtime your home’s siding, sidewalks, deck and other surfaces accumulates dirt, mildew, mold and stains. This not only impacts your abode’s appearance; it can also impact indoor air quality. Power washing can remove allergen in and around your home Moreover, left unaddressed exterior grime buildup can lead to significant stains and damage. Finally, power washing is the best way to prepare surfaces for paint, stain, sealing or refinishing.

Power washing is the most effective way to clean your home’s surfaces, including siding, decks, patios and sidewalks. Most who try power washing soon discover it’s far more challenging than it might appear. Power washing requires the proper equipment, cleaning solution and techniques. Without the right approach, it is easy to unwittingly cause expensive and unsightly damages. Consequently, inexperienced power washers may want to consider hiring professionals. For those who seek to tackle power washing tasks, here are some tips.

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Learn About Power Washing
Professional power washers already know how to properly clean a home’s exterior surface. Those who seek to do it themselves will face a time-consuming learning curve. Usually different surfaces require different techniques and perhaps different cleaning solution. It is important to take time to learn and practice the correct technique before you start blasting your home and any other exterior surfaces. Begin by seeking information from reputable sources online or via a library.

Practice the Right Technique
Power washing might look easy, but it requires practice, time and skill to do it right. If you use the wrong pressure at the wrong distance you may end up removing more than dirt. This risk is particularly high when it comes to wooden surfaces such as decks, patios and outdoor wood furniture. It’s also crucial to use the right nozzle at the right pressure with the correct technique at the appropriate distance.

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Be Safe
Power washing can be dangerous to users and the surrounding area. Make sure to take proper precautions which includes using eye and hearing protection, since the machines are loud, and water/dirt will be spraying all over the place. Any beginners should securely hold the power washer in both hands in order to maintain maximum control. Never, ever point or spray anyone or anything other than the surface to be cleaned. Finally, take time to cover, remove or protect in delicate items such as potted plants.

Use Feather Strokes
Properly power washing your home’s exterior surfaces requires using the right technique, which usually involves using feather strokes. Feather strokes involves overlapping areas with strokes beginning and ending at the right place. This helps to avoid visible lines. Also, when it comes to power washing a wooden deck or other wooden surfaces, work apply make the feather strokes with the grain and with the length of your deck’s wooden boards.

Use the Right Cleaning Solution
Power washing with just water will be less effective and lead to the mere spreading around of surface dirt, mildew and mold. It is important to use a good power washing cleaning solution. However, applying the wrong type can also be ineffective at best and may even cause damage, particularly to wood surface such as patios and decks. Therefore, make sure to use the right cleaner and carefully follow the directions.

Avoid Full Blast Pressure
This is not the time to put the pedal to the medal. The easiest way to cause damage is by power washing at full blast, particularly if you aren’t an expert. It can lead to unattractive marks and scaring. Also, the damage can be much worse if the full water blast hits any known or unknown loose boards or hardware, splinters, rot, and other.

Let Surfaces Dry
If you plan to paint, seal or stain any surface after it has been power washed, make sure to give it enough time to completely dry. This is particularly important when it comes to wood decks. It can take several dry days before it is totally dry. If you jump the gun, and the deck isn’t completely dry (inside and out), moisture will end up trapped inside the wood which can weaken the boards and lead to mold growth.

Hire Professionals
For most homeowners, the easiest and quickest way to power wash your home’s surfaces is by hiring professional power washing experts, such as My Window Washing (yes, they do more than wash windows!). Not only does this eliminate the learning curve, it also ensures the use of professional execution with superior results.

About My Window Washing
My Window Washing offers professional and affordable window washing, gutter cleaning and power washing services. This includes washing and sealing concrete patios, driveways, walkways, garage floors and more. Call 1.800.941.2790 to schedule your appointment.

Summer Maintenance Check List

Summer Energy Saving Tips

Reverse the direction of ceiling fans. Fans that spin counterclockwise push the air down, keeping the room cool. Conversely fans that spin clockwise distribute warm air. To change directions, turn the fan and wait until blades come to a full stop, find the switch and change the direction.

Clean fans. To ensure maximum benefit, completely clean your fans. This will also help reduce dust particles in the air and may improve air quality.

Inspect and install air-conditioners. Clean your air conditioner and replace the filter. It is also a good time to inspect it to ensure there are no issues.

Beautify your yard. Along with regular lawn care maintenance, tend to flowers, shrubbery and gardens. Remove any junk and debris.

Power wash siding or brick. This will help get rid of any dust, dirt, tree sap, bird droppings, etc., that leave your home looking less than its best.

Conduct a deck inspection. Check for any deck issues such as loose or rotting boards, mold, mildew, warping, etc. Also, pour a little water on your deck. If the water doesn’t bead up, then it’s time to reseal it.

Power wash your deck. Keeping your deck clean will help you maintain an enjoyable the space, while also extending its life. Moreover, regular deck cleanings help to prevent wood from graying, splitting and cracking.

Clean the bathroom fan vents, dryer vent and exhaust duct. Vents filled with dust and link present a house fire risk. Consequently, it’s important to regularly clean fan vents, the dryer vent and exhaust duct.

Do a general walk around inspection. Look for any issues with siding, roof, gutters, caulking around doors and windows, and so on. Also, check for any leaks in facets or hoses. Catching them early often can prevent more costly problems.

Check smoke detectors. To not overlook this important task. Test all home smoke detectors to ensure they work. Address any issues, including replacing batteries if needed. Finally, make sure every room has a smoke detector.

Clean out the gutters and downspouts. Gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year, perhaps more if your home is surrounded by trees. It’s also a lot easier to address any potential gutter related issues when the weather is good.

Pressure wash driveway and walkway pressure. Taking time to pressure wash your driveway and walkway is another way to keep your home in tip-top shape and looking great.

Wash windows and screens. Wash your windows inside and out to will help keep your home looking good. Also, clean windows will allow more energizing light into your living spaces, while providing a more enjoyable view.

My Window Washing offers professional and affordable window washing, gutter cleaning and power is washing services. Call 1.800.941.2790 to schedule your appointment

7 Top Reasons to Install Gutter Guards

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7 Top Reasons to Install Gutter Guards

Gutter guards prevent debris, branches, pine needles, leaves and other debris from accumulating in gutters. They prevent unwanted and damaging gutter clogs and cracks. Gutter guards are especially beneficial for homes in a wooded area or near trees. Following are seven top reasons why savvy homeowners install gutter guards.

Save Time, Effort and Money
Installing gutter guards reduce time and effort spent on cleaning out your gutters. Also, it also significantly reduces the frequency of gutter cleanings. Moreover, if you hire professional gutter cleaners instead of doing the risky task it yourself, you may also save money.

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How to Prepare Your Home to Sell

Home for Sell

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL

When it comes to selling a home most people want to do it quickly and receive top dollar. More than luck, achieving these two objectives requires properly planning your home to sell. Most home buyers are able to be highly selective. This means even the smallest grievances can potentially killing a sell. Therefore, when it comes to selling it’s vital to do everything possible to present a pristine, inviting home with maximum appeal. The following thirteen suggestions, which are commonly recommended by real estate experts, will help you prepare your home to sell. Continue reading “How to Prepare Your Home to Sell”