Every season there are home maintenance and safety items that should be done to make certain that a home continues to run properly and will not incur damages in the long run. Many homeowners skip over these basic home maintenance necessities because of busy schedules or sometimes because they are unsure of what tasks to accomplish along the way.

Simply keeping up on these small tasks can ensure that your home will function better in the long run. Seasonal home maintenance will also ensure that you have less overhaul or major expense repairs than homeowners who do not keep up on small season maintenance. These small maintenance items can also protect your home from fire, flooding, or other damages caused by neglect.

To keep from being overwhelmed by the task of home maintenance, it is best to separate these tasks into seasonal chores. For those who live in an area where there are four definite seasons, it is best to follow a logical task schedule that works with necessary maintenance for the different seasons.

If possible, set up a schedule of cleaning and maintenance tasks for each season. Try to maintain that schedule throughout the years. This will ensure that the tasks are not forgotten from one year to the next.

Winter Tips

Tasks that should be accomplished at the onset of every winter season are those that make certain your home will be protected from the cold or the damp weather. Even for those who live in a warmer climate zone, the winter season brings on more rain and chilly weather, so making sure the home is safe from damp and cold is the best bet for the winter season.

Winter tasks should include:

* Removing screen doors and windows and replacing with storm windows

* Checking insulation of pipes in attics, basements and crawl spaces and reinsulating if necessary

* Storing firewood in a dry spot near the home for easy access

* Checking and cleaning the clothes dryer and kitchen exhaust systems and cleaning the clothes dryer duct space

* Checking attic for proper ventilation for running of the furnace

* Checking all the water hoses connecting to appliances, water heater and water softener to make sure there are no cracks or air bubbles. Repair if necessary.

Spring Tips

While winter brought on the cold, the spring brings on the cleaning out season. It also brings on a peak in spring lightening and thunderstorms, so routine maintenance tips should include prevention methods against electrical damage.

Start with spring tasks such as:

* Checking all the homes electrical systems

* Testing all the ground fault receptacles

* Making sure all power surges are in place on the appliances

* Inspecting and replacing necessary smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

* Replacing or repairing any extension cords used in the home that may be damaged or becoming worn

* Replacing the much used furnace filter from the winter

* Checking the roof for possible damages that may not have been noticed in the wintertime to prevent spring rain leaks

* Making sure all gutters are cleaned and all outdoor drainage systems are working properly

Summer Tips

While you can get out and about and enjoy the outdoors during the summer months, it is best to focus summer maintenance on outdoor tasks.

These tasks may include:

* Cleaning and repairing all outdoor power tools, such as the lawnmower, weedeater, or hedge trimmer

* Checking the patio and deck for possible deterioration and fixing and performing any necessary repairs

* Inspecting the roof for possible damage and water leaks if this was not done in the spring time

* Checking the brick, siding and cement areas on the home for shifting in the foundation or cracks or chips in the siding or brick

* Taking time to seal the cracks in the garage floor and driveway

Fall Tips

The fall is a great time to make preparations for the oncoming winter season before it is too late, so focus maintenance on things to keep the home safe and warm during the winter.

These tasks can include:

* Having a professional inspection on the entire heating unit, especially the furnace

* Replace the furnace filter if necessary

* Reexamine the home for potential water leaks in the roof, basement, and even the appliances such as the dishwasher, washer, or refrigerator

* Examine and replace any caulking that has begun to wear away in the doorways, windowsills and even in the bathrooms to prevent winter leaks

Outdoor maintenance that should be performed before it gets to chilly outside:

* Empty out the gasoline and clean out the outdoor power tools before placing in storage for the winter

* Making sure the generator works in case of winter power failure

* Have a professional chimney inspection and cleaning of the chimney flue. Have repairs done before the winter or before using

These tips should help ensure the safety of your home, your property within, and your family. The list may seem overwhelming, but just tackle them one at a time.

You just had your new roofing system installed and you felt so exhilarated. Or so you thought, because little did you know dirt and mildew are slowly accumulating, stains are showing too. This may warn you well that your roof needs cleaning the soonest possible time. Soap and water would be the cheapest resort but does not guarantee a total clean up. A quick info on roofing cleaning products would be helpful.

Roof Reviver is a cleaning agent that does not contain strong chemicals that can be damaging to your roof. In fact it is designed to protect your roof from further damage. Renowned shingle manufacturers, because of its proven efficacy, recommend it.

If you have rubber roofing, you will need a cleaning product that is specially designed for synthetic materials without destroying it. Dicor has a wide variety of roofing cleaning product line that is specially intended for roofing made of rubber material. One of which is Roof-Gard Rubber Roof Protectant, which can clean away oil-based dirt and grime while maintaining the moisture and the color of your rubber roof.

If you want a roofing cleaning products that are free from harmful ingredients, you can try Roof-Be-Clean. This cleaning agent focuses on protecting your roof from the damaging elements in the environment like weather. It takes away roof stains while preserving its luster and color. It is also made of environment-friendly components.

Stains, if not washed immediately can eventually rotten the roof. In order to prevent costly damaged to your roof you need a roof stain-protector. Zincshield can take away the stain off your roof. It also inhibits the growth of stain-forming contaminants. With this, you are assured that your roof is stain-free for a longer period of time. The earlier you treat the stain out from your roof the greater is your saving from future roof-restoration expenditures.

You can also try Dur-A-Shield cleaning products like their coatings, which are made to handle all the roof-destroying factors. It works well on any surfaces and materials. The coating is made to last under any harsh temperature. The color of your roof will not be damaged and the surfaces are not chipped off. In short, this product is roof- friendly and environmentally safe.

There are actually many approaches in dealing with a stained and grimed roof. If you are not up to replacing it with new one, then cleaning it up is the best thing to do. Using the right roofing cleaning products that are just right for your roof and just the right for your health might just be the key to restoring and preserving one of your priced possessions- your roof.

So you are feeling a bit dejected about your home. Many people go through periods where they want to rip everything out and start over, or they just want to move. The thing is, you can always make your home better. Why not try out a few of the tips in this article?

When cracks appear in your interior walls or your ceilings, have them inspected by a construction professional as soon as possible. While the most likely cause of such cracks is a simple failure in the finished surface, they can indicate deeper, much more serious causes. You don’t want to blithely paint over a crack and forget about it when it is actually indicating foundation settlement!

When doing home improvements in the bathroom, make sure you use the proper caulking for the job at hand. If you do not use water proof caulking and only use water resistant caulking, you are headed for disaster. Water will seep in and rot the material leading to an expensive repair.

Add art to your walls. Put a little extra effort into your wall decorations. It can be a painting, a relief, dried flowers, or anything that can be affixed to the wall. Adding art will improve the general look, feel, and mood of your home as well as adding a sense of style and class.

If lubricant alone doesn’t solve your door squeaking problems, try using wire wool. Simply remove the hinge from the door and dismantle it by removing the pin in the center.. Wipe away any dirt, rust, and any other excess debris with the wool and replace the hinge pin and return the hinge to the door. Then apply lubricant.

When you are making a home improvement that could affect the area around it, be sure to take proper care of the area. If you will be painting, it is a good idea to lay a tarp down to protect flooring and furniture from paint splatters and spills. Make sure to cover any surfaces that you do not want scratched or damaged.

To save on your energy bill, try changing your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED light bulbs cost more than regular light bulbs, but use less energy to light your home and last longer. You should see returns on your monthly energy bill in no time after replacing all of the normal bulbs in your home with these.

Consider installing eavestrough covers to keep leaves and other guck out of your water drainage system, preventing damage and flooding. A great product approved by Mike Holmes is Smart Screen Gutter Protection, which fits over existing eavestroughs so you don’t have to pay to have your entire drainage system replaced.

There are few tasks more satisfying than improving your home. Each improvement brightens your day or makes everyday life easier. You will be proud when friends or relatives visit and notice what you have done. So why not find a little time to carry out one or two of the suggestions that you’ve just read about? You’ll be glad that you did.