Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this year and predicted an early spring. I’m certainly ready for the temperatures to rise and the sun to come back but is your home prepared? These are some easy preventative maintenance reminders I have come across that are easily ignored until they create a much bigger issue. 

With all the rainfall in 2018 a common issue has been moisture. Weather.gov reports 72 inches of rainfall last year in Charlottesville, this is 2 feet more than the normal level of yearly rainfall for the area. This level of rain means that your roof fed roughly 50,000 gallons of rain water through your gutters last year. 

I don’t know that I've met anyone who enjoys cleaning the gutters but the more frequently you bust out the ladder and make the climb the less of a chore it will become. Properly maintaining rain spouts and gutters saves you time and money in the long run. Making sure the gutters remain clear to allow water to run through without restriction will increase the life of your homes soffits, eves and roof. Not allowing water an opportunity to pool in common locations like corners or joints where debris is commonly caught on the angles can prevent many worse issues.

If the water coming from your roof is not controlled it can cause even bigger problems you might not see at first. After the rain makes its way down to the ground the system is not finished. By adding drains angled down and away from your home you avoid the water traveling down the the exterior wall of your foundation and getting caught between the earth and wall. Overtime this water accumulation can damage the submerged structures holding the weight of your home.

Visit the Home Keepr Blog for more home maintenance tips.