HomeTeam Inspection Service featured in the Bethany Tribune

HomeTeam Inspection Service was recently featured in the Bethany Tribune in an article titled, "Homeowners: Prepare for cold weather with these tips." HomeTeam Inspection Service franchisee Frank Bombardiere gave his input about what homeowners can do to protect their homes inside and outside during the winter. Frank supplied helpful tips to keep your house and family safe, and pointed out that especially for those who are not very savvy with home maintenance, hiring a home inspector every other year can curb maintenance problems and save homeowners money in the long run. Read the article below.

Homeowners: Prepare for cold weather with these tips
By: Emily Driscoll

With snow, ice and winter storms affecting most of the country this time of year, homeowners need to know how to protect their residence inside and out.

                Research from AIR Worldwide shows that the insured damage from winter storms in 2010 was $2.6 billion, the highest since 2003, and 2011 was even more devastating—one storm in February had as much as $1.4 billion in damage.

                Frank Bombardiere, local owner of HomeTeam Inspection Service in Yukon, says that winter is the worst season for residential damage because ice, snow, and wind can put water in places that are not typically prone to leaking.

“Snow drifts on the side of the house can melt slowly onto the window and door sills, causing water to get around these areas where it normally wouldn’t during a rain storm,” he says. “Ice dams on the roof can cause a roof to leak, and snow can blow into the attic through the roof vents and damage the insulation.”

To avoid major damage to your home and your wallet, here are 10 tips that homeowners need to factor in to their winterizing strategy:

1.       Storm doors can help keep windblown snow and rain from getting around the exterior doors.

2.       All gaps around doors and windows need to be properly caulked, but be sure not to caulk the weep holes in brick veneer--they are there to let the wall breath (make a gap between the bricks about every third brick on the bottom row).

3.       Fireplaces and chimneys need to be cleaned and inspected at least every other year under normal usage, preferably by a qualified chimney sweep.

4.       Gutters should be cleaned after the last leaves have fallen to keep the water flowing away from the foundation of the house. You can also install gutter helmets to keep leaves and debris out.

5.       Cut any overhanging tree branches away from the roof so they will not fall onto the roof or your car if they break off in an ice storm.

6.       Clean any debris off the roof that can act as a dam and cause water to back up under the shingles.

7.       Keep leaves picked up around the yard to help prevent pests from nesting in them. 

8.       Homes with crawl spaces underneath should have the water pipes insulated to prevent freeze damage.

9.       Make sure to vent crawl spaces, even in the winter.

10.   Keep exterior hose faucets covered and detach the hose--pipes can freeze and burst on the exterior hose faucets.

Bombardiere recommends that especially for those who are not very savvy with home maintenance, hiring a home inspector every other year can curb maintenance problems and save homeowners money in the long run.

“You take your car in for maintenance and diagnostics, you go to the doctor for a checkup--why shouldn’t you have your home checked out by a professional as well?”