Handle Home Maintenance Proactively

When it comes to home maintenance, the average American, juggling both work and family, tends to be reactive: They fix roofs only after they spring leaks, and replace furnaces and water heaters after they break down; with this in mind longtime home columnist at Newday, Gary Dymski, created an easy to follow seasonal home maintenance checklist.  He aims to encourage homeowners to be more proactive regarding repairs.

Dymski recently presented a workshop at the to help the homeowner identify potentially hazardous situations before major problems ensue.

Dymski drew from his vast array of experience garnered while writing for Home Work, a nationally recognized newspaper column covering all things about the home, and receiving letters from all across the country, for over a decade.  The award-winning journalist is now a frequent public speaker and guest on the radio and TV circuit.

He started out by saying, "The home is like a living, breathing thing. It has lungs, a brain and motor skills, a place to drain, an outside covering and a place to let light in, almost like eyes."

Implementing a regular inspection regimen and keeping up with rudimentary home maintenance tactics can help prevent you from having to perform major repairs while protecting your home's safety and value.  Dymski is a firm believer in the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

He outlined a house's major systems which must not be neglected.  These include:  heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing, roofing (which encompasses gutters, flashing, etc.), doors and windows, foundation, exterior walls, and landscaping and outdoor structures.  Each season one of these major home components might need service or require inspection.

"Staying one step ahead of home repair is not really complicated, people just have to be more aware," said Dymski.

For instance, if your furnace suddenly breaks down in the dead of winter, you must immediately put in whatever the contractor has, and it may not be the best quality or value.  Dymski informed that up until December 31 homeowners are eligible for a 30 percent tax credit or up to $1,500 on energy efficient furnaces, boilers, windows and doors.  "If you know you need a furnace, buy it now," said Dymski.  "A tax credit is tremendous compared to a deduction."  To find out more information on tax credits go to Energy Star.

Dymski encourages homeowners to keep their eyes and ears open.  "One of the best things you can do is look at things.  If it's rusted, cracked or you hear noises, something is wrong," he said.

The home improvement expert underscored that if you are planning on staying in your home and the furnace is at least 20-years-old, it should be replaced.  If the furnace does fail never use a gas powered generator indoors.  It could cause serious injury or death; it needs to be able to emit exhaust outdoors.

Dymski informed that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be replaced every 10 years, and that batteries in these devices should be changed every six months.  He recommends getting into the habit of changing these batteries every time you change your clocks in fall and spring.

He advised, "Do a little research, be consistent and tailor and edit your own maintenance checklist." For help on how to get started, go to the National Center for Healthy Housing or contact Gary Dymski.

Dymski lives in the Stony Brook area and is the father of five.  He said, "If I didn't figure out how to do all this stuff I wouldn't be able to afford all those kids."

June and Rich, 39-year Bayport residents who are now retired, were glad to come to the workshop. The couple said they picked up a lot of helpful hints on how to handle basement, seasonal and water issues.  June said, "We're now trying to be conservative and economical, and to get the most bang for the buck.  It's good to hear from a professional.  We're taking care of ourselves and ailing parents; we want to take care of our home as well."