Homeowners Insurance | As a homeowner, especially in the sub-tropical climate of Florida, you have probably learned that preventative care is a lot more cost effective than reacting to the harsh effects that weather (humidity, UV Rays, etc.) can have on your home. Spring cleaning is one of the most important maintenance periods of the year – it’s a great time to assess the changes your home has gone through since last year, and how to prepare for the next.
Related Post: 9 Things Homeowners Forget To Do Once a Year
One of the items on your spring cleaning checklist should be to check the seals around windows and doors. Fixing cracks and deterioration can help ensure that your home is in top shape. Leaks can cause water damage and allow mold to grow in your home. Drafts can drive electric bills through the roof. Fixing your home’s seals can save you time and money in the long run.
Inspecting and fixing seals is actually quite simple. You can do it yourself in just a couple of hours.
Inspect First
You can inspect a window or door for leaks by using a dollar bill. Slip the single in an open doorway or window before closing and locking the door – or window – with your paper money in place. If there’s enough give to wiggle the bill out, you have a leak you’ll want to reseal.
During your inspection, be sure to examine the following areas:
- Where one section of the window meets another
- Where the windows meet the frame
- Where the frame meets the walls
Once you’ve determined which seals need attention, you will fix them with a combination of caulk sealant and weather stripping.
Re-Caulking Seals
What You’ll Need:
- Caulk Gun
- Caulk (ask the hardware store employee for the right kind for your needs)
- Putty Knife
- Paper Towels or Rags
Steps:
- Clear out old caulk with the putty knife.
- Cut tip of caulk and break seal inside. Create a hole just large enough to fill the gap in the area you are going to be repairing.
- Apply steady pressure on the trigger and run a steady bead of caulk into the gap.
- Use your finger or a damp rag to smooth the seal. Push the caulk into the gap and smooth it into a curved seal.
- Caulk can dry fast, so clean quickly! Use water to clean caulk off of your hands, around the area you were working and the tip of the caulk tube.
Replacing Weather Stripping
What You'll Need
- Sand Paper
- Adhesive Foam Weather Stripping
- Tape Measure
- Utility Knife
Steps:
- Prepare the surface by cleaning it and lightly sanding the area that you will be adhering the new weather stripping.
- Measure the area you will place the weather stripping.
- Use a utility knife to cut the weather stripping to the size needed.
- Peel off the backing and press the strip firmly into place.
After you’re done, you can repeat the dollar bill test to determine if you have effectively covered all leaking areas. In just a couple hours, you have saved yourself future damage and unforeseen costs.
Spring cleaning is also critical in Florida because it leads up to hurricane season, which begins June 1 and lasts until November 30. Click here for important tips that will make hurricane preparedness part of your Spring cleaning.
Get a new home insurance quote today. They are free and easy and can help you make a more informed decision. Visit American Integrity Insurance for a free, no obligation homeowners insurance quote in Florida.
American Integrity Insurance is committed to providing Florida homeowners with sound, comprehensive insurance coverage and an extraordinary customer experience. We strive to be a valued partner to our policyholders, agents, and community.
We offer traditional and high valued homeowners insurance, condo insurance, renters insurance, and the special coverage required for vacant homes, manufactured homes, and policies designed for those who need less coverage or are renting out their home. We also offer extra protection, including flood insurance, umbrella insurance, golf cart insurance, boat insurance, cyber coverage and identity theft protection as well as equipment breakdown coverage, to help address a broad range of needs facing Florida homeowners today.