HomeAdvisor Provides Four Tips to Homeowners to Prepare their Homes for Winter
Golden, CO (PRWEB) September 25, 2013 -- According to a recent online survey*, conducted among over 1,200 homeowners by Harris Interactive on behalf of HomeAdvisor in June 2013, almost a third (29%) of homeowners don’t complete fall maintenance projects. The No. 1 reason why is because they don’t know which tasks they should undertake (48%). On the other hand, more than half (51%) of homeowners who conduct fall maintenance projects start their fall maintenance tasks in October. To help homeowners save time and money, Leah Ingram, personal finance expert for HomeAdvisor, provides the following tips on which projects should be completed before the winter.
“Investing a small amount of time and money on preventative tasks can save a homeowner the time, money and stress of having to complete larger projects in the future,” Ingram said. “Projects such as fixing a home’s foundation, repairing water damage and replacing appliances are costly jobs that can often be prevented.”
Ingram lists the top four projects homeowners should complete during fall maintenance:
• Winterize the sprinklers: Remove all the water from the lines, pipes, fittings, valves, sprinklers and pumps. If water is left in the system, it will freeze and expand, and break either all or part of the materials.
• Clean the gutters: During the year, debris such as twigs and leaves fall in and clog the gutters. Cleaning them once a year prevents water from overflowing and causing water damage, roof damage and flooding.
• Service the furnace: Completing an annual inspection on the furnace can save a homeowner money on heating costs and prevents the need for repair or replacement.
• Install weather stripping: Weather stripping the doors and windows can save a homeowner money on energy costs and can prevent damage to the home’s foundation.
“According to HomeAdvisor’s Cost Guide, the average national cost of cleaning the gutters and downspouts is $161,” Ingram said. “If this task is not completed and causes water damage, the average cost of repairing a home’s foundation is $3,802.”
For more information on HomeAdvisor’s Cost Guide and its other services, visit HomeAdvisor.com. Home improvement tips are available by following @HomeAdvisor on Twitter and by subscribing to YouTube channel.
About HomeAdvisor
HomeAdvisor is a leading website and mobile app provider offering resources for home repair and improvement projects. HomeAdvisor’s patented ProFinder technology matches homeowner projects to the nation’s largest network of over 85,000 pre-screened, customer-reviewed home improvement professionals. Homeowners can make informed home project decisions using resources including: Pro Reviews, featuring reviews from homeowners who have actually been connected with the service professionals they review; Cost Guide, providing average costs for projects coast-to-coast; Home911, offering dedicated 24/7 emergency home repair support; DesignMine, providing inspiration and collaboration for remodeling projects; as well as robust home trips and project planning tools. Access to all of the site’s features is free for homeowners, with no membership or fees required. HomeAdvisor is based in Golden, CO.
Contact: Brooke Gabbert
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
bgabbert(at)homeadvisor(dot)com
Direct: 303.963.8173
*Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the USA by Harris Interactive on behalf of HomeAdvisor from June 25-27, 2013 among 2,074 adults, age 18+, of whom 1,268 were identified as homeowners. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact The Abbi Agency at info(at)theabbiagency(dot)com
Brooke Gabbert, HomeAdvisor, +1 (303) 963-8173, [email protected]
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