Sadly, fall is just around the corner and it's time to make plans for the coming change of weather. One of the most common defects found during home inspections is weather damaged wooden window and door frames. Exposed wood needs protection from the heavy fall rains to prevent rot from getting started. Take time to do the exterior painting needed while the wood is dry or contract a qualified painter who will have time to do the job.

Next on the list of preparations for fall is managing water coming off the roof of your home. The soil next to the foundation of your home can become saturated with water and place a great deal of pressure on the foundation wall. This can lead to water penetration into the basement of your most valuable investment. To mitigate this risk, rainfall needs to be directed 10 feet away from the foundation. This can be accomplished with a combination of a good positive slope on the grade around your home and a downspout extension that gets the water 5-6 feet away from the foundation. A little time and effort before the rain starts can prevent a very expensive set of problems later.

A few more things for your list of home maintenance tasks:

• Arrange for service on your furnace before the heating season
• Check your furnace filter. It should be changed every 3 months
• Clean your eavestroughs and downspouts

Every month, electrical safety equipment in your home should be tested. This regular testing is specified by the manufacturers and is key to ensuring that the protection is working when it is needed.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are used to protect against electrical shock around sources of water. Receptacles located outdoors and near sinks are all required to have GFCI protection. Test the operation of your GFCI's every month by pushing the "TEST" button, then the "RESET" button to restore power. Some circuits are protected by GFCI breakers and the same two buttons will be found in your electrical panel.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) are used to protect against fires being started by arcs between electrical conductors. For homes built since May 1, 2002, all bedroom receptacles are required to be protected by AFCI breakers. These breakers can be identified in your electrical panel by looking for the blue "TEST" button. Test the operation of your AFCI's every month by pushing the "TEST" button, then flipping the breaker to the "OFF" position and back to the "ON" position in order to restore power to your bedrooms.

Smoke alarms save lives. It has been proven over and over again that smoke alarms are highly effective, provided that they are working. Test your smoke alarms every month and, for battery- powered units, change the battery every six months. If you have a monitored security system, be sure to call your alarm company before testing the alarms.

Hamcrest Inspections offers pre-purchase inspections for people considering the purchase of a new home in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Please visit our web site for answers to common questions and to review a sample report or our inspection agreement.

For buyers and owners of brand new homes, Hamcrest Inspections offers pre-delivery inspections, 30-day inspections and year-end inspections. A home inspection can significantly increase the accuracy of report submitted to your builder and to Tarion (was Ontario New Home Warranty Program).

Hamcrest Inspections also offers home maintenance inspections for home owners that need assistance to prioritize the maintenance needs of their home.

email: sales@hamcrest-inspections.com

phone: 613-230-8500

web: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=lveaznbab.0.0.tx5x6jbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hamcrest-inspections.com