Categories Home Maintenance

Winter Home Prep

Winter is basically here and with so many responsibilities to juggle (hello, holiday shopping), the maintenance and upkeep of your home can easily end up at the bottom of your to-do list! Although sending that email or returning that online shopping order may seem time-sensitive, so is keeping up with your home maintenance.

Home maintenance is a broad topic. So many things may completely slip your mind and leave you with an unexpected home repair bill! Prevent those unexpected bills and check out these five home maintenance tasks…

  • Roof Repairs 

    • New England weather is hard to predict and even harder to prepare for! Ensure your roof is in perfect condition to protect your home from weather-related damage. Roof repairs range from fixing leaks and cleaning gutters to addressing a sagging structure. Although these repairs may seem small, a quick fix is far better than a large-scale repair.

  • Heating System Tune-Up

    • With the holiday season upon us and a big snowstorm likely on the horizon, homeowners must ensure their heating systems are in excellent working condition. A quick filter change, check on airflow, and evaluation of essential parts like the pumps, ensures that necessary minor repairs of your heating system are caught before they become significant repairs.

  • Smoke Alarm Check 

    • A task as simple as checking or replacing the batteries on your smoke alarms is necessary for home maintenance. Your home should always have working smoke alarms! In the unlikely event of an emergency, you will be thankful that you took the time to change the batteries!

  • Caulking Plumbing Fixtures

    • Although caulking plumbing fixtures may seem obsolete, taking the time to caulk around bathtubs, water pipes, and drains is a great way to prevent water damage. If water damage goes unchecked in your home, bills to fix the damage can be incredibly costly. By caulking around plumbing fixtures, water cannot seep into small cracks in your home. A small task now prevents a largely time-consuming one in the future!

  • Drain & Trap Cleaning

    • By cleaning your drains and traps, you are far less likely to experience clogged pipes and bad odors in the future. The cleaning will remove dirt, debris, and buildup to ensure a clean smell and pipes in like new condition. This maintenance task is a must to keep your home and the drains that support your plumbing in great condition.


Home maintenance can be time-consuming, but all of these tasks are necessary to prevent major home repairs and unexpected bills in the future. Not sure if you have the time or expertise to complete these tasks yourself? Check out McDonald Contracting and their Upkeep Maintenance Program! With fees starting as low as $150 per month, McDonald Contracting will make sure your home stays in excellent condition. Feel free to contact us to learn more.

Categories Home Maintenance Tags ,
Categories Blog, Recent Work, Tips

6 Ways to Keep Your House Warmer This Winter

Winter weather is right around the corner! With the upcoming drop in temperatures, it is essential to ensure your home is ready for the winter and your heating systems are prepared for a chilly winter. At McDonald Contracting, we want to make sure you have an stress-free and warm holiday season. So, take this as your PSA to make sure to prep your home for the colder months ahead. Concerned you don’t have time? Our UpKeep Maintenance Services were designed to ensure your home is maintained for every season of the year.

Check out our tips on how to keep your home warmer during the winter –

  • Adjust Your Furniture

    • A task as simple as rearranging furniture that blocks air vents and radiators guarantees a warmer home. Air will circulate freely throughout your home, guaranteeing a more efficiently heated home.

  • Close Your Fireplace 

    • Although a working wood-burning fireplace adds to a cozy, winter household aesthetic, the chimney chu is a direct route for warm air to escape your home. Think about closing and sealing your fireplace to keep the warm air in and the cold air out! Not sure how to do this? Our team at UpKeep can help.

  • Clean Your Vents

    • A quick clean of your exterior furnace vents will not only increase your energy efficiency, but it will also mitigate dust accumulation! Properly filtered, warm air is a must during the winter, and our Upkeep maintenance services include cleaning your exterior furnace vent.

  • Service Your Heating Unit 

    • A general service of your heating system is a great way to keep your house warm this winter. If your heating system isn’t running to its fullest potential, that cozy indoor warmth during the colder months may be just out of reach. Unsure how to service your heating system?

      • Part of our UpKeep services includes an annual service of your heating unit. We will change filters and supply essential maintenance of the exterior condenser and interior furnace.

  • Adjust Your Ceiling Fan Switch

    • A simple reset of your ceiling fans to spin clockwise at the lowest speed is optimal for heat circulation. This quick switch will ensure the maximum value for your home’s heating system.

 

Winter should be filled with hot chocolate, sledding, and time spent with friends and family! Consider some tips above to ensure a cozy and warm home for the holiday season. Interested in our Home Maintenance Upkeep services too? Click here to learn more.

Categories Blog, Recent Work, Tips Tags , ,
1 2