7 places you should be checking around your home

Cabinet base under the sink

"You'd be surprised how many sink base bottoms I replace each year," says Kris Rydmark, president of Minnetonka Handyman, in Minnetonka, Minn. Because homeowners use their sinks as frequently as 20 times a day, any leak can quickly cause water damage. Or if you knock over one of the many bottles of kitchen cleaner under there and don't realize it, that spill can also damage the cabinet.

Open the sink cabinet doors, turn on the water and check for plumbing leaks. "If you notice a leak, you have to take care of it," Stakhiv says. "Even if it leaks just a little bit, you need to fix it right away." Tightening the connection usually fixes the problem, though you'll probably need to replace old, rusty pipes.

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The yard, driveway and patio — while it's raining

The next time you're at home during a driving rainstorm, throw on that old raincoat and boots and take a stroll around the house. You'll be able to spot any potential drainage problems. "See where the water goes," Stakhiv says. "If you notice any pools, like close to the driveway or patio, it could wash away the soil."

Driveways are susceptible to the same water-related issues as your foundation. If soil washes away, empty spaces remain, leaving the concrete or asphalt vulnerable, especially under the weight of vehicles. "In three to five years [after noticing the puddles], you could see cracks in the driveway," Stakhiv says. As you would with a shifting foundation, channel the water away from the driveway, sidewalk or patio.

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Gutters

We know some of you are dutifully checking your gutters yearly, but it's worth a reminder. Gutters clogged with leaves, twigs or other debris won't drain properly. The water can spill over the top, or the weight of it can cause the gutters to sag or leak. Take a peek inside the gutters to make sure they're not clogged. 

"The water running over the gutters can damage the paint on the soffits and fascia. The paint can become ruined very quickly," Stakhiv says. "Clean the gutter once a year or so, depending on the trees in your area." 

Also, make sure the gutters haven't pulled away from the fascia. If they get weighted down with stagnant water, they can become loose, and the water running off the roof will leak between the gutter and fascia instead of going inside the gutter. While you're up there, look at any seams to make sure the caulking is still in place. If needed, use silicone caulk or gutter sealant to keep seams from leaking.

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Deck

Rydmark advises homeowners to inspect their decks for rotting wood. Water dripping off the roof onto the deck can cause rotting, as can leaves that get wedged between the bottom of the patio door and the deck. "A small piece of rotted wood can lead to big pieces of rotted wood," he says.

The North American Deck and Railing Association's deck inspection checklist tells homeowners to check various points around the deck to make sure the wood is sound, and to pay special attention to the ledger board where the deck attaches to the house, the support posts and joists and any areas that are regularly exposed to water.

Rydmark advises using a deck cleaner to remove mold, mildew and debris, then washing off the cleaner with a garden hose; you don't need to use a pressure washer. While you're at it, make sure the railings and stair treads are secure. If boards have started to rot, even if it's only a small area, replace the damaged boards with new ones and stain or seal them to match the surrounding decking. You won't get a perfect color match, but over several weeks the new boards will weather and blend in.

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House exterior

With pencil and paper in hand — or better yet, a digital camera — stroll around the entire house and look for signs of loose siding, peeling paint, loose soffits and fascia, cracks in masonry and any other problems. Also look for places where critters such as mice could be burrowing under the siding or gnawing at the siding or foundation coating.

Loose siding needs to be reattached before it rips free and pulls other pieces with it. Wood and masonry siding can be nailed in place; vinyl needs a special siding tool that pulls the lip on one panel over the piece below it to lock them together. Peeling paint needs to be scraped off before you repaint.

Homeowners should stay off the roof, Rydmark says — it's too dangerous for novices to walk around up there. Instead, he recommends examining the roof from the street using binoculars to look for missing, curling or damaged shingles. Also look for mold or fungus growing on shingles, which discolors them. Mold or fungus can be washed off, but, again, this is a job best left to the pros.

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Water heater

Homeowners don't often think about their appliances until they break. But some need regular attention, such as the water heater. "Sediment gathers in the bottom of tank," Rydmark says. "Draining it lessens the sediment gathering in the bottom. Therefore you stretch the life of the water heater."

Draining it is fairly straightforward: Start by turning off the power or gas to the appliance and turning off the cold-water supply that feeds in the water. Then attach a hose to the drain valve near the bottom of the tank, turn the valve to open it, and direct the water into the drain, which should be nearby. Turn the water back on for a minute or two to flush out any sediment remaining in the tank. Then close the drain valve, open the cold-water supply to fill the water heater back up and relight the pilot light or flip the power back on.

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