Pub. 3 2018 Issue 5

22 www.ctaahq.org M aintenance probably isn’t your definition of something that is fun to do, but it is the secret to making life a lot easier for yourself. If you prevent problems from occurring and fix problems when they are small, those same problems won’t make your life miserable later. All the other months of the year go much more smoothly when you have a regular schedule of things you do at particular times of the year. With that in mind, the end of summer and the beginning of the fall sea- son makes an ideal time to prepare for the winter. Here are some routine maintenance projects you should be scheduling on an annual basis: • Attics: If your building has attics then you should check the insula- tion to make sure it is the correct thickness and has been distributed evenly. In addition, check to be sure all vents are working correctly and that none of the insulation is blocking the continuous soffit vents around the perimeter of the attic. If the attic is unheated and has fire sprinkler lines, be sure they are insulated adequately so they won’t freeze and break. • Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: Make sure they still work in every single apartment. • Chimneys: If your multifamily community has fireplaces, it’s im- portant to make sure they are working correctly. You might want to hire a professional chimney sweep. If you do the work on your own, you will want to discard old ashes and make sure the damper for each chimney is open so air can move freely through the chimney. For the flue to work correctly, the damper handle and springs will also have to be in good condition. • Exterior painting: Now is a great time to repaint the exterior of the apartment buildings, retouch paint that has deteriorated, or have siding repaired. • Faucets: You will want to look for leaky faucets in bathrooms, kitch- ens, and utility rooms. This will help prevent pipes from breaking during the winter months. Exterior faucets should be frost-proof ones with a bib design. If you have older faucets, drain them so they won’t freeze and break during the winter. • Filters: Clean filters keep residents healthier. You or your residents should check the filters in central air conditioning systems, stove Fall Preparations