Although wintertime brings great joy to most people, for landlords, 这意味着要做额外的工作，以确保它们的性能保持在最佳状态. To make sure you don’t miss any critical issues, prepare a checklist for winter maintenance for rental properties.
A Guide to Winter Maintenance for Rental Properties
作为房东，你的工作之一就是对你出租的房子进行日常维护. 定期的维护保证了你的房客的居住条件——你就是这样的人 required by law to provide. Apart from that, though, excellent maintenance can also help improve your resident retention rate. 毕竟，租客更有可能收拾行李，搬出一个维护不善的地方.
Maintenance work can change depending on the season, though. For instance, if you live in an area with mild to harsh winters, winter property maintenance should be a priority.
决定你必须做什么来准备你的财产过冬可能是一个挑战. 仅仅漏掉一个重要的项目就会导致一系列的问题. 这里有一份冬季租赁物业维护清单来帮助你.
1. Assess Your HVAC Systems
要想让出租房屋为冬天做好准备，就从你的暖通空调系统开始. Make sure to examine all heating, ventilation, and airconditioning units to see if they are working properly.
在寒冷季节开始之前，是否有承包商为您的暖通空调系统提供服务. See if any filters need replacing. Wintertime can be rough, so heating is an absolute must. 如果你不能提供适当的供暖，租客甚至可以提出投诉，把你告上法庭.
2. Ensure Alarms and Detectors Are Working
烟雾警报器和一氧化碳探测器帮助您的租户的安全. Your lease agreement 应该包括哪一方负责维护这些项目.
If it falls on you, 然后确保在冬季来临之际检查所有的警报和探测器是否正常工作. 更换电池，如果有一些不工作，打电话给维修人员为你修理.
3. Clean Your Chimneys
Fireplaces add a certain appeal to a property, especially if it is located in an area with a colder climate. 虽然它们可以提高你的财产的价值，壁炉也可能很难维护.
你应该遵循的最被低估的冬季保养建议之一是清洁你的烟囱. Over time, wood-burning fireplaces can become clogged or damaged. 在冬天开始之前，请专业人士检查和清洁你的烟囱. This way, your tenant can use it without worry.
4. Drain Your Pipes
管道结冰是房东在冬季面临的最大问题之一. 因此，排水管道是出租房屋冬季维护的重要部分.
Outdoor pipes, sprinklers, and fountain systems are at risk of freezing, especially in below-zero temperatures. 为了防止这种情况发生，一定要在冬季开始之前把它们沥干.
为租赁物业单元做防寒工作还包括准备外部管道. 你可以通过在管道周围包裹泡沫管道保温材料来做到这一点，以确保它们不会结冰. Foam pipe insulation is relatively inexpensive, so this extra precaution won’t cost you too much money.
5. Inspect for Cracks and Openings
In the process of winterproofing rental properties, you must also check the property for any cracks, crevices, or openings. These openings will allow the cold to enter your property. 当这种情况发生时，房客们往往会把暖气调高来弥补. This will lead to a higher heating bill.
除此之外，裂缝和开口也会让不想要的动物进入房子. Like your tenants, 这些动物在冬天寻求温暖，可能会爬进你的单位来躲避寒冷.
开口也可以是门下、车库和窗户之间的缝隙. 确保在冬季到来之前尽可能地密封这些裂缝、缝隙和开口.
6. Ensure Proper Insulation
Insulation keeps the cold out and the heat in. With that in mind, 在冬天来临之前，你必须确保你租的房子是适当的绝缘.
This includes insulating basements, attics, and any crawl spaces. Heat retention is critical during the cold season, 而不隔热的房产会大幅提高取暖费用.
7. Trim the Trees
虽然在这样的时候专注于景观美化似乎不是最好的主意, you must consider what role trees play during winter. 雪会堆积在树枝上，加重树枝的重量，直到树枝屈服折断. This is why so many tree branches fall during snowstorms.
掉落的树枝会对你的租户和房产本身的安全造成风险. 这些分支可以对你的财产的外部造成重大的损害, your neighbor’s property, and any parked cars in the area.
As part of your winter maintenance checklist, 有必要检查是否有任何分支可能落在你的财产上. Rotting trees have branches that are more inclined to break. 请专业人士检查并修剪你的房子周围的树木. 在腐烂的情况下，他们甚至建议砍倒整棵树.
8. Don’t Forget the Roof
Inspect the roof for any loose or broken shingles. 还必须检查排水沟，清除任何阻塞物. 各种垃圾会堵塞排水沟，造成排水问题.
当融雪不能很好地排水时，可能会导致屋顶漏水和漏水. Sub-zero temperatures can cause water to freeze and accumulate. This weight will eventually cause your roof to collapse, 这会导致大量的损害，并可能伤害到你的租户.
9. Get Ready for Snow Removal
尽管很多人把下雪和浪漫联系在一起，房东们往往不同意. 除雪是租赁房屋冬季维护的清单之一, especially if you live in an area with heavy snowfall.
Prior to the start of the season, 寻找一个符合你的预算和需要的雪和冰清除服务. 如果你已经有一个，一定要打电话给你的承包商，确认你的安排.
10. Keep the Heat On
提醒你的房客时刻保持暖气是必不可少的, even when they are not around. Maintain a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Doing this will ensure pipes don’t freeze and burst. Additionally, if your tenant intends to go on vacation, make sure to completely turn off the water supply. 在他们度假期间，在马桶里放置无毒防冻剂也是值得的.
The Cost of Ignoring Winter Maintenance
作为房东，冬季维修租赁物业是你职责的重要部分. 执行这些任务不仅能让你的房客感到温暖和安全，还能防止对你的财产造成任何损害. Some may require you to spend money on materials and contractors, 但与你需要支付的昂贵的维修和更换费用相比，这当然是微不足道的.
房东当然也有不少头疼的事. 请一家物业管理公司来帮你做这些事，会让你的生活更轻松. Start your search for the best companies in your area using Florida Property Management’s online directory. 我们的名录还包括信誉良好的HOA管理公司和房地产代理商.
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