Happy February Homeowners!

In this weeks newsletter:

• Are you prepared for a lot of snow?

• Recent Homeowner News

• February Maintenance Reminders

• Have you taken a look in your attic recently?

Latest Homeowner News

1. Is your state considering lowering your property tax bill?

2. A marble looking countertop but made of porcelain?

3. Have you heard of this ADU trend? Accessory Dwelling Units in your backyard are all the rage.

4. Are induction cooktops better than gas?

Lessons Learned From 11” of Snow In One Day

In late January, our area of Ohio received about 11” of snow in less than 24 hours.

There were a few lessons learned dealing with this much snow:

1. It’s feels good to be a position to help your neighbors. Whether you have better equipment, or just extra free time, you can really make a difference helping out.

2. You must have a super wide snow shovel. More on this below.

3. You must have different width snow shovels.

   1. 9 inch or 18 inch wide shovels for the tight spots like around porches and steps. Also useful for “heavy” snow, or if you just want to take your time and limit injury!

   2. 24 inch wide shovels for moving thicker snow off of driveways.

   3. 36 or 48 inch wide shovels for clearing thin layers (1-3”) of snow from driveways and sidewalks.

4. You probably want to shovel 3-4 times over the period of time the 11” of snow falls. Don’t wait till the end, as you may find yourself without the energy to get it done.

5. If you can and/or desire to, own a snow blower or plow type setup. I’d recommend looking at all electric options, simply to avoid the possibility of a non-working gas engine when you need it the most.

6. While hiring someone to clear your snow is certainly a must for some people, remember that all these vendors were swamped more than ever during this time.

This winter, I have really enjoyed the 48 wide SNOWPLOW Snow Pusher. I ordered this over the summer of 2025 in preparation for this winter. When there is 1-3 inches of snow on the driveway, this thing makes quick work of clearing.

It is super strong, and has no metal blades that can corrode away.

The handle is well designed, and overall the frame feels very sturdy and well built.

Available in 24, 28, 30, 36 and 48 inch widths. They also have “little helper” versions.

Regarding Snow On Roofs

Obviously snow builds up on roofs. You can remove snow from your roof, but there are really only 2 reasons to do this:

1. If you live in an area where the snow buildup thickness could exceed your areas building design roof snow load. This is generally areas that get extreme amounts of snow. Be very careful with this as pulling snow off your roof can be dangerous.

2. If you roof is prone to ice damming. This is where the snow above the eave’s starts to melt but then the water freezes. This continues to happen over and over (think more water running down the roof and making the dam bigger). Ice damming can create a dam at your eave such that any water running down the roof from above gets trapped behind the dam and has only 1 place to go which is upward underneath your shingles.

Home Products I’m Enjoying

Maintenance Reminders For February

See the links for ideas and instructions!

1. Clear snow and ice from exterior vents, and drainage pipe outlets.

2. Check, Change or Clean Your Furnace Filter

3. Check roofs for ice damming.

4. Inspect your hot water heater, and adjust temperature to 120 degrees at faucets.

5. Review your emergency backup plan.

6. Check your basement and crawl space for signs of moisture intrusion.

7. Review your coverage $ amounts for your homeowners insurance.

Attic Inspections & A Checklist

If you haven't inspected your attic in a while, now is a great time of the year to complete this task. In the summer attics can become quite hot. Take advantage of the cool temperatures!

There can be many problems and issues lurking in your attic.

Here is a checklist of things to look for and check in your attic:

• Trusses and Roof Framing

  • Separation of metal side plates from wood at joints?

  • Broken wood members?

  • Moisture damage on wood?

  • Broken rafters?

  • Proper ridge board?

  • Any repairs look inadequate?

• Ventilation

  • Blocked soffit vents?

  • # of soffit vents adequate?

  • Ridge or roof vent quantity adequate?

  • Gable vents present? If yes, are screens adequate?

• Moisture Issues

  • Any visible moisture? If yes, from roof leak or condensation?

  • Any mold like substance?

• Fire Damage

  • Any signs of fire damage?

• Firewall issues

  • Are there firewalls in the attic?

  • Is the roof sheathing adjacent to the firewalls fire resistant?

  • Is there at least 4 feet between the firewall and the ridge vent?

  • Is there sufficient distance between sewer vent stacks and intake vents?

• Roof deck and gables

  • Visible holes through roof?

  • Visible holes/openings in gable

• Pipe/Flue Penetration boots

  • Any visible leaking around boots?

• Insulation

  • Type?

  • Thickness?

  • Any damage?

  • Present at all locations?

• Wildlife

  • Any evidence of wildlife entry?

About the Author

I’m Adam Rich, a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) and Real Estate Salesperson in the state of Ohio. I help discerning homeowners like you take control of the complexity behind your home.

With a background in engineering, property management, construction, and real estate investing, I specialize in helping understand the systems that make your home work.

Ready for Expert, Unbiased Advice?

Whether it’s a one-time consultation or an ongoing relationship, I offer homeowners peace of mind through clear insights, practical planning, and calm expertise.

I am available to consult on home maintenance and improvements, new construction decisions and options, real estate investing or purchases, real estate engineering matters, and other home systems matters. Whether you're planning major renovations, systems upgrades, assessing long-term maintenance, or just want to get a handle on your home’s true condition, I deliver expert-level answers in clear, practical language.

The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial decisions.