Home Maintenance Tips

General

  • Get annual termite inspections to reduce floor board and joist damage
  • Keep your vents open in the summer and closed in the winter to reduce moisture buildup if your vents are not automatic
  • Change your air filters on a monthly basis to help reduce wear and tear on your HVAC equipment. This also helps keep utility costs down.
  • Keep your thermostat on one setting to reduce high utility costs.

Structures & Materials

  • Buldging, leaning or a shaky floor signals the need to do repair work before the condition worsens.
  • Check your roof structure for firmness and watertightness. Spots on your ceiling indicate a leak.
  • Keep your windows operable for possible fire escape routes
  • Make sure your insulation in the attic is not disturbed. Check for holes after storage.
  • Keep your storm windows and doors closed during seasons of air conditioning and heating.
  • Check your heating and cooling systems annually during the appropriate season.

Interior Air Quality

  • Eilminate the use of kerosene heaters. They burn oxygen out of the air. Adequate exhaust venhilation is needed.
  • Run fans for at least 1/2 hour after usage.

Electricity

  • Minimize the use of drop cords.
  • Check on GFIs and reset.

Thermal Environment

  • Get a professional heating technician to test and inspect your gas system for safety and efficiency.

Plumbing

  • Check around your toilets for wet floors and weak spots.
  • Ensure you do not hear water running past the normal flush cycle in the toilet. This indicates a problem.

Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist

Fall (Outside)

  • Replace all weather stripping and caulking around the windows and doors as needed.
  • Fill all cracks and holes in the house siding with caulking as needed.
  • Remove window air conditioners or use a weatherproof cover.
  • Clean and store removable screens
  • Drain outside faucets
  • Removes leaves from gutters and drain pipes
  • Repair leaky roofs as soon as possible
  • Check the flashing on vents, chimneys, and skylights
  • Check the chimney for damaged caps and loose mortar. Check the flue and damper. If needed, have the chimney professionally cleaned.

Fall (Inside)

  • Replace or add insulation as needed.
  • Have the heating system serviced. Change the furnace filters.
  • Do maintenance on the hot water heater as specified by the manufacturer.
  • Check all faucets for leaks. Replace the washers if necessary.
  • Clean the refrigerator coils.
  • Clean major appliances accroding to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Check all fire extinguishers. Review the instructions and replace is needed.
  • Replace batteries in all smoke detectors when you change the clocks for daylight savings time.

Spring (Outside)

  • Check the weatherstripping and caulking around doors
  • Check the outside of your house for cracked and peeling paint. Caulk and repaint as necessary
  • Remove, clean, and store removable storm windows.
  • Patch or replace as needed all door and window screens. Store removeable screens

Spring (Inside)

  • Replace batteries in all smoke detectors when you change the clocks for standard time.
  • Replace the filters on air conditioners
  • Clean vents and filters on dryers, stoves, and room fans.
  • Check the seals on refrigerators and freezers. Clean the coils and burner surfaces. Adjust the burners.
  • Clean the fireplace. Leave the damper open on non-air conditioned houses for improved ventilation.