It is important to set up a home maintenance schedule in order to prevent costly home repairs later on. Old Republic Home Warranty has a great home maintenance plan that you can add to your calendar today:
ANNUALLY OR SEMI-ANNUALLY • SPRING
Plumbing
• Inspect septic field and tank area for flooding or odor
• Have septic tank inspected and pumped as needed
• Inspect water heater temperature pressure relief valve for signs of leaks or discharge
• Flush the water heater
Heating and Cooling
• Clean around air conditioner compressor
• Have heat pump or air conditioning system cleaned and tuned-up before cooling season begins
• Have evaporator coil inspected and cleaned, if necessary
• Have chimney(s) cleaned and inspected
Electrical
• Replace the batteries in smoke detectors twice a year. An easy way to remember this is to change the batteries when the time changes. It's also a good idea to vacuum out the smoke detectors when you change the batteries so they stay clean and operate at peak efficiency
Exterior
• Clean and inspect gutters and downspouts after trees have seeded; repair as needed
• Hose off house exterior; scrub off any mildew
• Clean gaps between deck boards, under decks and porches and treat for fungus and mildew as needed
• Check paint, siding, or masonry for deterioration. Deteriorated paint can lead to widespread rot. One topcoat of paint should last four or five years, but two coats can last twice that long
• Inspect weather stripping around windows and doors; replace as needed
• Inspect window screens; repair as needed
• Clean out basement window wells
• Clean sliding door tracks and lubricate with white lithium compound
• Inspect basement/crawl space and attic for signs of pests such as termites, carpenter ants, wasps, and hornets
ANNUALLY OR SEMI-ANNUALLY • SUMMER
Plumbing
• Check the flapper on your toilets at least once a year. If it is an older one, you may want to replace it since it could allow water through, causing your toilet to “run” continuously
Heating and Cooling
• Examine windows; re-glaze as needed
• Ensure all east, west and south facing windows are shaded to decrease cooling costs
Garage Door
• Clean and lubricate garage door tracks, rollers, springs and hinges; tighten screws
• Inspect paint and sealant on exterior and garage door, particularly along the bottom edge
Interior
• Inspect walls and ceiling for cracks, sags, bowing or leaning
• Clean and seal tile grout
ANNUALLY OR SEMI-ANNUALLY • FALL
Plumbing
• Close and drain hose bibs, drain and store hoses
• Check septic field and tank area for flooding
or odor
• Inspect water heater temperature pressure relief
valve for signs of leaks or discharge
Heating and Cooling
• Clean around air conditioner condenser, then cover to protect during the fall/winter months
• Have fireplace and flues inspected and cleaned, repair as needed
• Schedule heating system tune-up and cleaning
• Clean ceiling fan blades
Exterior
• Check paint, siding, or masonry for deterioration.
• Trim foundation plantings to leave a foot of clear space between plantings and house
• Rake debris away from side of house and other structures
• Clean gutters and downspouts; repair as needed
• Check roof for leaks
• Check exterior house siding
• Trim any tree branches near or touching roof or gutters
• Check all exterior caulk; repair as needed
• Insulate for winter – On a windy day, feel around the edges of doors, windows and fireplaces for any air leaks. Look for dust piles as clues to leaks. Caulk and repair weather stripping as needed
• Clear storm window weep holes of debris
• Clean under decks and porches as well as the space between the deck boards
• Clean out basement window wells
ANNUALLY OR SEMI-ANNUALLY • WINTER
Plumbing
• Clean and seal grout
• Exercise (turn off and on) plumbing shutoff valves and inspect for leaks
• Inspect water heater temperature pressure relief valve for signs of leaks or discharge
Electrical
• Ensure your supply of flashlights has fresh batteries in case of a winter storm power outage
Exterior
• Inspect roof after large winter storms
• Inspect gutters and downspouts for leaks during a rainstorm
• Keep gutters free from debris and ice
• On a windy day, feel around the edges of doors, windows and fireplaces for any air leaks. Look for dust piles as clues to leaks. Caulk and repair weather stripping as needed
If you would like a personal copy of the Old Republic Home Protection's "Homeowner's Tip Guide" complete 20 page owner's manual, please email me at cinda@wvhometeam.com.
For a monthly home maintenance list please check out: Home Maintenance Tip Guide: Monthly Maintenance Tips. This post includes more tips from Old Republic Home Warranty Company for keeping your home in great working condition.
