It is very important for you, as a home owner, to keep your home maintained. Doing so will help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live and also will sace you money.
Problems in the home can become very costly, by sticking to a schedule you can prevent things from going wrong. Usually these things that go wrong are unexpected and people generally don't have money set aside for these things to go wrong, so why not do little things that will save you money in the long run?
There may be things that are important for you to complete, if you do not feel comfortable performing the necessary tasks or you simply do not have the right equipment, hiring a qualified handyperson to help you can really benefit you.
Things you should do on a year-round basis are as follows:
Make sure you unblock air vents indoors and outdoors. Things such as snow and debris can block your air vents.
Always check your hood filters on a monthly basis and clean them when it is necessary.
Go around your home and push the test button on all the electrical outlets, this should cause the reset button to pop up.
Make sure safety plugs are actually in the electrical outlets when there are young children in the home.
Check smoke detectors frequently
Look around for things that may be coming loose such as handrails, also check to make sure nothing is sticking out of place or coming apart. Lifting or buckling flooring is also a hazard.
Things you should do in the Fall to prepare for the winter:
Find out how often your furnace or heating system should be serviced from the manufacturer and have it serviced.
Make sure the drain pan is draining correctly and is clean for your central air conditioning.
The circulating pump on your hot water heating system needs to be well lubricated.
Disconnect the power to the furnace, if it is making noise and is loose the fan blades probably need to be cleaned of any dirt buildup.
If you have a chimney, check for things that may be blocking it such as nests.
If you have electric baseboard heaters, take a vaccum to it and remove any dust from inside. This could potentially cause a fire.
Vaccum inside the grills of your forced air system.
Test your furnace by turning on the pilot light, set the thermostat to "heat" and make sure the furnace is operating properly, then return your thermostat to the desired setting.
Check your ventilation system filters every two months.
Check your bathroom exhaust fans and range hoods and make sure they are in working order.
Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, make sure all batteries are replaced with new batteries.
If you use a portable humidifier, make sure it is clean.
Replace window screens with storm windows.
Remove screens from the inside of windows to allow air from the heating system to keep the condensation off the glass. This will also allow more solar energy into your house.
Make sure all weatherstripping is replaired/ replaced if required and make sure windows and skylights are all closed tightly.
Check weather stripping on doors and make sure they close tightly.
If you have an air conditioner, cover the outside exposed part and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
Check to make sure the ground surrounding your home slopes away from the home so when the weather gets wet you do not get a flooded basement.
Make sure there is proper drainage from the roof by cleaning eavestroughs and roofs of leaves.
Drain out any water from outdoor hoses and store them. Turn off interior valve to your outdoor faucet.
Spetic tanks should be pumped at least every three years, measure sludge and scum to determine if your tank needs to be emptied before the spring.
Consider things left outside may get ruined from the winter weather. Store outdoor furniture, protect gardens especially young trees and bushes.
Things you should do in the Winter season:
Check and clean your furnace air filters each month during the times it is being used. Replaced them when necessary.
Clean humidifier two to three times during the season.
Vacumm the bathroom fan grill.
Dust and spider webs can prevent fire and smoke detectors from functioning properly so vaccum them.
Vacumm radiator grills on the back of your refridgerators and freezers. Also empty and clean the drip trays.
Make sure fire extinguishers are in working order. Check gauge and recharge or replaced it if it is necessary.
Make sure the basement floor drain contains water, refill with water if it is necessary.
Check faucets for dripping, change washers when it is required. If your faucet is in constant need of replacing washers, maybe it is time to invest in a new one or have yours repaired.
If you have a bathroom sink, tub, shower stall or a laundry tub that is not used frequently, run some water once in a while to keep water in the trap.
Clean drains not only on sink drains but dishwashers, bathtubs and shower stalls.
Look at windows and doors for ice accumulation or cold air coming in. If you find anything, add to your things to do in the spring.
Clean snow away from gas meters, gas appliance vents, exhaust vents, and basement windows.
Check electrical plugs, cords and outlets for all your indoor and outdoor lights. If they are worn or if the plugs and cords feel warm to touch, make sure you replace them immediately. This will ensure fire safety.
Things you should consider doing in the Spring season:
Test the temperature and pressure relief valve after checking owner's manual to ensure it is not stuck. This test may release hot water that will burn so be careful.
Clean or replace furnace air filters every month during the seasons you use heat.
Clean and service fireplaces, wood stoves and chimneys.
Clean or replace air-conditioner filters.
Drain humidifier if necessary.
Turn OFF all furnace and fireplace pilot lights.
Check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide, and security alarms, replace batteries.
Clean windows and screens, replace storm windows with screens. Replair or replace screens if necessary.
Open valve for outside hose. Make sure all frost has passed.
Check for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture in the foundation walls.
Re-level outside steps and decks that moved from the frost.
Check for small holes in exterior cladding to prevent small pests from entering your home.
Make sure eavestroughs and downspouts are secure and free of any obstructions.
Clear all drainage ditches of debris.
Replair and paint fences.
Do some spring landscaping.
Things you should consider doing in the Summer season:
Use a dehuminidifier to keep tempatures below 60 percent in your basement.
Clean or replace air-conditioning filters.
Check basement pipes for dripping.
Make sure basement floor drain trap contains water.
Make sure you run some water every once in a while in all plumbing fixtures that are not used as frequently.
Deep clean carpets and rugs.
Vacuum bathroom fan.
Vacuum lint from duct connected to your clothes dryer.
Make sure all handrails are firmly attached.
Check and replace damaged cauling and weatherstripping if necessary.
Check garage door harware and make sure it is functioning smoothly.
Remove any plants and roots that may penetrate siding and brick.
