B i a n n ua l ly
Test your water heater's pressure relief
valve. This will prevent mineral and
corrosion buildup, which safeguards against
leaks. It will also help your heater run more
efficiently.
Give your house a deep clean. Take one
Saturday every six months with your whole
family, and give the whole house a proper
deep clean. Appliances, windows, dusting
every nook and cranny (including the
basement), etc. Keeping things clean and
not letting dirt/grime/dust build up over
years and years will help keep your home
in tip-top shape.
Replace batteries in smoke/carbon dioxide
detectors. One might assume that once
you hear the low battery beep this is the
indicator to change the batteries. However,
this tip was in everything we researched.
With something as important as this, you
can't be too careful, and batteries won't
break your bank. Change them out every six
months.
Vacuum your refrigerator coils. This tip,
from a refrigerator repairman, will keep
your home clean and your energy bill down.
The fridge can use up to 15 percent of your
home's total power, so you want it running
as efficiently as possible. Over time, the
coils get dirty and your fridge requires more
juice. You can save up to $100 a year by
doing this, and it's not at all a difficult task.
Annually
(Organized by Season)
S p r i n g
S
pring is a big month for home
maintenance. They don't call it "Spring
Cleaning" for nothing. Especially focus on
the exterior of your home as it's just gone
through winter and is preparing for summer
heat, and in some parts of the country,
brutal humidity.
Check the exterior drainage. Will rain water
flow away from the house? Puddles should
not stand around your home for more than
24 hours. If water stays, or moves toward
your foundation, you have a few options.
First, check your gutters. It could be a bad
spout or a loose connection there; they
may also just need cleaning. Second, you
can grade the area around your home
yourself with some dirt; this has worked just
fine for me in the past. Third, for pavement,
you can have professionals come out and
raise it so it drains away from your home.
Clean out gutters. They've likely
accumulated leaves from the fall and
grime/sediment from the winter snows
and/or rains.
Inspect the exterior of your home. Is any
paint chipping? Is any siding damaged from
winter? Are there any holes in your brick?
Take a close look all around your house,
and make any repairs as needed. Also be
sure to check the foundation for any cracks.
A good silicone/caulk can fix a lot of your
problems.
