The best way to protect your investment in your home as well as the value of your home is through performing regular inspections and maintenance tasks. However daunting or time consuming the tasks may seem, following a regular schedule of seasonal maintenance will prevent common problems prior to their occurrence, and in turn save you your time and money.
Below is a checklist of routine maintenance, organized by seasonal and year-round tasks, to help keep your home a healthy and safe environment while protecting your investment. Click here for a printable version of the checklist for your convenience.
Year-Round
□ Ensure that air vents both indoors and outdoors are not blocked by debris or snow
□ Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis
□ Where young children are concerned, ensure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs
□ Regularly check around the house for hazards such as loose handrail, lifting carpet, loose cable, etc.
Fall
Fall is the most important time as far as maintenance is concerned, seeing as you need to prepare your home for the difficult winter months.
□ Have the furnace serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas furnace, or every year for an oil furnace
□ Examine the forced air furnace fan belt for wear, looseness, or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup (after disconnecting the electricity to the motor first)
□ Check and clean or replace furnace air filters every month during the heating season
□ Replace window screens with storm windows
□ If there is a door between your house and the garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely
□ Ensure windows close tightly
□ Clear eaves troughs and the roof of any leaves or debris in order to ensure proper drainage from the roof
□ Check chimneys for obstructions, such as nests
□ Drain and store outdoor hoses, and close the valve to the outdoor hose connection
□ Prepare for the winter – store outdoor furniture, prepare gardens, protect young trees or bushes, etc.
Winter
□ Clean humidifier two or three times during the winter season
□ Vacuum bathroom fan grille
□ Vacuum fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs could prevent them from functioning
□ Vacuum radiator grilles on back of refrigerators and freezers
□ Check gauge on all fire extinguishers, recharge or replace if necessary
□ Check fire escape routes, door and window locks and hardware – ensure your family has good security habits
□ Check all faucets for signs of dripping, and repair if required
□ Clean drains in dishwasher, sinks, bathtubs, and shower stalls
□ Examine windows and doors for ice accumulation or cold air leaks
Spring
□ Check air conditioning system and have serviced every two or three years
□ Clean or replace air conditioning filter
□ Have well water tested for quality, it is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months
□ Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms and replace batteries
□ Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens
□ Open valve to outside hose connection after all danger of frost has passed
□ Undertake spring landscape maintenance and, if necessary, fertilize young trees
Summer
□ Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60-percent, use a dehumidifier if necessary
□ Deep clean carpets and rugs
□ Check security of all guardrails and handrails
□ Check smooth functioning of all windows and lubricate as required
□ Lubricate garage door hardware as necessary
□ Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests
□ Repair driveway and walkways as needed
□ Repair any damaged steps that present a safety problem
As every home is unique, the above checklist may not be applicable to all various homes. However, routine maintenance and checkups are significant to maintaining each and every home’s health, safety, and value. Create your own checklist with necessary tasks as they pertain to your home, or click here for a printable version of the checklist you see above.
