Home Maintenance Checklist

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Preventative maintenance, takes time and costs money, but it is still more cost effective than the crisis de jour approach of waiting until something breaks and then scrambling to have it repaired. Regular preventative maintenance can help to avoid repairs, extend the life expectancy of many components and in some cases, reduce energy consumption.

Here’s a simple preventative maintenance checklist to help keep your home in top shape year round.

Roof:

Check roof shingles for loose shingles or damage from branches, and around vents, skylights and chimneys for leaks. Repair as necessary. Flashing at dormers, plumbing stacks, valleys, should be carefully inspected. Flat roofs should be inspected for blisters, bubbles, and flashing details. Trees should be trimmed back from roof edges. Eaves: Sofits and fascia should be inspected for loose and rotted areas as well as areas damaged by squirrels.

Attic:

If there is no sofit / ridge vents, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.

Gutters:

Clean gutters and drain pipes so leaves won’t clog them and be sure they drain away from the house.

Grading:

The landscape grading adjacent to the house should be checked to ensure a “positive” slope of one inch per foot for the first six feet away from the house. Drain basins should be cleaned of debris and tested

Fireplace:

Clean fireplace of ashes. (Fall) Check for loose or missing chimney mortar. Have chimney professionally cleaned. Make sure damper closes tightly. Check chimney for worn flue liner or joints and for birds’ nests or other obstructions. Install a chimney cap.

HVAC Filters:

Remember to replace filters once a month, or as needed. Check and clean dryer vent, air conditioner, stove hood and bathroom fans. Especially after a renovation or dusty remodeling work.

Safety Equipment:

Ensure that all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order. Replace batteries in appropriate devices as needed, or at least twice each year.

Refrigerator:

Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced. In addition, if you have a coil-back refrigerator, vacuum the coils at least twice each year. Your refrigerator will run more efficiently with clean coils.

Bath & Faucets:

Check for leaky faucets in kitchen and bathroom(s). Replace washers as necessary.

Check caulking around sinks, bathtubs, and showers. Replace carbon cartridge for water filter

Windows and Doors:

Repair locks so windows seal tightly. Replace weather seals as needed.

Siding and Paint:

Look for cracks and holes in house siding or paint. Replace caulk if necessary.

Porches and Decks:

Wooden components should be checked for rot and insect infestation. Wood should be painted or stained as required.

Garage:

Automatic garage door openers should be tested and adjusted to reverse in the event of an emergency.

Attics:

Attics should be inspected annually for water stains on the underside of the roof sheathing. One should also look for rot, mildew, and fungus indicating high humidity levels in the attic. Check to make sure the insulation is not wet. Check for vermin, bird and bee nests. Check for missing insulation – bare spots. Make sure vents are open and not obstructed. Insulate hatch door.

Basement:

Check for moisture issues. Be sure to clean dehumidifier regularly, if you have one.

Locate and mark the shut-offs for the heating, electrical and plumbing systems.

Electrical Panel:

The main electrical panel should be checked annually for rust or water marks indicating moisture getting in. All breakers should be turned off and on to ensure none have seized. A panel which is warm to the touch or smells of burned insulation should be brought to the attention of an electrician. Burned wires indicating loose or poor connections should be repaired by qualified personnel. All circuits should be labeled. Ground fault circuit interrupters should be tested monthly.

Heating System:

(Fall) Have heating system serviced yearly. Change filters. Clean stovepipe between the stove and the chimney. Check vent pipe for corrosion and holes, and replace if necessary.

Wood Stoves:

Clean a wood-burning heater: Scrape interior (especially nooks and crannies)with wire brush. Check for cracks, and repair with stove cement if necessary. Clean exterior completely.

If heater has a blower, vacuum the blower or replace any filters, and oil the motor.

Hot Water Heater:

(Fall) Drain hot water heater and remove sediment from the bottom of the tank.

Trees, Shrubs and Vines:

Limbs overhanging the house should be cut back. Dead limbs should be removed. Vines should be trimmed back from all wood surfaces.

Lawn Sprinkler System:

Shut off water , and have system blown out for winter.

Lawn Mower:

(Spring) change oil, fresh gas, sharpen blade, new spark plug. (fall) empty gas for storage.

Snow Blower:

(Spring) Make any repairs, empty gas for storeage. (Fall) Lubricate, change oil, new spark plug, fresh gas, fill tires, extra sheer pins, test.

If you would like your home inspected give me a call 617-799-1971

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