Whether you are a brand new homeowner or have lived in your home for years, it is never too late to know how to properly maintain your home. To help prevent unexpected repair bills below you will find a list of helpful maintenance items that should be done each spring.
Exterior
- Inspect exterior of home for loose mortar in brick, or siding that has pulled away from the home.
- Keep all horizontal and vertical trim pieces well caulked.
- Keep all trees and shrubbery trimmed away from siding and/or brick.
- Clean gutters & downspouts, check for damage, looseness, leakage and misalignment.
- Check exterior drainage. Make sure rain water will flow away from the house.
- Check for loose, damaged, or missing shingles.
- If you have a crawl space, open the vents.
- Inspect flashings around chimneys, skylights, plumbing stacks, etc.
- Check vents, louvers and chimneys for bird or insect nests.
- Check fascia and soffit boards for water penetration or decay.
- Tree branches should be kept clear of wires.
- Have your air conditioning serviced prior to moving from heat to a/c. Hose off debris on exterior unit.
- Inspect the refrigerant lines for missing or damaged insulation.
- Keep the exterior unit free of debris and vegetation.
- Check windows for broken, cracked, loose or missing glass, peeling paint, drafts and smooth operation.
- Check double paned units for signs of seal failure (fogging between glass).
Interior
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Vacuum lint from clothes dryer vent.
- Inspect sinks, showers, and bath caulking for deterioration.
- Remove shower heads and clean sediment.
- Inspect plumbing for leaks, clean aerators in all faucets.
- Make sure fire extinguishers are fully charged; recharge or replace if needed.
- Clean grease filter in range hood.
- Clean appliances inside and out including coils under refrigerator.
- Deep clean and inspect basement.
