The importance of maintaining your new home on a regular basis is directly comparable to maintaining a brand new car. If you never change the oil or get the car tuned up, little problems will eventually become big problems. Similarly, your new home has numerous components and equipment that require periodic maintenance. By implementing the preventative maintenance guidelines, you can help keep the components of your home functioning properly with as few problems as possible.
Spring Maintenance Reminder
- Clean and test smoke alarms, change batteries.
- Test and reset ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers.
- Change or clean the return air filter.
- Operate air-conditioning system; if service is needed it is more conveniently arranged before the busiest part of the season arrives.
- Adjust A/C registers (vents).
- Make certain the rear yard A/C condenser is clear of debris and grease.
- Drain sediment from the bottom of the water heater per manufacturer’s instructions.
- Inspect grout around all tile (floor, countertop or surround) and touch up.
- Wash windows and screens, clean weep holes, and lubricate tracks.
- Check caulking, inside and out, and touch up.
- Check garage overhead door; tighten bolts as needed, and lubricate springs with motor oil. Have other repairs done by professionals.
- Start and adjust sprinkler system. Test exterior faucets for broken pipes.
- Clean gutters and confirm that downspouts or splash-blocks drain away from house.
- Look for settling of backfill soils and fill in where needed.
- Check exterior paint surfaces and touch up or refinish as needed.
- On pleasant days open windows to allow house to breathe.
- Prune back tree branches and shrubs that are too close to the house.
- Open footing vents to allow airflow through crawl space (in regions where applicable).
Fall Maintenance Reminder
- Clean and test smoke alarms, change batteries.
- Test and reset ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers.
- Change or clean the return air filter.
- Operate the heating system.
- Adjust heating registers (vents).
- Adjust or replace weather stripping on exterior doors as needed.
- Check the fit of doors; thresholds are adjustable.
- Wash windows and screens, clean weep holes, and lubricate tracks.
- Check caulking, inside and out, and touch up.
- Check garage overhead door; tighten bolts as needed, and lubricate springs with motor oil. Have other repairs done by professionals.
- Remove hoses from exterior faucets. “Freeze proof” faucets to prevent a broken water line if the water in the hose freezes and expands the pipe. Use an air compressor to blow out residual water within sprinkler pipes to prevent freezing.
- Clean gutters and confirm that downspouts or splash-blocks drain away from house.
- Check foundation, concrete, and yard for settling; fill in as needed for positive drainage.
- On pleasant days open windows to allow house to breathe.
- Close footing vents to prevent pipes within crawl space from freezing (in regions where applicable).
- Decorate safely for the holidays. Do not overload circuits or use worn extension cords.