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We spend money and time maintaining our vehicles..They are a
depreciating asset...Why don’t we maintain our homes the same way we maintain our vehicles?
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Hazardous
deck
Look for water stains where the deck ties to the house. Ongoing water leakage can lead to wood decay, weakening the deck structure and the house. If you have any doubt about the structural integrity of the deck, call a pro to investigate.
Look for nails that may have popped up or some loose boards. We prefer screws or ring shank nails. Make sure you use fasteners rated for pressure treated material. If not, the nails may rust off due to the chemicals in the treated lumber.
Look for water stains where the deck ties to the house. Ongoing water leakage can lead to wood decay, weakening the deck structure and the house. If you have any doubt about the structural integrity of the deck, call a pro to investigate.
Look for nails that may have popped up or some loose boards. We prefer screws or ring shank nails. Make sure you use fasteners rated for pressure treated material. If not, the nails may rust off due to the chemicals in the treated lumber.
Check your railings for loose areas.
Rid your deck of moss and mold. Pressure washers are effective.
Remember, if you see wood damage, like raised fibers, increase the distance
between the spray nozzle and the decking.
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Dirty
air conditioner
Disconnect electric power to the outdoor condenser on your air conditioner and clear it of leaves and debris with a vent brush, power blower, garden hose, or the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. If the cooling fins are exposed, be careful not to bend them. (If your yard has lots of trees and plants, wrap fiberglass mesh around the condenser coil to capture pollen and leaves. Replace the mesh as needed. Don't allow debris to block airflow.) Vacuum the grille and register inside the home to ensure good airflow. And change your furnace filter.
Disconnect electric power to the outdoor condenser on your air conditioner and clear it of leaves and debris with a vent brush, power blower, garden hose, or the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. If the cooling fins are exposed, be careful not to bend them. (If your yard has lots of trees and plants, wrap fiberglass mesh around the condenser coil to capture pollen and leaves. Replace the mesh as needed. Don't allow debris to block airflow.) Vacuum the grille and register inside the home to ensure good airflow. And change your furnace filter.
Also – Level up the outside unit. Sometimes they
settle. The fan spins horizontally. The bearings will wear out faster if it is
not level. It will start squealing.
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Foundation
Issues
Hairline cracks in foundation walls might be the result of concrete curing or minor settling and aren't automatically cause for alarm. Mark them with tape and check them again in a few months. If they've worsened, call a structural engineer. If they're stable, fill them with a grout or spray foam in a can.
Also:
Hairline cracks in foundation walls might be the result of concrete curing or minor settling and aren't automatically cause for alarm. Mark them with tape and check them again in a few months. If they've worsened, call a structural engineer. If they're stable, fill them with a grout or spray foam in a can.
Also:
·
Fill in holes in siding and foundation walls with expandable foam.
·
Check that the ground around the foundation slopes away from the
house (about 1 inch per foot).
·
Clear the area of leaves, in which rodents can nest.
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Clogged
gutters
Clear gutters of debris and check them for corrosion, joint separation, and loose fasteners. Flush out downspouts and unclog leader pipes. Leaders should extend at least 5 feet to direct water away from the foundation.
Big issue!!!! Especially
now that all the leaves have fallen off the trees – stubborn oaks, but it will
be raining more.
Often times, this is one of the largest reasons water gets into
the basements!!!!
I had some underground pipes that were clogged. I ran a plumbers snake into the pipes to
clean them
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Leaky Roof
Leaks typically occur around an inadequately flashed chimney, skylight, or other opening. They're easiest to spot in the attic; inspect the rafters for water stains.
Sometimes you can see daylights when you are in the attic. I have seen it around chimneys. It needs to be repaired.
Clean leaves from roof valleys, chimneys, etc
Examine where your siding on the dormers meets your roof. Often times, this siding is rotten because it
is in contact with the roof.
Examine the siding under roof eaves, and the ceilings in the rooms
below, for water or discoloration, indications that ice dams might have created
leaks along the roof edge.
Inspect the roof for cracked, curled, or missing shingles. Asphalt shingles typically last 20 years. Use binoculars!!!!!
Inspect the roof for cracked, curled, or missing shingles. Asphalt shingles typically last 20 years. Use binoculars!!!!!
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Weakened trees
Inspect trees for broken branches. If the limb is high up, hire a licensed arborist. If you can reach it from the ground, take it down using the three-cut technique, which prevents bark from tearing and creating an open wound on the trunk:
·
Make the first cut 1 to 2 feet from the branch collar, sawing a
quarter way through the bottom of the branch.
·
Make the second cut 3 inches farther out from the first, sawing
all the way through the branch.
·
Make the final cut just beyond the branch collar, sawing from the
top down.
Inspect for roots poking through the soil, a
possible sign that the tree is starting to list.
Cracked pavement
Nip cracks in the bud in the driveway and paths before weeds take up residence. Home centers sell patching materials and fillers designed for asphalt and concrete surfaces. These DIY fixes might not do the trick on surfaces that have ruptured from the effects of frost heaving. For those, you'll need to hire a professional to pour or pave a new surface over stabilized soil.
If you have a path that was dry set (as opposed to set in mortar), brush stone dust or sand in the joints to lock the pavers in place and prevent weeds from invading.
Cracked pavement
Nip cracks in the bud in the driveway and paths before weeds take up residence. Home centers sell patching materials and fillers designed for asphalt and concrete surfaces. These DIY fixes might not do the trick on surfaces that have ruptured from the effects of frost heaving. For those, you'll need to hire a professional to pour or pave a new surface over stabilized soil.
If you have a path that was dry set (as opposed to set in mortar), brush stone dust or sand in the joints to lock the pavers in place and prevent weeds from invading.
Heating System: Have the heating
system serviced. Change filters.
More areas to look
at – A little different than your average tips:
Automatic Garage Door opener – Check the auto reverse safety feature.
Well Water – Have it tested for bacteria, etc.
Vents – For your bath fans and dryers
·
Animals often times build nests in these things
·
Get up in your attic to make sure the vent pipes from your bath fan, your
dryer, or your range hood are connected.
Sometimes these become disconnected and blow into the attic
·
Make sure your dryer is vented to the OUTSIDE of your home
Check your washing machine hose connection
Filters: Remember to clean or replace
filters once a month, or as needed. Check and clean the dryer vent, air
conditioner, stove hood, and room fans. Keep heating and cooling vents clean
and free from furniture and draperies.
Test your GFI’s – There is a little button on the GFI that says test. Push it in and see if your appliance works
Test your GFI’s – There is a little button on the GFI that says test. Push it in and see if your appliance works
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.
·
Do you have any safety ladders for
getting out of second floor bedrooms in case of a fire?
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. Also, stock up! A full
refrigerator uses less energy than an empty one
Clean your
windows – Spring is beautiful – flowers, trees, etc. Clean your windows so you can really see what
is out there!!!!!
Sharpen your
mower blades – Dull blades will rip the grass and not cut it. Ripped grass is more damaging to grass than
grass that has been cut.
Sprinklers:
Check lawn sprinkler system for leaky valves, exposed lines, and improperly
working sprinkler heads. If there is an area of your yard that collects too
much water or doesn't get enough, run the sprinklers to figure out the problem.
If it's not something you can fix yourself, call a professional before your lawn
needs the water.
Check
your sump pump – You probably did not get much water in
it this winter. Take a large bucket into
the basement and see if it kicks on.
Check
your water softener – Is your salt restocked?
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