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Tips for Homeowners

To protect your investment in your home, it’s important to perform regular maintenance. The following tips not only help you to prevent costly repairs in the future, but can also make your home more efficient, saving you money on your monthly utility bills.

1. Inspect the exterior of your home annually:
• Check the foundation for cracking.
• Check the weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows, and check for cracks and holes in the siding.
• Check the paint for peeling, cracking, fading or blistering.
• Trim shrubs and trees so they clear the foundation, exterior walls, and roof.
• Drain and shut off your outside faucets before winter.
• Clean gutters and downspouts in the fall and spring.
• Clean leaves and mulch from under porches and decks, and pull mulch away from foundation walls.
  
  
2. Check annually for water or moisture in the crawl space, as well as for water leaks in the basement or in the attic.
   
   
3. Drain a gallon or two from your hot water heater at least twice a year to extend its life expectancy.
   
   
4. Have your chimney cleaned each year before using the fireplace.
   
   
5. Check the filters on your heating/cooling unit once a month and change or clean on the recommended schedule. Have the unit serviced annually.
   
   
6. Check faucets for drips and the rest of the plumbing for leaks once a month.
   
   
7. Check your dryer vent and stove hood monthly and clean them as needed.
   
   
8. Inspect and repair tile grout in bathrooms and kitchen annually.
   
   
9. Change the batteries in your smoke alarm twice a year.
   
   
10. Make sure that you know where the main cut-off valves or switches are for the plumbing, electrical and gas systems.

You can find more tips at Checklists.com