Home Maintenance Tips

Protect Your Investment with Consistent Home Maintenance

Owning a home means adding a few line items to your to-do sheet. Spending a few hours on home maintenance throughout the year will save you thousands of dollars in potential repairs. So do yourself – and your happiness – a favor, get familiar with this recommended new home maintenance list so you’ll take good care of the biggest and best investment you’ll ever make.

SPRING HOME MAINTENANCE

Roof: Inspect roof surface, flashing, eaves, and soffits; repair if needed.
Gutters: Clean and clear (unless house is installed with no maintenance gutters then check for damage).
Downspouts: Inspect for proper connections and drainage flow away from foundation.
Siding: Inspect and clean siding with easy hose hook up bottle house wash; repair if needed.
Air conditioner: Remove cover and remove debris from exterior.
Exterior A/C condenser: Clean dust / dirt build up for system to cool your home properly.
Outdoor faucets:
- Turn on valves to outdoor faucets.
- Reconnect garden hoses.
HVAC System:
- Balance your HVAC air ducts for proper cooling through the summer months. Hot air rises, cold air falls.
Exterior caulking: Inspect caulking and replace any that is deteriorating.
Windowsills, doorsills, thresholds: Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint; replace if needed.
Window and door screens: Clean screens and repair or replace screening if necessary.
Trees/bushes/shrubs: Prune any limbs or branches making contact with the home. Maintain at lest six inches of clearance between landscaping and siding.
Dryer vents: Clean, including exterior vent hood.

FALL HOME MAINTENANCE

HVAC System:
- Furnace clean and tune up by professional service contractor.
- Balance your HVAC air ducts for proper heating through the winter months. Hot air rises, cold air falls.
Sprinkler system: Shut off irrigation water valve and have system professionally blown out.
Windows: Check that they are fully closed and locked.
Gutters: Clean and clear (unless house is installed with no maintenance gutters then check for damage).
Downspouts: Inspect for proper connections and drainage flow away from foundation.
Roof: Inspect roof surface, flashing, eaves, and soffits; repair if needed.
Siding: Inspect and clean siding with easy hose hook up bottled house wash; repair if needed.
Air conditioner: Cover top of A/C condenser with a tarp.
Exterior caulking: Inspect caulking and replace any that is deteriorating.
Window and door weather stripping: Inspect and repair or replace if it is deteriorating or if it does not seal.
Outdoor faucets:
- Shut off valves to outdoor faucets.
- Disconnect hoses and open spigots and drain
- Store hoses indoors.
Trees/bushes/shrubs:
- Prune any limbs or branches making contact with the home.
- Maintain at least six inches of clearance between landscaping and siding.

MONTHLY

Fire extinguisher: This is always a good thing to have on hand when needed.
Washing machine:
- Discharge filter, sink stoppers, drain holes
- Clean out debris
- Check for leaks on hose connections
Garbage disposal: Clean by grinding ice cubes then flushing with hot water and baking soda.
Water softener: Check and replenish salt when necessary.
Forced-air heating system: Change filters (unless otherwise noted by filter or manual).
HRV / ERV Air Exchanger:
- Check and clean washable filters.
- Vacuum HVAC returns and supply vents.
- Clean exterior Air Exchanger vents located on the side of the home.
Range hood: Clean grease filter.
Drains for sinks, showers and tubs:
- Check water supply and drains under sinks for possible leaks including your dishwasher.
- Run water in drains that are not used regularly to prevent sewer gas smell.
Doors: Tighten screws for all door handles as well as cabinet door hinges that become loose.

EVERY 3 MONTHS

Faucets and shower heads: Clean aerators due to buildup of mineral deposits in water.
Basement floor drain: Clear away blockages and debris.
Furnace and water heater: Assure that flammables are kept away from.
Sump pump: Check operation and GFI outlet that both are functioning properly.

EVERY 6 MONTHS

Smoke detector: Test batteries and replace if needed.
Interior caulking: Inspect caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks; replace any if it is deteriorating.
Clothes dryer: Vacuum lint from ducts and surrounding areas.
Garage door: Check operation, lubricate garage door track and rollers with lithium grease spray.
Drains for sinks, showers and tubs: Check all that water flows freely. Clean drains when needed due to hair build up.

ANNUALLY

Main drain: Have a drain cleaning professional clean out the main line, particularly if there are mature trees in your yard, roots could have cracked the pipe.
Water heater: Drain water until it is clear of sediment; test temperature pressure relief valve; clean burner and ports (gas heater).
HVAC system: Have a professional tune up your heat/air conditioning system, per manual
Refrigerator:
- Vacuum coils on bottom front for dust and dirt.
- Replace refrigerator water filter and air filter. Model number located inside fridge wall for proper filters.
Pest control: Check areas of the home inside and out, if pests are present treat areas immediately, yourself or professionally.

Owning a home does not come naturally to most.
Especially when it’s your first home.

Little noises you never noticed when renting suddenly gnaw at you with fears of issues and expensive repairs. Brandl Anderson understands this anxiety. We’ve had it too, and we’re here to help you get through it with our new home warranty, repair program and maintenance tips. With Brandl Anderson behind you, little noises are no concern.