Homeowner Maintenance Schedule

Consider following a schedule for maintaining your

home. A schedule will serves as a reminder of the

inspections and maintenance you should perform each

month and each season.

The old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of

cure" was never more appropriate than when it comes to

maintaining your home.

 I've put together some

maintenance pages that you can print out and use as regular

checklists around your home.

Use this maintenance schedule as a guide for maintaining

your home.

A general maintenance schedule lists tasks to perform once a month or as needed.

Seasonal maintenance schedules list tasks to perform in the spring, summer, fall and

winter.

Many items listed on the schedules should be inspected as recommended but will need

only occasional, if any, maintenance. You will soon develop a feel for what tasks should

be performed when.

Perform every month or as needed

__ Inspect fire extinguishers to insure they are fully charged.

__ Check automatic garage door opener's safety reverse.

__ Test smoke detectors.

__ Test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters.

__ Clean or replace air filters when the system is in use for heating or cooling.

__ Vacuum heat registers, vents and radiators .

__ Listen to your system for unusual noises .

__ Drain water from bottom of the water heater.

__ Grind ice cubes to clean garbage disposal. Flush with hot water and baking soda.

__ Clean dishwasher strainer and spray arm.

__ Clean range fan's grease filter.

__ Clean frost-free refrigerator's drain and drain pan.

__ Pour water down unused drains .

__ Clean debris from sink and tub drains. Inspect tub drain's rubber seal. Rinse.

__ Clean faucet aerators and shower heads .

__ Inspect roof materials & roof flashings .

__ Clean & inspect gutters & downspouts .

__ Have a chimney sweep clean & inspect chimney after burning season ends.

__ Inspect & clean siding .

__ Inspect vents, chimneys & other protected areas for bird & insect nests.

__ Clean window & door screens. Repair or replace damaged screens.

__ Inspect weatherstripping around doors, windows & garage doors. Repair as necessary.

__ Inspect caulking & re-caulk as necessary.

__ Inspect foundation for cracks, moisture & insects.

__ Clean debris away from home, utility equipment & other structures.

__ Trim trees & shrubs away from home.

__ Inspect wood decks, steps & rails for loose or damaged boards & raised nails.

__ Clean space between boards on wood decks, walks & steps.

__ Have heat pump or air-conditioning system serviced before cooling season begins .

__ Inspect water heater's temperature pressure relief valve for signs of leaks or discharge.

__ Replace smoke detector batteries. Vacuum around smoke detector & its sensor .

__ Clean & lubricate garage door hinges, rollers & tracks. Tighten screws.

__ Inspect paint & sealant on exterior & garage doors, particularly along bottom edge.

__ Inspect walls & ceilings for cracks, bows, sags & leans.

__ Clean & seal tile grout.

__ Tighten garbage disposal's drain connections & fasteners.

__ Inspect dishwasher for leaks.

__ Clean range fan blades & housing.

__ Clean & test refrigerator door gasket.

__ Vacuum refrigerator coils.

__ Clean clothes washer's water inlet filters. Inspect hoses for leaks.

__ Vacuum lint from clothes dryer ducts & surrounding areas.

__ Inspect sinks & plumbing shutoff valves for leaks.

__ Test toilets for stability & inspect for leaks.

__ Inspect caulking around sinks, showers & bathtubs. Re-caulk as necessary.

__ "Exercise" circuit breakers.

__ Check for frayed appliance cords.

__ Inspect roof after large winter storms.

__ Inspect gutters and downspouts during a rain storm for leaks.

__ Keep gutters clean of ice and debris.

__ Check for drafts along doors and windows. Caulk and repair weatherstripping if

necessary.

__ Tighten garbage disposal's drain connections and fasteners.

__ Inspect dishwasher for leaks.

__ Clean range fan blades and housing.

__ Clean and test refrigerator door gasket.

__ Vacuum refrigerator coils.

__ Clean clothes washer's water inlet filters. Inspect hoses for leaks.

__ Vacuum lint from clothes dryer ducts and surrounding areas.

__ Inspect sinks and plumbing shutoff valves for leaks.

__ Test toilets for stability and inspect for leaks.

__ Inspect caulking around sinks, showers & bathtubs. Re-caulk as necessary.

__ "Exercise" circuit breakers.

__ Check for frayed appliance cords.

__ Inspect roof materials & roof flashings.

__ Clean & inspect gutters & downspouts.

__ Inspect siding.

__ Inspect caulking & re-caulk as necessary.

__ Inspect foundation for cracks, moisture & insects.

__ Clean debris away from home, utility equipment & other structures.

__ Trim trees & shrubs away from home.

__ Inspect wood decks, steps & rails for loose or damaged boards & raised nails.

__ Clean space between boards on wood decks, walks & steps.

__ Drain water from outdoor faucets & pipes. Remove & store outdoor hoses.

__ Clean ceiling fan blades.

__ Clean bathroom exhaust fan grills & fan blades.

__ Have heating system serviced before the heating season begins.

__ Inspect water heater's temperature pressure relief valve for signs of leaks or discharge.

__ Replace smoke detector batteries. Vacuum around smoke detector & its sensor.