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Keeping your Home in Shape with Judith (Part 3)

By
Real Estate Agent with REMAX River Cities. Inc
Helpful Hints to Keep your Home in Tip-Top Shape with Judith(Part 3)

Inside tasks

Change your furnace filters monthly.
“It’s so easy to do but so critical,” says Frank Lesh, President of the American Society of Home Inspectors and head of his own home inspection company.

Drain your water heater at least once a year. Sediment will drain out along with the water from the water tank. Removing sediment can prolong the heaters useful life.

Clean the coils. If you have baseboard heating units that use hot water, clear dust from the coils inside the units to maximize heating efficiency. Clean dust whenever you see it accumulating. If you have a hot water boiler/furnace, you should also oil the pump inside the furnace twice a year, says Lesh. Look for the three spots on the pump designated for oiling.

Check your circuits Test the performance of the circuit breakers in your electrical circuit box twice a year by flipping them off and back on. If you have a circuit that keeps shutting off with normal daily electrical use, call an electrician. A faulty circuit breaker could indicate a short in the wiring inside your walls.

Watch out for drips. Check under sinks periodically to look for leaks or water stains that might indicate leaks. Catching a small problem early can prevent water damage and hassle. Use a plunger to clean out sinks and tubs whenever water doesn’t drain normally.

Replace regularly. Water heaters, furnaces, roofs, and other key components of your home should be replaced before they fail, based on their average useful lives.

Schedule for Replacement(Average life span in years)

Exterior Painting: 5-10 years

Furnace: 15-50 years

Roof: 13-15 years

Water Heater: 7-15 years

Wood Deck Staining: 4-7 years

Posted by

Judith Knutson

 Broker/Realtor®/GRI/CREN

Licensed in IA & IL

 Cell:    563-340-7906

Email:  Judithknutson@gmail.com

 

Thinking of relocating to the quad cities?

Visit my website: http://www.judithknutson.com

REMAX River Cities - 4555 Utica Ridge rd, Bettendorf, IA 52722

Comments (1)

Diane Beck
Vibrant Interiors - Pittsburgh, PA
Greater Pittsburgh's Award Winning Home Stager

Judith~

These are all things the homeowners and visitors don't see but absolutely need to be kept up.  Each only takes a few minutes of time and can save so much on repairs if neglected.

Jun 15, 2010 05:43 AM