Your home is your palace and it is one of the single biggest investments you'll ever make, so be sure that you do all you can to care for it properly. When and if your thinking of Selling your home in this Buyers market, a well-maintained home usually sells more readily and will usually bring a higher price. A well maintained home is also more comfortable to live in and any regular care that you do perform, minimizes any unexpected repair work and expenses. Regularly scheduled small repairs and upgrades to your home can and will keep maintenance costs from becoming exorbitant.
It's cold outside (in many areas) right now, so I have comprised a list of home maintenance items that an be completed inside your home. Let's get started...
Clean or replace your furnace air filters every other month during this heating season. Periodically check the ventilation area outside (intake and exhaust) to make sure they are not blocked by snow or debris. Then go back inside and vacuum all the heating supply registers, return grills, baseboards or radiators.
After consulting your hot water tank owner's manual, carefully test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is not stuck in the closed position. (Caution: This test may release hot water that can cause burns and it may also cause the valve to develop a slow leak due to sediment build-up not allowing the valve to close fully. This will require a plumber to replace the TPR valve). In some areas, sludge may accumulate in the bottom of the water heater. Draining approximately 1 gallon of water from the clean-out spigot at the bottom of your tank will indicate the presence of sludge and the necessity for regular draining to control sediment and maintain it's efficiency. Be sure to shut off the power or fuel supply before draining any water from the water heater.
Clean the humidifier internal parts (if equipped), two or three times during the winter season. These parts become clogged very easily.
Vacuum bathroom fan grille or any other registers you may have in your home. I recommend removing the register grills and vacuuming inside the duct work also, (as far in as possible). Vacuum all fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs can prevent them from functioning. Dust all ceiling fan blades.
Vacuum radiator grilles at the rear of refrigerators and freezers. Empty and clean the drip tray underneath the refrigerator.
Check inside bathroom vanities and kitchen sink cabinets for signs of moisture. Look for leaks at shut-off valves at sinks, toilets, laundry equipment, and main water shut-off valves. Carefully inspect all pipes for condensation or slow drips. Repair the plumbing system if necessary.
Remove mineral deposits from faucet aerators and shower heads by removing them and soaking the parts in white vinegar and scrubbing them with an old toothbrush.
Examine attic for frost accumulation. Check roof for ice dams or ice build-up. If either of these do occur, this is a sign of inadequate insulation and/or improper ventilation. Have these corrected accordingly.
Check all electrical cords, plugs and outlets for all indoor and outdoor seasonal lights to ensure fire safety: if worn, or if the plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace immediately. Check the operation of all ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets by pushing the "Test" button. The "reset" button should automatically pop out, indicating the receptacle is operating properly. Now press in the "Reset" button. Check the AFCI circuit breakers inside the main electrical panel (if your home was built after 2002). Press the white "Test" button to make sure it trips. Then reset these after testing. Have a licensed Electrician replace these if they are not tripping.
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