INSPECTION CONNECTION

 Home Maintenance: On-going activities every homeowner should perform

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Equipment - The HVAC system in your home is an essential system for your comfort. In the winter, the system provides hot air to combat the effects of cold weather outside. In the summer, the air conditioner works hard to keep inside air cool. If properly maintained, these systems should last an average of 12-15 years, depending on climate. The furnace filters should be changed monthly, especially during the heating season. On a typical split system with gas furnace and outside air conditioning compressor/condenser, we recommend that each system be cleaned and checked by a professional technician at least once annually. In Northern climates where central humidifiers are common, we recommend cleaning the filter chamber regularly to prevent bacteria build-up and installing a new filter pad at least annually.

Garage - For most people, the garage is used to safely store cars, boats, bicycles, and lots of other personal belongings. Since many homes have electric garage door openers, the door is a very important home appliance. Most mainsprings on garage doors are rated for about 18,000-20,000 lifts. On average, this means about 5 years of use. Keeping the door tracks clean and lubricated and the support brackets tight will help the door to move more easily, thereby putting less stress on the spring. And less stress on the spring translates to a longer life. It’s also important to ensure that the fire door to the house has a self-closing mechanism that causes the door to close automatically. This helps to maintain the fire rating of the garage. And check both the electronic sensors and the reversing mechanism on the garage door at least monthly. Both are very important safety devices that help prevent accidents.

Site Drainage - Most homes with basements suffer from leakage issues at one time or another. Did you know that most leakage issues in basements are the result of roof drainage issues? Doesn’t seem to make sense, does it? However, even in homes without clogged gutters and downspouts, most downspouts are not routed properly away from the foundation. And emptying your downspout near the foundation is like pouring water into your basement with a hose. All downspouts should route away from the foundation at least 1” per linear foot. For example, a six foot extension on a downspout should slope downwards 6” from the foundation wall. This will help protect the foundation wall from water intrusion that results when heavy rains have nowhere to go.

Electric - Know the in’s and out’s of proper testing. All GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupt) -protected electrical receptacles should be tested at least monthly by pushing the red test button and resetting it. All receptacles within 6’ of a water source (such as the kitchen sink) should be fitted with GFCI’s. Check extension cords periodically to ensure there are no frays, cuts or loose plugs. Be certain to use UL-approved cords and do not overload the extension cord. Use care when unplugging appliances by grasping on the plug, not the cord. Never work with electricity when your hands or feet are wet. Recognize the dangers of overloading circuits with too many appliances. Circuit breakers or fuses are meant to trip when circuits are overloaded; never defeat the intent of a breaker or fuse by installing a breaker or fuse that is larger than the circuit that it serves (15 amp circuits should have 15 amp breakers, etc.). This is common practice on large appliances such as furnaces, because electric motors draw more amperage on start-up. This can also be accomplished by the installation of a time-delay fuse connected to the shut-off at the shut-off panel adjacent to the unit (assuming it has one). However, it is not recommended that a homeowner perform any of these tasks unless he/she is a licensed electrician or an HVAC technician.

Plumbing

Drains are one of the most frequent home challenges. Although they are part of the passive water system of the home, they often clog and back-up. One great way to keep drains flowing is to pour scalding hot water down the drain once a month for about 2 minutes. The hot water will help dislodge hair, food, and other matter that is typically trapped in the P-trap under the sink. In addition, it’s fairly easy to detach and cleanout P traps if they become so clogged that hot water doesn’t work. Simply place a bucket underneath the P trap, loosen the couplings on either end and disconnect. Then clean the P trap out with an old toothbrush, rag and hose on the outside of the house (no reason to add all that gunk to another sink). Reassemble and tighten the couplings. Then test for leaks.