Home Tips

Maintain Major Appliances

Nothing is quite so frustrating and potentially expensive as having a major appliance on which you rely on a daily basis, like your refrigerator, furnace or air conditioner, break down when you need it the most.  There are a few things that you can do on a regular basis to help ensure their longevity and effectiveness.  You can pull your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum off the condenser coils, as they rely on air flowing around them to work efficiently.  On your furnace, it’s easy to replace (or clean, on some models) your filter in order to keep it in good working order.  To keep your air conditioner in top form, keep the grill and register clean and it will keep on working for you when you need it the most.

Bathroom Maintenance

Bathrooms are constantly in need of maintenance because they collect dirt, and are exposed to high humidity on a regular basis, which can make things break down more often.  Ensure that the caulking in your bathroom is solid and secure.  If caulking starts to break away or crack, replace it as soon as possible before a problem arises.  Showers used on a regular basis will promote the accumulation of bacteria and mold.  Be sure to clean your shower on a regular basis, especially if you start to see an accumulation of film or black mold, typically on the shower curtains or doors.  If you see any leak around the base of your sink or toilet, be sure to seal it off as soon as possible, otherwise it can turn into a big problem.  Lastly, make sure that you have a bathroom exhaust fan and that it is in working order.  The fan can help to remove humid air quickly from the room, which cuts down the damage that such air can do to the room.

Be Aware of Winter Damage

The winter can take quite a toll on any home.  Water can seep into the tiniest crack and crevasses and then freeze, which can break the surface apart, causing severe damage.  In the spring, it’s a good idea to take a walk around your house to check for potential damage caused during the winter.  Often any damage that has happened can turn into an even bigger problem if it’s not caught early.  Check the ground and walls around the base of the house, as well as your driveway.  If you find any damage, call for a professional assessment and see what needs to be repaired.  Also take a look at the roof of your house.  Snow and ice can cause significant damage to shingles, and missing or damaged shingles can quickly turn into a damaged roof, which is a seriously expensive proposition.

Prepare to Paint

Are your walls looking dingy, stained or scratched?  Maybe what you need is a new coat of paint!  But make sure that you choose the right paint for your room, and make sure that you prepare it properly.  For the longest lasting pain job, start by washing the walls with a mild soap and water solution, and be sure that any mold or mildew is thoroughly removed before painting the room.  If your walls are stained at all, make sure that you prime those areas before painting.  Oily or greasy stains should be covered with a water-thinned primer, while water stains should be covered with two or three coats of an oil-based primer.  When choosing the actual paint, look for low VOC paint (Volatile Organic Compounds) as it will produce fewer odors during the painting and drying process.

Keeping the Bugs Out

Insects in the home can be anything from a nuisance to a health hazard, depending on the species of insect.  There are, however, some steps that you can take to keep the bugs out of your home in the first place so that you can reduce the chances of having to call in a professional.  First of all, caulk all openings to the outdoor of your home, especially ones on the first floor.  This means going around all of your windows and doors, and making sure that there are no spaces where an insect can just walk into your house.  Also ensure that your attic is sealed off from bats and birds, as insects can sometimes travel into a home riding on one of them.  If you take these steps, you can drastically reduce the chances of any bugs getting into your home.

Garage Door Safety Check

Garage door safety is not something that most people think of.  However, in an age when many garage doors are automatic, it is important to ensure that your garage door is as safe as possible.  First, you should make sure that your garage door is properly balanced (this applies to both automatic and manual garage doors.)  If you have an automatic garage door, first ensure that it is in manual mode.  Life the door from the closed position - a properly balanced garage door will glide up smoothly and easily, and it should stay open.  If not, then your door needs rebalancing.  The second test only applies to automatic garage door openers.  Place a box or item about the size of a small pet or child in the path of the door.  Close the automatic door.  As soon as the door comes in contact with the object, it should pop up immediately.  If not, your automatic garage door system needs calibrating.

Be Prepared for Blackouts

Most homes can expect to have their power go out on occasion.  There are some simple things that you can do to make sure that the experience is less frightening.  The first thing is to ensure that you have at least one flashlight stored conveniently in the house.  Make sure that you check the flashlights regularly and change batteries at the first sign of weakness.  Next, make sure that you have extra batteries in the house.  Just in case the blackout ends up lasting a long time.  Also keep some back-up candles handy.  Designate those candles as emergency candles, so that you don’t use them for anything else.  Be sure that you have some matches handy too!

Keep Your House Comfortable

The heating and cooling systems in your house play vital roles when it comes to keeping your home comfortable.  It’s important, therefore, to ensure that the equipment that keeps the temperature just right is maintained properly.  Your furnace should be served by a qualified serve company annually.  Proper maintenance of your furnace can save you money by making sure that it’s operating at peak efficiency and can also translate into extended life for this major appliance.  On your air conditioner, make sure that you either replace or clean, if possible, the filter and inspect the drain pan under the cooling coil to confirm that it is draining properly and that it is clean.  Seasonal check-ups will help to maintain the ideal home temperature all year long.

Getting Ready for Winter

When winter comes, there are a number of things that you can do for your home and for yourself to make the cold season easier.  First of all, replace all of your screens with storm windows so that you keep the heat in and the c0ld out.  Clean out your gutters and downspouts so that any melting snow and ice goes away from your house, which can prevent damage to your foundation as well as any surrounding concrete or asphalt.  Turn off the valve to the outside water hose.  This will prevent your pipes freezing and bursting if they get too cold.  Another tip to prevent burst pipes is to ensure that any pipes that pass through uninsulated portions of your home (such as an unfinished basement) are wrapped in pipe insulation.  All of these steps will help to ensure that your winter is comfortable & safe.

Install & Maintain Alarms

One of the simplest things that you can do to keep yourself and your family as safe as possible is to make sure that you have at least one smoke alarm on each floor, and ensure that you have a carbon monoxide detector in your basement.  These devices can go a long way towards making your house as safe as possible.  Once you’ve installed these devices, it’s also very important to ensure that they are kept in good working order.  Make sure to test them at least twice a year, and replace their batteries on a regular basis.  Many people are also tempted to remove the batteries if the device starts to sound the alarm when there is no problem.  If the device is malfunctioning, don’t just remove the batteries: replace the device and ensure that you always have functioning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

Climate-conscious Windows

In most houses, windows are an integral part of the building.  They let us see the world around us, as well as letting natural light into the house.  Improperly maintained windows, however, can be a big burden on your heating and cooling bill.  Check your windows for drafts and leaks.  A quick and easy way is to hold a lighted match to their edges on a blustery day.  If it blows out and the smoke flutters, it’s time to stock up on new weather stripping.  If you live in a warmer climate, you might want to consider applying sun-control film to your south facing windows, as this will keep down the amount of heat that pours in through the windows in the form of sunlight.  Last, but not least, drapes will help both the warm and cold weather window by providing insulation and keeping the cold and hot air where it should be.