The importance of maintenance
It has been observed that over ninety percent of all failures or defects with a homes components can be attributed to a lack of timely maintenance. Many of these items can be checked by a homeowner. However, there are areas of a home that the homeowner cannot inspect or it is unsafe for them to check. This is where a trained and certified home inspector that offers maintenance inspections can assist. Please note in the following checklist some of the seasonal maintenance items that need to be routinely inspected.
This is a checklists that you can use and incorporate into your routine home maintenance plan for your house. They are broken up into seasons. Due to the dangerous nature of inspecting some components, it is advised to hire a certified home inspector for a maintenance inspection.
Annually:
Hire a home inspector to perform a home maintenance inspection as part of your routine home maintenance plan.
In the Spring:
• Check for damage to your roof
• Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration
• Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer
• Check your water heater
• Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged
• Check your fire extinguishers
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
• Review your fire escape plan with your family
• Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface
• Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer
• Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
In the Summer:
• Check kids playing equipment
• Check your wood deck or concrete patio for deterioration
• Check the nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs
• Check exterior siding
• Check all window and door locks
• Check your home for water leaks
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator ice maker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles
In the Fall:
• Check your home for water leaks
• Have a heating professional check your heating system every year Home Maintenance Checklist for the Seasons
• Protect your home from frozen pipes
• Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone
• Test your emergency generator
• Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper
• Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures
• Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss
• Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring
In the Winter:
• Clean the gutters and downspouts
• Confirm firewood at least 20 feet away from your home
• Remove screens from windows and install storm windows
• Familiarize responsible family members with the gas main valve and other appliance valves
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer
• Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator ice maker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles
• Check your water heater
• Test all AFCI and GFCI devices
Annually:
Hire a home inspector to perform a home maintenance inspection as part of your routine home maintenance plan.
In the Spring:
• Check for damage to your roof
• Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration
• Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer
• Check your water heater
• Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged
• Check your fire extinguishers
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
• Review your fire escape plan with your family
• Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface
• Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer
• Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
In the Summer:
• Check kids playing equipment
• Check your wood deck or concrete patio for deterioration
• Check the nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs
• Check exterior siding
• Check all window and door locks
• Check your home for water leaks
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator ice maker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles
In the Fall:
• Check your home for water leaks
• Have a heating professional check your heating system every year Home Maintenance Checklist for the Seasons
• Protect your home from frozen pipes
• Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone
• Test your emergency generator
• Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper
• Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures
• Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss
• Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring
In the Winter:
• Clean the gutters and downspouts
• Confirm firewood at least 20 feet away from your home
• Remove screens from windows and install storm windows
• Familiarize responsible family members with the gas main valve and other appliance valves
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer
• Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator ice maker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles
• Check your water heater
• Test all AFCI and GFCI devices
Minor maintenance can be handled by you, the home owner. Please review the article below: 15 Tools Every Homeowner should own