Home Maintenance
There are a couple of rules of thumb that can help guide you when budgeting for unexpected home repairs. According to the one percent rule, you should set aside at least one percent of your home's value every year for home maintenance. 20 Home Maintenance Tipsfor First-Time Home Owners. Check Your HVAC Filters –filters should be checked monthly.
Caulk Your Windows –look for caulking that has split or dried up, remove it and apply new caulking.
Check Your Weather Stripping –seals on doors and windows is where major drafts come in.
Check Your Basement for Moisture –install a dehumidifier and see how much water you collect.
Reseal Your Deck –with our harsh winters, you will want to reseal your deck every year.
Touch up Exterior Paint and Caulking –You want to keep any moisture from coming in and this allows you to inspect the outside of your home.
Ensure the HVAC is Serviced Regularly –No one wants to have the heat or AC stops working, set a reminder in your calendar.
Sump pump –if you have a sump pump, install a backup battery, and replace the battery every 3 years.
Check the caulking inside your home(bathroom, kitchen and door seals), it is not uncommon to replace the caulking
Clean Your Gutters –Ensure there is no debris in your gutters, you want the water running away from your foundation.
Visit Your Attic –Check for any moisture, the light coming in.
Insulate Water Heater and Pipes– I use to have a pipe that constantly froze, and frozen pipes can be scary; by simply covering the pipe in insulation the pipe never froze again.
Install a Programmable Thermostat– This is a great way to save on heating/cooling costs.
Clean Your Dryer Vent– it is amazing how much lint collects in the dryer hose and vent, give it a good vacuum, and don’t forget to check the
outside vent as well.
Extend Your Downspout– Twice a year I check that the water is running away from the foundation over time they can get unlatched and move.
Clean the hood fan– As we are all at home cooking
more, you want to make sure the screens and hood fan get built-up residue, be sure to clean monthly.
Check Your Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detectors– if you have battery-operated smoke detectors, replace the batteries often, test them to ensure they are working regularly
Make Sure You Know Where Water Shut-Offs Are Located– drain and winterize exterior plumbing; make a list and leave it by the hydro panel with locations for all the shut-offs and label each shut-off valve.
Clean Heat registers and heat vents– vacuum regularly
List of Emergency Contacts– Have a list on the side of the fridge, that has contacts for a plumber, HVAC company, electrician, etc.
