It seems like yesterday that I put together a Winter Checklist for your home maintenance! Since spring has officially arrived, here is your latest seasonal home maintenance checklist.
- Continue to check and clean or replace your furnace air filters each month until the heating season is over. Heat recovery ventilator filters, or other ventilation system filters, should be checked every two months.
- Have your fireplace or woodstove and chimney cleaned and serviced.
- Shut down and clean the furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.
- Check the air conditioning system and have it serviced every two to three years.
- Clean or replace the air conditioning filter.
- Check the dehumidifier and clean it if necessary.
- Turn off gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible.
- On a well? Bring in a water sample to the Health Unit for testing. It is recommended that you have your water tested for bacteria every 6 months.
- Check your smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms and replace batteries.
- Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens. Repair or replace screens where necessary.
- Open the valve to your outside hose connection once all danger of frost has passed.
- Examine your foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and make necessary repairs. This is a good time to check your fencing too for any needed repairs or maintenance.
- Make sure your sump pump is working properly and that the water from the discharge pipe is draining away from the foundation of the house.
- Re-level any steps or decks which may have moved due to frost or settling.
- Check your eavestroughs and downspouts for loose joints and make sure they are securely attached to the house. Clear any obstructions and ensure that all water is flowing away from the foundation.
- Clear all drainage ditches and culverts.
- This is a great time to be outside to clean up the yard!
Much of your home maintenance schedule is seasonal, but there are some things that you should do often throughout the year, such as:
- Make sure all air vents (indoors and outside) are clear of debris.
- Check and clean range hood filters about once/month.
- Test the ground fault circuit interrupters in your house each month by pushing the test button, which causes the reset button to pop up.
- Always keep a lookout for any safety hazards in all areas of the house and yard.
Tammy Dufault
Century 21 BJ Roth Realty Ltd.
