Show your home some love during this “Stay at Home” order. We like binge-watching Tiger King like everyone else, but instead you can stay productive and finally get around to those preventative maintenance projects that have been on your “to-do” list. Your home is one of the biggest investments you will make and keeping it in proper working order requires maintenance. Here are a few indoor and outdoor homeowner preventative maintenance projects you can do while stuck at home.
- HVAC System
We live in Florida and our air conditioner systems run yearlong! To ensure your system is working efficiently be sure to clean and/or replace your air filters on a monthly basis. Doing so will ensure the unit is not under additional stress, and you are getting the best indoor air quality. In addition to filters, the condensation lines should be cleaned out. To do this you will want to pour a 50% mixture of water and white vinegar (2 cups) into the condensation line to keep it free of debris and growth.
- Clean Gutters
People often don’t stop to think about the issues that can arise from clogged gutters. Believe it or not routinely keeping your gutters free of debris will help prevent damage to your roof, the exterior of your home and your homes foundation. The purpose of your gutter system is to take the collection of rainwater away from your roof and foundation, from the use of downspouts. When your gutters or downspouts are clogged with debris, they don’t allow the rainwater to flow away from your home, and this can be putting the integrity of your home at risk.
- Test Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detectors
You should be testing and making sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working and free of dust to ensure they continue to work properly. This testing should be done monthly. To test, press and hold the test button and be sure you hear a loud siren. If the sound is weak or nonexistent, replace your batteries immediately!
- Clean out Dryer vents
Homeowners may not realize but lint build ups happen in more places than just inside the dryer. Proper dryer maintenance includes, cleaning the lint trap housing, the interior dryer duct and the dryer vent. Be sure you are routinely clearing out all locations mentioned above to ensure your dryer is working efficiently, offers less chance of mold buildup and greatly reduces the risk of the lint build up becoming a fire hazard.
- Cleaning
We all remember to vacuum, clean bathrooms, and wash windows but here is a list of routine cleanings we don’t always think to do and now have the time to do!
- Clean range hood filters
- Clean drains in shower and sinks
- Clean faucet aerators & shower heads
- Clean kitchen sink disposal
- Clean refrigerator coils
- Clean and dust light fixtures
We suggest to all our homeowners that writing down key preventative maintenance dates on a calendar is beneficial to keeping you on track. Items to be done monthly, you can mark down on the same day each month and so on. Keeping up with preventative maintenance will bring years of added pleasure to you and create longevity in your home systems.