A home is a huge investment. To protect your investment, it's imperative to keep up with frequent home maintenance. You can complete most of these tasks yourself, but might need to contact a specialist for a thorough home equipment inspection. Follow this useful annual maintenance checklist to keep your home in excellent shape.
Monthly
Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you change your system's air filters every month, it may not be necessary (only during high use months). If your family is relatively small and you live without pets, you can afford to change your filter every 3-6 months. Replace them with higher-efficiency pleated air filters instead of fiberglass ones if they are compatible with your system.
Your garbage disposal needs some monthly maintenance too. Every month, fill an ice cube tray with vinegar and drop the frozen cubes into the kitchen disposal. This helps keep your disposal smelling fresh and sharpens your blades while removing accumulated food waste.
Protect yourself from the harmful effects of exposure to carbon monoxide by testing your carbon monoxide detector every month. First, find the "test" button and press it for a few seconds. If you don't hear a beeping sound, change the batteries. If no beeping occurs after replacing the batteries, replace the detector. There are some carbon monoxide detectors on the market powered by a ten year sealed lithium battery so you never need to replace a battery during your detector's lifetime.
Seasonal
Spring: Every spring, have your air conditioner serviced and ready for the summer months. You don't want any unforeseen problems with your air conditioner when you need it most.
Summer: During the heat of the summer, your air conditioning unit works overtime. To protect your unit and keep it running at an optimum level, remove any grass, loose leaves, or any other natural debris. A good rule of thumb is to keep any obstructions or vegetation at least 2-3 feet away from your air conditioning unit.
Fall: Fall is the perfect time to get your heating system and ductwork ready for the winter chill. Contact us to schedule a service. We'll do a complete inspection of your unit and the attached ductwork so that your system doesn't break down when you need it most.
Winter: Winter is a good time to ensure your thermostat is working properly. After checking that it is functioning, set optimum winter temperatures. If you set your thermostat to 68 degrees fahrenheit while awake and lower while asleep, you can save energy.
Biannual
Twice a year, make sure to vacuum your refrigerator coils. Dirty coils force your refrigerator to work harder. Since your refrigerator makes up about 15 percent of your home's energy, clean coils are vital.
Moving to your home's exterior, ensure your air conditioning unit is level on firm ground. While checking your air conditioning unit, inspect the condensate drain. Make sure there's no clogging or buildup.
Home maintenance requires a keen attention to detail and staying on top of tasks. If you need to contact a specialist for specific home maintenance tasks, try to make an appointment on their off season. Contractors get busier during the summer and winter months.
