Jim Lyons Design- Seasonal Home Maintinence Schedule

Recommended Home Maintenance!

Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices is the best way to protect your investment in your home. Whether you take care of a few tasks at a time or several all at once, it is important to get into the habit of doing them. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur.

Once a month, you should check the following-

1)	Make sure air vents indoors and outside (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by debris or obstructions.
2)	Check and clean kitchen range hood filters on a monthly basis.
3)	Test all ground fault circuit interrupter's monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop out.
4)	If there are young children in the house, make sure all electrical outlets are equipped with plastic safety plugs.
5)	Regularly check the house and yard for safety hazards such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling carpet, vinyl flooring, loose deck boards etc.

Fall Maintenance Schedule:

1)	Have furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas or electric furnace, and every year for an oil furnace.
2)	Open furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning and clean humidifier.
3)	Lubricate circulating pump on hot water heating system.
4)	Bleed air from hot water radiators.
5)	Examine the forced air furnace fan belt for wear, looseness or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup (after fully disconnecting the electricity to the motor first).
6)	Light and test gas furnace pilot light system.
7)	Check, clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season.
8)	Vacuum electric baseboard heater grills to remove dust and any mold.
9)	Remove the forced air vent grilles in each room, soak in degreaser, vacuum inside of air ducts as far as possible. You can repaint the grills while they are removed if necessary.
10)	If basement home, check the sump pump (it prevents your basement from flooding) and it's suction and pressure lines to ensure proper operation, and to verify that no visible water leaks are present. Check the float valve for proper pump activation and shutdown.
11)	Replace window screens with storm windows.
12)	Remove screens from the inside of casement windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass.
13)	Ensure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use.
14)	Renew door weather stripping if required.
15)	If there is a door between your house and the garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely.
16)	Ensure windows and skylights close tightly.
17)	Cover outside of air conditioning units.
18)	Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall, so that water does not drain into your basement.
19)	Clean leaves and debris from roof and roof top rain gutters and roofs, and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.
20)	Check chimneys for obstructions such as nests.
21)	Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close valve to outdoor hose connection and drain the hose bib (exterior faucet), unless your house has frost proof hose bibs.
22)	Winterize landscaping, for example, store outdoor furniture, prepare gardens and, if necessary, protect young trees or bushes for winter.

Spring Maintenance Schedule:

1)	After consulting your hot water heater's owner’s manual, carefully test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is not stuck. A stuck pressure relief valve can explode the tank. (Caution: This test may release a burst of hot water and can cause burns.)
2)	Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season.
3)	Have fireplace or woodstove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.
4)	Clean or replace air conditioning filters (if applicable)
5)	Turn OFF gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible.
6)	Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms and replace batteries.
7)	Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens.
8)	Replace window screen mesh if cracked, torn or rotten.
9)	Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair as required. Repair and paint fences as necessary.
10)	Check rain gutters and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation.
11)	Check rain gutters and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation.

Summer Maintenance Schedule:

1)	If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, for example, a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
2)	Deep clean carpets and rugs.
3)	Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
4)	Disconnect the duct connected to the dryer and vacuum lint from duct, the areas surrounding your clothes dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside.
5)	Check security of all guardrails and handrails.
6)	Check smooth functioning of all windows and lubricate as required.
7)	Inspect window putty on outside of glass panes and replace if needed.
8)	Lubricate door hinges and tighten screws as needed.
9)	Lubricate automatic garage door opener motor, chain, etc. and ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.
10)	Check and replace damaged caulking and weather stripping around windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house.
11)	Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter your house, and make sure there is no water leakage into the house along the electrical conduit.
12)	Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration; clean, replace or refinish as needed.
13)	Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be used as an entry point for small pests, such as bats, birds, squirrels, field mice or rats.
14)	Climb up on your roof, or use binoculars, to check its general condition, and note any sagging, that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of all shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine all roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
15)	Sweep chimneys connected to any wood burning appliance or fireplace, and inspect them for end-of-season problems.
16) 17)	Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney. Repair driveway and walkway cracks as needed.
18)	Repair any damaged steps that present a safety problem.