Summer Home Mainenance Schedule

Posted by: Sound Marketing on behalf of House Smart Home Improvements.

We know you are (or would like to be) a responsible home owner and do whatever you can to protect your precious investment! That is why we want to share this useful home maintenance check list to help you keep your home in great shape throughout every season. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation has a great check list routine that you can follow which we will borrow for this article. Going through these steps is really quite easy and it takes the mystery of out of wondering if you left anything out. Establish a routine for yourself.
 A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can keep your home in great shape, and help you become aware of any smaller issues that need tending to now,  in order to avoid more costly problems later on. Do a little at a time, or pick a day to go through the entire check list.

While most maintenance is seasonal, the following 5 steps are things you should do on a frequent basis year-round:

	Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
	Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
	Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.
	If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.
	Regularly check the house for safety hazards, such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling flooring, inoperative smoke detectors, and so on.

Summer Home Maintenance Check List

In this blog we will share the schedule for Summer. 

Quickly Like our page on Facebook to be notified of your upcoming Fall Checklist and other great home improvement tips!

 

 

 

 Here We Go....

	Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60 per cent. Use a dehumidifier to maintain relative humidity below 60 per cent.
	Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, and clean or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.
	Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping and, if necessary, take corrective action; for example, reduce humidity and/or insulate cold water pipes.
	Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
	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.
	Deep clean carpets and rugs.
	Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
	Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer, and vacuum lint from duct, the areas surrounding your dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside.
	Check security of all guardrails and handrails.
	Check smooth functioning of all windows, and lubricate as required.
	Inspect window putty on outside of glass panes of older houses, and replace if needed.
	Sand and touch up paint on windows and doors.
	Lubricate door hinges, and tighten screws as needed.
	Check for and replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around mechanical and electrical services, windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house. See the About Your House fact sheet Attached Garages and Indoor Air Quality for more information on preventing garage-to-house air transfer.
	Lubricate garage door hardware, and ensure it is operating properly.
	Lubricate automatic garage door opener motor, chain and other moving parts, and ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.
	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. Check for overhanging tree branches that may need to be removed.
	Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration; clean, replace or refinish as needed.
	Remove any plants that contact — and roots that penetrate — the siding or brick.
	From the ground, check the general condition of the roof and note any sagging that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
	Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney.
	Repair driveway and walkways as needed.
	Repair any damaged steps.

After this, pour a cold drink and relax in the sun!

Visit House Smart Home Improvements or call 604-585-2020 to set up your Free Consultation Today.
When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades, give us a call. We do the job right. 604-585-2020