Annual Maintenance

Part of being a new homeowner means having to learn the basics of maintaining your home to prevent larger problems in the future. Below are some of the basic homeowner maintenance items that we encourage all of our new homeowners to perform on an annual basis.

• Clean dryer vent and hood-vent to ensure they are exhausting properly. Lint is highly flammable and can pose a severe fire hazard when dryer vents are not cleaned regularly and properly. If your dryer vent is clogged or blocked, it will have to run longer to fully dry your laundry, which uses more energy and could cause your electric bills to increase.
• Check weather-stripping and door sweeps on all exterior doors. These pieces prevent air (and more importantly BUGS!) from getting into your home. It is natural for weather stripping and door sweeps to break down over time, but they are very simple to replace if needed.
• Inspect and replace, as needed, caulking and grout around tubs, showers, sinks and back splashes. We recommend applying grout sealant at wet areas since grout is porous. Once grout has been applied and dried, it is ready to absorb any liquid that comes its way, like water. By penetrating the grout with sealer first, you are pre-empting water and other liquids from penetrating the grout, therefore increasing the longevity of the grout.
• Clean chimney flue before initial use every year. Any time accumulation of soot and creosote occurs in your chimney, it can be enough to fuel a fire that may damage the chimney and even spread to the roof and home.
• Inspect and clear all weep holes around the exterior of home. If weep holes become blocked, moisture can become trapped inside the wall cavity, which can lead to catastrophic damage of the wall materials.
• Set up an appointment to have your septic tank inspected. Regular inspections can help you avoid maintenance emergencies. Like any other system in your home, your septic system will operate better and more efficiently with proper maintenance and care.

To check out the items needed to maintain on a monthly & bi-annual basis, check out our main video here.