MAINTENANCE

We care about your property as if it were are own! Some the maintenance suggestions on this page are to assist you in keeping your home in good repair.

Note: You should always consult your owners manual before doing any kind of maintenance or service to any system or component or a qualified professional in the area of expertise.

 

 

ELECTRICAL

Main Panel:

The main electrical panel should be checked annually for rust or watermarks indicating moisture penetration. All breakers should be turned off and on to ensure none has seized. All fuses should be tightened. A panel, which is warm to the touch or smells of burned insulation, should be brought to the attention of an electrician. Burned wires, loose or poor connection should also be repaired by a qualified electrician. All circuits should be labeled. Ground fault circuit interrupters should be tested monthly. Aluminum wire connections inside the distribution panel should be tightened annually. A qualified electrician should do this. The area around the panel for roughly three feet in all directions should be kept clear of storage and other items.

Indoor Wiring:

A qualified electrician should correct poor or loose connections noted when viewing the exposed wiring in the basement. Frayed or damaged wire, including extension cords, appliance cords and plugs, should be replaced. Loose outlets and switches should be tightened. Ground fault circuit interrupter electrical outlets should be tested monthly. A qualified electrician should tighten aluminum wire connections throughout the house annually.

Outdoor Wire:

The masthead and the wires leading to the street (if overhead) should be inspected to make sure that they are not loose or frayed. Overhead wiring leading to outbuildings such as garages should also be inspected. Exterior outlets should have proper covers. Ideally, ordinary exterior outlets should be replaced with ground fault circuit interrupter type outlets.

HEATING

Forced Air Systems:

Conventional filters on forced-air systems should be checked monthly and cleaned or replaced as needed. Electronic filters should be checked monthly and cleaned as needed. The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed carefully. Care should be taken to ensure the interior components are installed in the correct orientation after cleaning.

NOTE: Noisy blower sections should be brought to the attention of qualified technician.

Water levels in humidifiers should be checked and adjusted monthly. Interior components should be replaced on an as-needed basis. The pad on drum type humidifiers should be replaced annually. The water supply to humidifiers should be shut off for the summer months and activated for the heating months. On systems with air conditioning or a heat pump, the damper in the humidifier ductwork should be closed during the cooling season.

Hot Water Systems:

Radiators and convectors should be inspected annually for leakage (particularly at the valves). Radiators should be bled of air annually, and as necessary during the heating season.

Circulating pumps should be lubricated twice during the heating season. Expansion tanks should be drained annually.

PLUMBING

Supply Plumbing:

Supply plumbing should be checked annually for leaks. Precautions should be taken to ensure that plumbing in areas such as crawl spaces will not freeze during winter months. Outdoor faucets should be shut off from the interior and drained for the winter. Operate the main shut-off valve and critical isolating valves to ensure proper operation in the event of an emergency. Leaking or dripping faucets should be repaired.

Well equipment should be inspected semi-annually. A water quality test should be performed periodically on the advice of local authorities.

Waste Plumbing:

Visible waste plumbing should be checked for leaks. Basement floor drains and exterior drains should be checked and cleaned as necessary. Slow drains within the house should be cleared. Basement floor drain traps should be filled with water to ensure that they are not broken. If cracked, or if the water has evaporated, sewer odors will enter the house.

Septic tanks should be checked and cleaned if necessary annually.

Fixtures:

Toilets should be checked to ensure that they are properly secured to the floor. Listen for toilets, which run continuously. Grouting and caulking at all bathroom fixtures should be checked and renewed as necessary. Sump pumps should be tested.

Water Heaters:

Modern water heaters have a test lever on the pressure relief valve. This lever should be tested every three months or so to ensure that the pressure relief valve is not seized. If the relief valve does not discharge near a drain, a bucket will be needed.

In some areas, sludge may accumulate in the bottom of the tank. Draining some water from the bottom of the tank will indicate the presence of sludge and the necessity for regular draining. Be sure to shut off the power or fuel supply prior to draining any water form the tank. 

Note: You should always consult your owners manual before doing any kind of maintenance or service to any system or component or a qualified professional in the area of expertise.