As a homeowner, you have a lot of flexibility in how you can organize your home but also
keep up with any repairs and cleaning.
You can rip up the carpet at will, paint a room when you need the change, replace the vanity in the bathroom to better suit your style and many other things.
It’s essential you don’t look past some essential home maintenance items each year
when you are considering your next project.
Whether it’s a furnace repair or a clean refrigerator coil, get your necessary checklist done
to avoid major repairs.
The following are just a few of the most forgotten annual home maintenance checks.
CLEARING OUT THE DRYER VENTS
You never see the inside of your dryer vent, so you probably never think about it. Unfortunately, a dirty vent can keep your home at risk when it comes to starting fires. Lint builds up inside the vent and begins to block the airway if not adequately cleaned. At first, it will merely cause your dryer to take longer to dry laundry. Eventually, the lint blockage could become so thick it might cause a house fire.
Avoiding the risk is quite simple. You can start by cleaning behind the dryer and emptying your lint trap. Detach the vent behind the dryer and vacuum up any lint you see. Make sure to reattach it correctly when you are finished. On the outside of the home, inspect the vent to be sure no rodents or insect nests are blocking the way.
UNCLOGGING THE REFRIGERATOR COILS
The compressor on your refrigerator is designed to keep it running efficiently by releasing heat through the condenser coils. If the coils are clogged with cobwebs, lint or dust, your fridge won’t be able to stay cold inside. This makes the compressor less efficient as it works harder to keep your refrigerator running.
The condenser coils can be unclogged using a vacuum and a coil-cleaning brush. These brushes are made to fit into small spaces, being bendable so you can work them around each coil. Loosen the dust and debris with the brush, scrubbing off as much as you can, then vacuum up all the loose dirt.
CLEANING THE WINDOW WEEP HOLES
Did you know your windows have weep holes? As a new homeowner who didn’t have to install the windows yourself, you might not be sure where they are or what they do. These holes are located at the bottom of a window’s exterior frame and allows water to drain. When they are clogged with dirt, bugs and other debris, the rainwater collects in the channel instead, causing leaks into your home.
Using something as simple as a wire hanger, poke through the weep holes to get the dirt and debris out. Compressed air would work as well, as long as it frees the hole of everything in the way. After you clean out the weep holes pour fresh water into the channel to check if it completely drains out. The weep hole is no longer clogged if the fresh water goes through and is still evident.
INSPECTING THE FURNACE
Keeping your furnace is clean is one of the best ways to ensure warmth all season long. If there’s something amiss about the heater, you’ll need to call in the professionals for a furnace repair. Follow this inspection list before you turn on your heater:
- Clear the way – Be sure your airways aren’t blocked. This includes the area around the furnace, as well as near each vent in the house. If you can, vacuum around each component to rid the space of dirt and dust.
- Check outside – Your vents and chimneys should also be inspected and cleaned. Sometimes small animals, especially birds, will take up residence in a vent or chimney.
- Replace the filter – This is one of the simplest steps you can take to make sure air is flowing well through your house in the summer and winter. Don’t wait to replace your filter during the cold months. Permanent filters should be cleaned often, and disposable filters should be thrown out and replaced.
TESTING THE ALARMS
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can only keep you safe if they are working properly. Test them each week and replace the batteries about twice a year.
It is recommended that you have a smoke alarm inside every bedroom, in each gathering room (living room, family room, etc.), and in the kitchen. A carbon monoxide detector should be on each floor of your home, preferably near the sleeping areas.
KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE
Home maintenance is vital because it keeps you and your family safe. For more information about annual maintenance, contact Connect Heating & Air today.
