How To Extend The Life Of Your Home’s Major Systems

February 3, 2022 | amandasearlerealtor

How often do you perform maintenance on your home’s major systems and appliances? Do you know what is required to keep the systems up and running? If you are like many homeowners, you probably don’t think about these things enough. Here are a few tips categorized by season to help you extend the life of your home’s major systems and appliances.

Winter

Wood burning stove connector pipes and chimneys need to be looked at by a certified chimne sweep every year.
Smell around appliances for gas odors.
Insulate your pipes in your home’s attic and crawl spaces.
Clear out debris in your gutters, downspouts, storm drains and window wells.
Clean out your dryer’s exhaust duct, damper and the space under the dryer.
Clean your kitchen exhaust hood and air filters.
Inspect the water hoses on your washer, refrigerator, icemaker and dishwasher for bubbles and cracks.

Spring

Install a lightning protection system on your home.
Ensure that all the light bulbs in your fixtures are the correct wattage.
Have a professional inspect your HVAC system.
Trim shrubs and plants near your unit to ensure there is a proper air flow and circulation.
Look for roof damage.
Protect your home from sewer or drain backup losses.
Inspect your cold and hot water supply hoses for cracks and deterioration.
Drain sediment from the water heater tank.
Check the shutoff valve on each plumbing device to ensure they are working properly.

Summer

Have an annual system maintenance performed before air conditioning season starts.
Keep your curtains shut while there are peak temperatures.
Close registers in rooms not in use.
Use your exhaust fans when cooking to eliminate excess heat and humidity.
Set your thermostat to 78 degrees.
Caulk and weatherstrip all of your windows to close spaces.
Close the flue to your fireplace.
Move your furniture away from registers, radiators and vents.
Change filters on forced air units.
Use compact fluorescent lights to lower electricity bills.

Fall

Drain the in-ground sprinkler systems.
Protect your home from frozen pipes, although we don’t get freezing temperatures often here.
Have a professional check out your heating system before winter.
Flush out sediments from your hot water heater and test the pressure relief valve.
Have a certified chimney sweep clean out your flues and inspect your fireplace.
Caulk around the doors and windows to reduce your heating costs.
Insulate all outdoor faucets, pipes in unheated garages and pipes in your crawl spaces.

Extending the life of your home’s major systems is a great way to protect your home’s value, as well. Learn more by contacting me today.

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