| If I could get down to just the core essentials of home | | | | working properly. If your sprinklers are spraying excess |
| maintenance, I would like you as a homeowner, to | | | | water onto your home, driveway or sidewalk, you |
| follow all of them on a regular basis. Proper home | | | | should consider changing the sprinkler heads or |
| maintenance, not only saves you money, but helps the | | | | lowering the water pressure on each individual sprinkler. |
| environment. The waste produced from your | | | | 5. Clean and inspect your kitchen appliances. This |
| neglected house, is filling up the landfills and this could | | | | should be done on a monthly basis. Keeping kitchen |
| be prevented, by following as many of these home | | | | appliances clean and properly maintained, isn't only |
| maintenance tips as possible. | | | | good home maintenance, its good hygiene. |
| Let's Get Started: | | | | 6. Make sure all electrical outlets and switches are |
| 1. Here's something that's simple and easy to do, but | | | | operating properly on an annual basis. Look for any |
| most homeowners seem to avoid. Fix anything that is | | | | discoloring around the electrical switches or outlets. |
| damaged or broken. | | | | This could be the sign of electrical damage and should |
| 2. Turn your air conditioner and heating system on, and | | | | be repaired as soon as possible, to prevent further |
| make sure that it is working properly. This would | | | | damage to your home. |
| require listening for any strange noises and to check | | | | 7. Inspect the exterior of your home. You will be |
| the return air filter to see if it's dirty, clean or replace | | | | looking for any water, termite or mold damage. If your |
| the air filters on a monthly or bimonthly basis, | | | | home exterior is siding, check for water damage. If the |
| depending on usage. | | | | exterior of your home is stucco or brick, check for |
| 3. If your home has an attic or crawlspace, grab a | | | | damaged areas. |
| flashlight, poke your head inside the access hole and | | | | 8. Your roof should be checked, on an annual basis at |
| give these areas a quick visual inspection. This should | | | | the minimum. You will be looking for any loose, |
| be done every six months or at the minimum, annually. | | | | damaged or broken shingles, to prevent roof leaks |
| 4. Check your washers and dryers for any corrosion | | | | from damaging your home's interior. |
| around the water pipes, water leaks or loose dryer | | | | 9. Make sure that your doors and windows open and |
| vents. Make sure the dryer vents are clear and not | | | | close easily and with little effort. Sometimes a little bit |
| blocked with lint. To check this, simply turned the dryer | | | | of graphite or grease can prolong the life of your |
| on, placing your hand over the dryer vent which will be | | | | windows and doors. |
| located on the outside of your house to make sure | | | | 10. Inspect your home, with a good home inspection |
| that air is coming out. If there isn't any air coming out, | | | | checklist on an annual basis at a minimum. |
| you will need to clean out the dryer duct venting pipes. | | | | Inspecting your home, can save you money and the |
| 4. Make sure your lawn sprinklers are working properly. | | | | environment, so quit avoiding, something that is so |
| Simply turn the sprinkler system on and make sure | | | | important to your family. |
| that every sprinkler is watering in the right direction and | | | | |