HOMECARE TIPS

As you settle into your new home, please allow us to continue serving you by offering a handy list of useful information regarding maintaining your home.

These maintenance tips are general guidelines that should be used as a reference only since each home’s schedule varies based on type, climate and location.

Maintenance Description Frequency
Start twice during winter months; keep mechanical parts from sticking. Have unit professionally serviced annually. Twice per year
Maintenance Description Frequency
Seal joints that are subject to being wetted; prevent leaks, dry rot, mold and mildew. Remove and replace caulking as needed. Twice per year
Maintenance Description Frequency
Inspect deck surfaces for cracks in coating, loose boards and surface sealers. Minor maintenance and repairs extend deck life. Check and clean drains monthly during rainy season to prevent drains from backing up and flooding the deck. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Vacuum racks and lubricate hinges and latches to keep operating parts smooth Monthly / Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Make sure debris is removed from ditches and swales. Maintain positive drainage away from buildings to keep drains from backing up and flooding during the rainy season. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Check and clean as needed to prevent accumulation of lint. Yearly
If equipped with a lint trap behind the dryer, check and clean. Monthly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Set nails, caulk and paint. Improves appearance of finished interior wall surfaces. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Test GFCI/ARC Fault circuits for safety of electrical circuits. Monthly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Wood: Check yearly; paint every 2 years to prolong useful life and maintain appearance. Twice per year
Wrought Iron: Check regularly; paint yearly to prolong useful life. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Change or clean regularly to help remove dust and pollen from interior air and improve furnace efficiency. Twice per year
Maintenance Description Frequency
Lubricate to promote smoother, less noisy operation; extends system life. Twice per year
Maintenance Description Frequency
Fill with ice and operate. Cleans and sharpens. Monthly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Inspect for pavement breaks, heaving sidewalks from tree roots, dry rot at decks and blockage of drainage system. Avoids more expensive repair costs. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Seal grout with silicone based sealer; cracked grout should be caulked with a caulk specially made for filling grout to improve appearance and prevent leaks. Check regularly
Re-caulk yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Check before rainy season and monthly during rainy season to prevent overflow onto walls, prevent eave leaks and extend gutter life. Monthly during rainy season
Maintenance Description Frequency
Detected and treated yearly will prevent structural damage; controls annoying pests. If found, treat monthly. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Direct water spray properly. Eliminates excess watering, staining of exterior walls and dry rot of structures. Twice per year
Maintenance Description Frequency
Flat: Maintain for appearance. Repaint as necessary or after 10 years.
Enamel: Maintain for appearance. Repaint as necessary or after 10 years.
Every 10 years
Maintenance Description Frequency
Stucco: Repainting should be done every 5 to 10 years. Every 5-10 Years
Overhangs & sheetmetal: Repaint every 5 years or as necessary to maintain. Every 5 Years
Facia/Plantons: Repaint every 3-4 years to maintain appearance. Every 3-4 Years
Stained doors: Should be re-finished every 6 months or as needed to maintain. Twice per year
Maintenance Description Frequency
Detect and correct conditions that can lead to leakes and premature roof replacement. Yearly
Have roof professionally inspected every 5 years or if any leakes occur. Every 5 years
Maintenance Description Frequency
To prolong life of water heater, accumulated sediment should be removed from tank. Extends water heater life; provides more efficient operation; uses less energy. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
As recommended by manufacturer
Maintenance Description Frequency
Check yearly and replace when necessary. Reseal thresholds. Yearly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Clean tracks to keep windows sliding freely. Clean weep holes to prevent leaks. Monthly
Inspect for broken window seals on dual-pane windows. Annually
Maintenance Description Frequency
Avoids backups and plugged drains; promotes sanitation. Use only cleaners recommended by manufacturer. 4 Times per Year
Maintenance Description Frequency
Test detectors once a month, using the test button on the detector. Change batteries on a regular basis to keep detectors operating during power failures. Monthly
Maintenance Description Frequency
Caulk and paint keeps system water tight; improves appearance, extends major maintenance periods; reduces chances of mold and mildew Yearly