Periodic Maintenance for the Home
QUESTION: I pretty much understand the kind of seasonal maintenance that my car requires, but what do you suggest in the way of periodic maintenance for a house?
ANSWER: A house is not only a person’s home, it’s also in most cases, a major financial investment. And in order to maintain its value, a house must be maintained. If you’ve been putting off maintenance projects because of the heat and humidity of summer, the cool dry days of fall are a good time to catch up.
The following list is a generalized one in that it does not contain every maintenance item, and you may find that some of the items don’t apply to your house. Still, it’s a good place to start and you should expand it to meet your needs:
Grounds
--Check and repair concrete walkways. Look for areas that are susceptible to water damage.
--Seal driveway.
--Do fall pruning and lawn care. Spread mulch on flower beds.
House Exterior
--Clean gutters. Refasten loose gutter brackets. Check for missing strainers.
--Downspout sections should be properly installed, with upper section fitting into lower section.
--Check TV antenna for sturdiness. Antenna should not be attached to chimney.
--Trim tree limbs away from roof.
--Check visually for loose shingles, flashing.
--Repair damaged putty on windows and remove debris from windowsills.
Interior
--Replace smoke detector batteries. Check detector for operation.
--Replace damaged weatherstripping.
--Drain a couple of quarts of water from water heater to remove sediment.
--Have routine maintenance done furnace. Replace furnace filter and put several filters aside for winter months.
