R.D.H.I. ENTERPRISES, INC.

HOME MAINTENANCE BASICS  

Here are the basic for keeping your home safe and in good working order.

 ONCE A MONTH: 

* Test smoke alarms

*Test ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle

* Test arc fault circuit interrupter (AFC) breakers (home wiring  after 2002)

* Turn on faucet and run water through the drains of seldom-used plumbing fixtures.

* Inspect over-range exhaust fan filters and clean as needed; replace recirculating fancarbon filter when they no longer remove oders.

*Inspect furnace filter during the heating season and clean or replace as needed.

TWICE A YEAR  (WHEN DAYLIGHTSAVING BEGIN AND ENDS)

* Walk around your home and inspect the roof, gutters, downspouts, siding, windows, doors, foundation, driveway and walkways; note what needsattention (repairs may need to wait for suitable weather)

* Prune tree limbs and plants away from overhead lines, the roof and siding.

* Remove tree debris from the roof.

*Clean gutters and run water through downspouts to check drainage

* Grade soil/bark built-up away from siding and untreated wood (soil/bark should be six inches below siding and untreated wood, and grade should slope away from foundation.

If you have a crawlspace, look in it for signs of water, wood destroying organisms (rot, carpenter ants, termites,etc) rodents or anything else that shouldn't be there.

ONCE A YEAR (When daylight savings ends)

* Replace all smoke alarm batteries

* Check fire extinguistures.

* Test/open the temperature pressure relief (TPR) valve on your water heater

* Close and open yourmain water shut-off valve

* Have wood-burning chimney inspected and cleaned as needed.

* Clean gas fireplace glass (use fireplace glass cleaner/polish, not windex)

* Remove hose from frost-free hose bibs (water filled-filled hose defeat the frost-free feature) and turn off or cover non frost-free hose bibs

* Test the closing force of your garage door openers and adjust control as needed (door should reverse/open when resistance is applied to the botton as they close)

IN THE SUMMER (when it's dry)

* Treat/remove roof moss (use zinc sulphate or a dilated bleach solution)

* Have wood shingles/shake roof cleaned and treated (approximately every three to five years)

* Caulk cracks in driveway and sideways before plant roots and freezing water make them bigger

* Caulk gaps in seams around roof flshing, siding, windows, doors and trim (use paintable caulk if it needs to be painted)

* Apply sealant to ashalt driveway and walkways when the black surface color weathers enough for you to see the color of the rocks below