Home Maintenance Checklist

Activity	Frequency
Furnace & Heat Pump Filter Change – Replace paper/fiberglass filters.  Vacuum or wash electronic filter elements.  A dirty filter makes your fan work harder, using more electricity.	January
Fire Extinguisher Check – Visually check that each fire extinguisher is fully charged. You should have fire extinguishers in the garage, kitchen, and basement furnace area.	March
Dryer Vent Cleaning – Clean lint from both the screen behind the door and exhaust hose which leads to the outside. Lint is a fire hazard.  Never use a plastic flexible vent hose – it could melt.	March
Bathroom Check – Check faucets and showers for leaks.  Test toilets for leakage by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank, then wait a few hours.  If you see coloring in the bowl, you should replace the tank flapper.  Check caulking around bathtubs and showers for areas where water may leak and cause damage. Check for leaks under the toilet and sink.  Locate the Ground Fault Interrupter “GFI” (usually in the electrical outlet).  Press the test button and then reset.	March
Chimney & Fireplace Cleaning – Have a chimney sweep check and clean the chimney – if you used the chimney during the winter.	April
Furnace Humidifier Shutdown – Drain and clean the humidifier water pan.  Turn off the water supply valve.  Work the float arm back and forth to dislodge crud and scrape off any mineral buildup.	April
Air Conditioner & Heat Pump Spring Checkup – Schedule your spring checkup.  Use a hose to spray debris off the outside compressor unit.	April
Test Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors – We recommend that you replace smoke detector batteries and don’t wait for them to die.  Press test buttons on carbon monoxide detectors.  Open each unit and vacuum dust that could interfere with operation.  Carbon monoxide detector batteries are usually not replaceable by the user; replace the unit when indicated on the unit's instructions.  Check the date on each alarm.  Most older smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced after seven years.  Replace them with alarms that are guaranteed for ten years.	April
Gutter Cleaning – Clean out your gutters!  Overflowing gutters lead to ground erosion and wet basements.	May
Deck Cleaning – Clean and seal your wooden deck, if needed	May
Termite Inspection – Houses the age of Hickory Farms will have been attacked by termites by now. If your home has never been treated, get it inspected! Many pest control companies will inspect for free; termite inspections are recommended every three years.	May
Dehumidifier Setup – Set up your dehumidifier for the summer (if you use one)!	May
Furnace & Heat Pump Filter Change – Replace paper/fiberglass filters.  Vacuum or wash electronic filter elements.  A dirty filter makes your fan work harder, using more electricity.	September
Range Hood Cleaning – Clean that greasy kitchen range hood screen	September
Refrigerator & Freezer Cleaning – Use a vacuum cleaner or special refrigerator brush to clean the refrigerator coils, which are usually under or behind the refrigerator.  This is especially important if you have pets.  Place a piece of paper between the door and rubber seal of the refrigerator/freezer.  If it can be moved while the door is closed, there is a leak and the seal should be replaced, or the latch may need adjustment.  Drain and clean the drip pan under the refrigerator.  Defrost non-frost free refrigerators & freezers; they use less electricity when the frost buildup is removed.	September
Siding Cleaning – Pressure wash the vinyl/aluminum siding every 3-5 years.  However, frequent pressure washing can strip the paint off aluminum siding down to the bare metal, so don’t do this too often if you have aluminum siding.	September
Washing Machine Hose Check – Check hot and cold water hoses for cracks and replace, if needed.  Better yet, replace them with metal reinforced hoses	September
Dehumidifier Shutdown – Clean out the dehumidifier bucket and vacuum the coils.	October
Test Water Overflow Alarms – Avoid floods by placing water overflow alarms next to your washing machine, hot water heater, etc.
Test Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors – We recommend that you replace smoke detector batteries and don’t wait for them to die.  Press test buttons on carbon monoxide detectors.  Open each unit and vacuum dust that could interfere with operation.  Carbon monoxide detector batteries are usually not replaceable by the user; replace the unit when indicated on the unit's instructions.  Check the date on each alarm.  Most older smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced after seven years.  Replace them with alarms that have ten-year batteries.	October
Check Your Fire Extinguishers – Check Your Fire Extinguishers – You should have one on each floor and in the garage.  Make sure the pressure dial indicates green; if not, replace it.  Check the manufacture date and replace it if it is more than 12 years old.  Before you trash the old one, turn it upside down and pull the trigger until all the gas is released.	October
Water Heater Flushing – Drain the hot water heater to remove sediment that makes it run inefficiently.  If gas operated: Turn the gas valve to the “pilot” setting.  If electric: Turn off the circuit breaker.  Shut off the cold water supply valve.  Connect a hose from the water heater drain valve to the nearby floor drain or outdoors.  Open a nearby hot water faucet to help the water drain freely.  Open the water heater drain valve.  When the water starts running cold, close the heater drain valve and remove the hose.  Open the cold water supply valve.  When water flows freely from the open sink faucet, turn off the faucet.  Turn the gas control back to the “on” setting, or the electric circuit breaker back on.	October
Furnace & Heat Pump Fall Checkup – Schedule a fall service checkup.	October
Outside Water Faucet Shutdown – Turn off outside water faucets using the inside shutoff valves.  Then open the faucets to drain remaining water.  Drain water hoses before storage.	November
Lawn Mower Shutdown – After cutting the lawn for the last time this season:  Add a bit of gas stabilizer to the fuel.  Let the mower run out of gas (this keeps the gas from gumming up over the winter).  Remove and clean the spark plug – don’t replace it just yet.  Change the oil.  Replace the air filter.  Remove and sharpen the blade.  Scrape off grass clippings under the deck.  Apply a light coating of oil to the underside of the deck.  Squirt a spoonful of oil in the cylinder and pull the starter rope a few times to coat the cylinder wall.  Replace the spark plug.	December
Clean out Gutters – Overflowing gutters lead to ground erosion and wet basements.  If you are surrounded by trees, you may have to do this both Spring and Fall.	December
Furnace Humidifier Setup – If you have a furnace humidifier, make sure it is plugged in and set properly.  Turn on the water supply valve.  If you did not do so in the spring, scrape off mineral buildup in the water pan and replace the filter – if needed.  Work the float arm back and forth to dislodge mineral deposits.	December