Staying up-to-date on critical home maintenance tasks is one of the best things you can do to keep small problems from becoming big, expensive problems. Being proactive about home maintenance also makes life easier by saving you time, money, and inconvenience.
Most likely, you already have a list of home maintenance tasks you regularly take care of, such as changing the filter in the HVAC system, fixing leaky faucets, and cleaning out gutters before the rainy season.
This article covers seven less well-known tasks every property owner should know about to keep their home operational and trouble-free. In addition, you’ll read information on why each of these tasks is important, what’s at stake if they are neglected, and step-by-step instructions on how to do them.
1. Drain the Water Heater Once a Year
Why do it?
Tank-style water heaters found in most homes heat thousands of gallons of water each year. Inevitably, the incoming water contains sediments and minerals that collect in the bottom of the tank, causing build-up that can lead to:
• Reduced tank volume
• Decreased water heater lifespan
• Slower water heating
• Tank corrosion
• Higher utility bills
When the tank has a thick layer of sediment on the bottom, it takes more energy to heat the water, and not as much water fits in the tank. Sediment build-up also corrodes the valves, including the drain valve, making it harder to service the appliance.
The solution is to completely drain the tank once a year, releasing any sediment build-up. However, if your water heater is more than a year or two old and you have never drained the tank before, you might want to get the assistance of a plumber the first time you tackle this home maintenance task.
Getting help before draining older tanks that have not been drained before is important because the water shut-off valve can get damaged by sediment build-up, making it impossible to reclose after emptying the tank, leading to leaks.
It’s important to note that tank-less, heat-on-demand water heaters do not need this servicing.
Here’s how to do it:
If you have a tank-style water heater and it’s only a year or two old, or someone has drained it regularly, here’s how to drain and refill it:
• Shut off the power or gas to the water heater.
• Close the water inlet valve providing cold water going into the tank.
• Hook a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.
• Put the outlet end of the hose outside or into a sink or bathtub. Be sure the hose flows down its entire length, or an air pocket will prevent drainage.
• Open the water heater drain valve completely.
• Raise the lever on the pressure release valve at the top of the tank to let in air and push out the water and sediment.
• Wait until water and sediment stop flowing out of the hose.
• Close the relief valve and drain valve.
• Turn on the cold water, let the tank fill, then restart the heater.
Finally, check the drain valve for leaks. If it leaks, you might need the assistance of a plumber to replace the valve, or it might be time for a new water heater.
2. Check Weep Holes in Window Frames
Why do it?
Many window frames have small holes in the outside lower edge that let rainwater drain out when it collects inside the frame. These holes often get clogged by debris, mold, caulk, and paint. The result is:
• An increased likelihood of water damage around the windows
• Potential rot in the window framing members
• Peeling interior or exterior paint where water gets trapped
• Costly window repairs down the road.
How to do it:
To clean out the window frame weep holes, clean off the outside of the window frame, open the window, and use a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle or small brush to remove debris from the lower track of the frame.
Next, locate the weep holes visually or by probing with a sharp object such as an icepick or awl, being careful not to scratch or damage the frame. Once you locate the weep holes, ream out any debris until you see through the holes and water can drain freely.
If your window frames do not have weep holes and water is collecting inside the frame, you can drill two or three evenly spaced 1/4-inch holes through the bottom of the frame to install weep holes.
3. Lubricate Garage Door Springs
Why do it?
In most homes, the garage door is the largest moving object. When a garage door does not properly open and close, it quickly becomes a nuisance and potential hazard.
Lubricating the springs twice a year can keep a garage door operating smoothly, preventing costly repairs and dangerous accidents. In addition, there are several other essential garage door maintenance tasks you might consider doing regularly to keep this door working smoothly and safely.
How to do it:
The lubricant you use is critical for the safe operation of the door.
Do not use any of these lubricants for this task:
• Multipurpose grease
• Lithium-based lubricants
• Household or automotive oil
• WD-40
These types of lubricants are either too thick or too thin for the job. Thick grease can attract dirt, increasing friction and making the operation less smooth. In addition, WD-40 and oils are not dense enough for proper lubrication of garage door springs.
Instead, use a silicone or Teflon-based spray lubricant, apply it to the hinges, springs, and door rollers, and wipe off any excess, so it does not drip onto the floor or door.
While you are servicing the garage door, it’s also an excellent time to inspect several other areas of the door’s operation, including:
• Make sure the garage door safety sensor is working correctly. If not, adjust it or replace it to prevent dangerous accidents.
• Test the mechanical reverse mechanism by placing a block of wood or a brick under the door when it’s open and making sure the door stops closing and reverses when it touches the object.
• Inspect the garage door balance by switching to manual mode and opening the door halfway. The door should stay in position when you release it, or the balance needs adjustment.
• Visually inspect the springs, rollers, hinges, and other hardware on the door, looking for loose and worn parts and missing bolts.
• Make sure the manual safety release is working. With the door closed and the opener unplugged, pull the release cord, and make sure you can then manually open the door.
Because garage doors are heavy and get a lot of use, making sure all the components are working keeps you and your family safe.
4. Check Home Water Pressure
Why do it?
The water pressure in a home plumbing system is crucial for properly functioning toilets, faucets, showers, dishwashers, and garden irrigation systems.
Low water pressure is usually apparent when you get in the shower or turn on a garden hose. However, excessively high water pressure is harder to detect, but it can cause:
• Unnecessarily high water bills
• Bursting or pinhole leaks in pipes
• Reduced lifespan of plumbing fixtures and appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters.
How to do it:
• Invest in a plumbing water pressure gauge
• Turn off faucets and all running water
• Attach the pressure gauge to the faucet nearest the water main
• Turn the water on at this faucet
• Wait about one minute, then check the pressure on the gauge.
The optimum household water pressure is between 40 and 60 psi. If the reading is over 70 psi, your home might need a new pressure reduction valve, or it might not have one installed if the house was built before 2002.
If the pressure reduction valve is not working correctly, or the house does not have one, contact a plumber to get one installed unless you have lots of experience and the right tools for this advanced plumbing repair job.
You can also install a water booster tank to fix low pressure problems in many situations.
5. Inspect for Termite Damage
Why do it?
Termites can do significant harm to wood-frame houses, causing an estimated five billion dollars of damage and extermination costs each year in the U.S. Termite damage can be hard to spot until significant damage has already occurred. If left unresolved, termite infestations can:
• Reduce property values
• Result in costly repairs
• Cause windows and doors to malfunction
• Cause sagging floors and ceilings
You can hire a termite company to inspect your home, or do this home maintenance task yourself with nothing more than a flashlight and a screwdriver or awl to test for soft, damaged wood.
Types of Termites
It’s important to note that there are two species of termites of concern for property owners: dry-wood termites and subterranean termites. These two species have different habits that are essential to understand when looking for termite damage.
Dry-wood termites occur in hot, dry climate zones with low humidity. They form smaller colonies than subterranean termites, and they do not rely on soil for their survival. Instead, dry-wood termites live exclusively in wood, making their presence harder to detect.
Dry-wood termites are the type that produces a visible dropping called frass, a sawdust-like dust that is often the first indicator they are damaging a building.
On the other hand, subterranean termites live in larger underground colonies and use dirt and frass to build tunnels that they then use to enter a building at the foundation. Because they incorporate frass into their mud tunnels, you won’t see it on surfaces around the house.
When inspecting your home for termites, look for frass if you live in a hot, dry climate. If you live in a humid area where subterranean termites are a problem, look for termite mud tunnels inside and outside the home.
In addition, both termite species grow wings and form flying swarms during their mating season. These swarms can be easily mistaken for flying ants. However, you can tell them apart because ants have narrow waists and uneven-sized wings, and termites have straight waists and even wings.
Here’s how to do it:
Once you have determined which termite species is common in your area, inspect inside, outside, and under your house by:
• Looking for termite frass on floors, foundation sill plates, and baseboards or mud tunnels on the inside or outside of foundations, walls, and hanging from ceilings.
• Checking doors and windows to see if they are hard to open as this can be a sign termites are inside the framing, damaging the structure.
• Examining baseboards, floors, and ceilings for sagging and warping.
• Using an awl or screwdriver to probe for damage in the wood near frass or tunnels.
• Staying alert for swarms of termites, especially in spring. They are attracted to light and often cluster near windows and doors.
Subterranean termites cannot survive when exposed to air and light. So if you find termite mud tunnels, you can brush them away to slow down the progression of the infestation. However, if your home is infested with termites, it’s time to call a professional termite company to get the problem under control.
Termite damage often becomes visible when the homeowner does other repairs or renovations. So also, keep an eye out for signs of termites any time you are working on other projects around the house.
6. Clean Cooling Coils on the Refrigerator
Why do it?
Refrigerators use coils at the back or under the machine to circulate and cool the refrigerant and keep the temperature settings correct. However, when the coils get coated with dust and grime, it is more difficult for the refrigerant to cool off, making the condenser work harder and reducing its lifespan.
Besides doing a visual inspection of the coils, you might also notice these signs that the refrigerator coils need cleaning:
• Unexplained increase in utility bills
• Needing to turn up the temperature setting to maintain the correct degree of coldness
• The condenser is turning on more frequently
Also, if you live in a location where there is a lot of dust or atmospheric particles at certain times of the year, or you have pets that shed, the coils are likely to need more frequent inspection and cleaning to keep your refrigerator operating efficiently.
Here’s how to do it:
To do a thorough cleaning of refrigerator coils, you might consider investing in a flexible appliance cleaning brush. This type of brush lets you get into narrow spots to brush away the dirt, leaving your refrigerator coils as clean as possible.
You can also use a narrow vacuum cleaner nozzle or a small, stiff paintbrush to clean the coils. Using a brush and a vacuum together works well for this home maintenance task. In addition, you might want to wear a dust mask to keep from breathing in any debris while you work.
Once you have your tools assembled:
• Move the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug it.
• Use the vacuum attachment and brush to gently clean each coil, working systematically from top to bottom.
• Clean out any dust and cobwebs accumulated at the bottom edge of the refrigerator.
• Plug the fridge in and slide it back into place.
On some refrigerator models, the coils are located behind a kick plate at floor level or on the back of the machine. If you have an appliance like this, remove the plate and use a vacuum and brush to clean this area as well.
7. Clean the Debris Filter in the Washing Machine
Why do it?
One little-known home maintenance task is cleaning the debris filter in the washing machine. While most everyone knows that dryers have a filter that needs regular cleaning, many people are unaware that many washing machines also have a filter requiring periodic maintenance.
Important reasons for cleaning this filter include:
• Improved washing of clothes
• More efficient water use
• Better drainage of wastewater
• Longer lifespan of the appliance
How to do it:
If you are unsure if your washing machine has a filter or, if it does, where the filter is located, the best solution is to check the owner’s manual. If you don’t have the manual, search for an online version using the make and model of the washer.
Typical locations for washing machine filters include:
• Behind a small hatch door at the front
• Under the agitator inside the washer
• At the upper rim of the washer drum
• Installed in the drain hose
If you have a new washing machine, the filter might be built into the pump and not require servicing. In addition, on some models the filter is disposable, and you’ll need a replacement filter before getting started. The owner’s manual is the best place to verify this information before starting on this task.
Once you locate the filter, lift it out of the filter holder. Soak it in hot water if it’s reusable, and then use a small brush to dislodge any debris. If the filter is disposable, throw it away and install a new one, and you’re done.
Conclusion
By performing these simple home maintenance tasks, you can save time and money and the inconvenience of costly repairs. These tasks are relatively quick to complete, and they only require an investment in a few simple tools. Regularly doing these maintenance tasks is a small investment to keep your home functioning efficiently and safely.
