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July Home Maintenance Checklist

Change Heating and Air Conditioning Filters

WHAT: Replacing HVAC filters regularly helps keep interior air clean, and maximizes heating and air system life and efficiency.

WHEN: Monthly 

HOW:  Find the existing filter location (either in air return in wall or ceiling, or in furnace) to obtain the correct sized filter to buy. Buy a supply of filters in bulk to save money. Replace existing filter with new, ensuring the air flow arrow points away from the living space, and towards the unit.

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Check Attic for Roof Leaks

WHAT: Water can damage structures over time, so it's essential to catch roof leaks early.  

WHEN: Annually

HOW:  Periodically visit your attic with a flashlight to check for water stains on the ceiling.  Active leaks will be wet, and will reflect light from the flash light. If it's not raining during your inspection, and you see a water stain, have someone spray water on the roof with a garden hose to check for water penetration inside.

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Check Weather Stripping and Caulk; Replace Where Needed 

WHAT: Weather stripping and caulk around your doors and windows helps keep heating and air conditioning costs down, and keep moisture and bugs from penetrating your structure. When they fail, your heating and cooling costs can rise, and water could cause extensive rot, which is very expensive to repair.

WHEN: Annually

HOW:  Check around doors and windows to make sure weather stripping and caulk are fully in tact.  Replace where needed.

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Recurring Monthly Maintenance 

Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors

WHAT: A carbon monoxide detector or CO detector is a device that detects the presence of the carbon monoxide gas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. 

WHEN: Monthly

HOW: To test a carbon monoxide detector, hold down the “test” button until you hear two beeps sound off. Once you hear these beeps, release your finger off of the test button. Recreate this event, but this time hold down the test button until you hear four beeps. If the four beeps are heard, you know that a signal was sent to your monitoring station. After 10-15 minutes the CO alarm will return from test mode back to its original setting. If for some reason the device doesn’t return to its original setting, you’ll need to perform a power cycle. 

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Test Smoke Detectors

WHAT: A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. 

WHEN: Monthly

HOW: This style of testing occurs when an operator simply clicks on the test button that is present on a smoke detecting device. Pressing this button alone will conduct a test. Once the button is pressed, a few seconds will pass before the test starts, but you’ll know the test in process whenever you begin to hear a loud, piercing siren that comes via the smoke detector. 

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Clean Garbage Disposal

WHAT: A garbage disposal unit is a device, usually electrically powered, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink's drain and the trap. The disposal unit shreds food waste into pieces small enough—generally less than 2 mm —to pass through plumbing. 

WHEN: Monthly

HOW: Kosher salt is an effective abrasive cleaner that can adequately dislodge slimy residue. First, pour a large cup of ice cubes into the garbage disposal, switch it on while adding a half-cup of the salt. The ice and salt combination should grind away what remains of the odor-causing residue. This is yet another quick fix to a dirty drain using simple items that you already have in your freezer and pantry. For FULL instructions please check out this article HERE.

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Run Water & Flush Toilets in Unused Spaces

WHAT: Run water and flush toilets. This helps prevent the buildup of grime. You will also refill the trap which blocks sewer gas from entering the home.  

WHEN: Monthly

HOW: Run the water through unused faucets and shower/baths for 2 minutes. Also flush all unused toilets.

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