Home Maintenance schedule

[scrapple]

Does anybody have a schedule of what needs to be done when and be willing to share? Things are a bit different here than in Colorado! Back there all we had was when to turn on/off the evaporative cooler, irrigation system, when to change filters on the furnace.
Your help and time is so appreciated!
Carol

[chuckinca]

Leave irrigation system on year round turn off for a while after heavy rain - one week.

Change furnace filter as needed. Manufacturers recommend every three months but I usually do ours once a year.

Cut grass every two weeks in summer and once a month in winter.

Set A/C to 82 when not there in summer.

Heat not needed in winter if not there.

[graciegirl]

A frame house should be powerwashed once a year.

[pooh]

Have heating system and air conditioner system checked once a year. I have the heating system checked before it gets cold and the cooling system is checked before it gets hot.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I learned this from my sister re: leaving a house empty for any length of time (if that's part of your agenda) - Do something to seal off any drains/traps (sinks, toilets, tubs/showers, etc.) that go to the sewer system. If you don't, when the water held in the drain traps eventually evaporates, your drains become open pipes to the sewer system. Your house will......shall we say......start to 'not smell real good'!! :yuck: We've seen people seal off toilet bowls with Saran Wrap and use blue painter's tape over the other drain points.

Bill

[scrapple]

Thank you all so much!
How about cleaning and sealing tiles?
Carol

[NJblue]

You also need to run hot water through your heat pump on a regular basis (but I forgot what "regular" means).

We were also told to use Old English on our fiberglass/stained door.

[Carla B]

Yes, we were also told to run hot water through the condensate drain...I think they said once a year but we do it twice a year. We were surprised at the gunk that comes out.. on the other side. We know it's gunk because my husband puts an old sheet there to "catch" it.

[golfnut]

yes, i believe you should clean and seal tiles.....gn

[chuckinca]

A frame house should be powerwashed once a year.


Stucco once a year; Aluminum siding twice a year.


.

[chuckinca]

Drain Hot Water heater once a year.

Service garage door guides and springs - I spray with silicon every three months. The large horizontal spring has a expected life of about 7 years, depending on use - replace as needed. (Look over the garage door, there are warnings about use and maintenance). When it breaks, the door drops (don't go under the garage door when it is in operation).


.

[golfnut]

chuck, I didn't know they were still using aluminum siding....gn

[faithfulfrank]

Word of caution......
If you have an electric hot water tank, DO NOT drain the water out of it without first shutting off the breakers to the unit. Exposed elements will burn out when not submerged in water. ALWAYS remember to refill completely before turning on the breaker.

Personally, I see no reason in DRAINING a tank. What you can do is a couple of times a year open the drain and let a few gallons of water out....(CAREFUL, it will be HOT)....without turning off any valves. This way any sediment that is built up on the bottom will come out.

This can and should also be done with gas hot water tanks, as sediment that collects on the bottom of the tank will insulate the water from the burner somewhat, causing the burner to stay on longer to heat the water.

Frank

[otherbruddaDarrell]

We just replaced our electric hot water tank that was 17 yrs old and had never been drained...............very very little sediment in the tank.
It still worked great when we decided to replace it with a new one.

[jojo]

Yes, we were also told to run hot water through the condensate drain...I think they said once a year but we do it twice a year. We were surprised at the gunk that comes out.. on the other side. We know it's gunk because my husband puts an old sheet there to "catch" it.

I should know but do not - what/where is the condensate drain?

[chuckinca]

At the in duct AC/heater unit in garage - the unit has an internal condensate drip pan and a plastic drain line from the drip pan.


.

[jojo]

At the in duct AC/heater unit in garage - the unit has an internal condensate drip pan and a plastic drain line from the drip pan.


. Thanks for the info. Something else on the "to do" list.

[l2ridehd]

There are lots more.
In the spring summer and fall, fertilize your lawn.
Treat for cinch bugs in the spring or as needed
Spay your shrubs twice a year
Adjust your sprinkler heads every 6 months
Clean your dryer vent annually
Replace furnace/AC filter every 6 months.

I am sure there are more as well. What would be great if we could build a schedule so that by working only 1 hour each week for 48 weeks you keep everything up to date.

[Mikeod]

There are lots more.
In the spring summer and fall, fertilize your lawn.
Treat for cinch bugs in the spring or as needed
Spay your shrubs twice a year
Adjust your sprinkler heads every 6 months
Clean your dryer vent annually
Replace furnace/AC filter every 6 months.

I am sure there are more as well. What would be great if we could build a schedule so that by working only 1 hour each week for 48 weeks you keep everything up to date.

Sorry, but I like my shrubs to reproduce. :D

[Sparty6971]

A couple posts asked where the condensate port was.

This is picture of the port to pour warm water into your A/C condensate drain - I do it the first day of each month during the cooling season. There is a twist off cap in the white pvc line which has already been removed in this picture. In a gallon of warm water, I put a cup or two of white vinegar to help cut the "goo" in the lines. Get yourself a cheap plastic funnel to pour the water into the port - pouring from the "milk jug" is a real pain.

http://i55.tinypic.com/2upehjp.jpg

[jojo]

A couple posts asked where the condensate port was.

This is picture of the port to pour warm water into your A/C condensate drain - I do it the first day of each month during the cooling season. There is a twist off cap in the white pvc line which has already been removed in this picture. In a gallon of warm water, I put a cup or two of white vinegar to help cut the "goo" in the lines. Get yourself a cheap plastic funnel to pour the water into the port - pouring from the "milk jug" is a real pain.

http://i55.tinypic.com/2upehjp.jpg
Sparty, I was asking about this. I have followed the guidelines and poured in a gallon of hot water but earlier in this thread someone talked about "goo" coming out. I just poured the water in. Did I miss something?

[Sparty6971]

JoJo - You may not have much in your lines. Some do, particularly if they are several years old and a mix of dust, bugs, and mildew get in there. Or, your lines might just be very clean. If so, great. Mine doesn't flush out anything either. Your line will probably drain out by the compressor unit outside. There may be two or three white pvc drain pipes out there. One for the water heater leak pan, another for the water heater pressure relief valve, and the third for your A/C condensor drain. Just pour some in the port, then go out and see which one has water under it. The water heater drains shouldn't have any. BTW, if you have your furnace-A/C unit serviced by a professional, one of the things s/he will do is flush that very line with a cleaning solution.

[SALYBOW]

We were told to pour vinegar down the condensation pipe in the garage every six months. Is this the same thing you pour hot water down? The where does it come out? We sealed all of our grout when we moved in but will reseal it at about one year.

[l2ridehd]

OK, the list is growing. What else is still missing?

1. Irrigation system on year round, turn off for a while after heavy rain - one week- Adjust your sprinkler heads every 6 months
2. Replace furnace/AC filter every 6 months and pour one gallon of hot/warm water mixed with two cups of white vinegar through the condensate drain. Have heating system and air conditioner system checked once a year.
3. Cut grass every two weeks in summer and once a month in winter.
4. Power wash home once a year.
5. Clean and/or polish front door if fiberglass. Old English
6. Steam clean tile every 6 to 12 months or more as needed and re-seal tile grout every two years.
7. Service garage door guides and springs - spray with silicon every three months-tighten all nuts & bolts.
8. Fertilize your lawn with the correct seasonal type In the spring summer and fall
9. Treat for cinch bugs in the spring or as needed
10. Spray your shrubs twice a year with the correct seasonal bug and fungus mix. Trim and prune as required.
11. Clean your dryer vent annually
12. Replace all batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide detectors once a year.
13. Refurbish mulch once a year

[rhsgypsylady]

To add to the list -

14. Drain hot water tank annually

[Niels]

I had to add a couple of of items to my list that weren't on there. However, I have several items to add to the list produced by l2ridehd (Note: some may not applicable to everyone)

15 Test and rest all ground fault (GFCI) outlets. Monthly is recommended but I usually do it quarterly.

16 Check and reset lawn donuts.

17 Change batteries in irrigation timer. They recommend every 6 months.

18 Have carpets professionally cleaned (Heat extraction method is recommended by The Villages)

19 Replace refrigerator water filter (Every 3 months)

20 Wash and polish wood cabinets every year with a light coat of furniture polish. Don’t use a paste wax and don’t use a polish that contains silicone.