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Simple & Easy Home Maintenance Tips
Toilet:
- Is your toilet leaking? To find out, add a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the water has turned red, water is seeping through from the tank.
Refrigerator:
- The small water line that goes from your refrigerator—called a capillary line—can easily become kinked. Plastic lines also become brittle from use, which leads to leaks. Both situations can cause extensive damage to the walls, floor, and cabinets around the refrigerator. Be sure to check and periodically replace brittle lines and check metal lines for crimps or kinks.
Garbage Disposal:
- Run plenty of cold water when using your garbage disposal.
- Do not overload it or dispose of things like bones or corn husks.
- Be sure your dishwasher does not drain into the disposal.
Furnace Filter: - Replace every 3 months
- Most houses with forced-air furnaces have a standard furnace filter made from loosely woven spun-glass fibers designed to keep it and its ductwork clean.
Make sure to get the right size. This will help the efficiency of the units and keep the home at appropriate temperatures without over working the systems.
Outside Hose Faucets: - Disconnect Hose During Winter Months
- Outside hose faucets that have hose kept attached during winter months can freeze when temperatures fall below freezing. This will result in a busted faucet causing a water leak. Best practice, to disconnect when not in use during the fall and winter months
Pipes:
- Know where your water cut-off valves are located, and know the difference between the outside water cut-off and the inside water cut-off in case of emergency.
- If leaving your home for extended periods during winter months, set your thermostat at approx. 60 degrees and leave your cabinet doors open inside. As an added precaution, turn the water off. If the pipes do freeze, turn the heat up, open all cabinet doors, and close your crawlspace vents.
- To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly. Be sure that overflow holes on tubs and sinks are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.
- Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink, as they can solidify in the pipes and cause clogs.
- If you have a pipe that is completely clogged, avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber). The caustic ingredients can get trapped in your pipes and could cause serious damage. Some people try environmentally safe drain maintenance additives, but these are more effective as preventative maintenance and are not meant for use on completely obstructed drains.
- If you can’t snake it yourself, call a professional!
Air Conditioner:
- Check the condensate hose to be sure it is not blocked with algae.
- Clean the outside condensing unit screen of leaves.
- Listen for unusual noises
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