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Regular Maintenance is Key

Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices are the best way to protect your investment in your home. 

Whether you take care of a few tasks at a time or several all at once, it is important to get into the habit of doing them.

Establish a routine for yourself, and you will find the work is easy to accomplish and not very time-consuming.

A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur

If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later. 

By following the information noted here, you will learn about protecting your investment and how to help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live. 

If you do not feel comfortable performing some of the home maintenance tasks listed below, or do not have the necessary equipment, for example a ladder, you may want to consider hiring a qualified handyperson to help you.

For pricing and job quotes such as roof shingle replacement, home - basement remodeling or other renovation projects you may have in mind visit
http://www.ontariocontractors.com/costs.htm#1 for current cost estimates.

Print PDF Maintenace Check List

Seasonal Home Maintenance

Most home maintenance activities are seasonal. Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most grueling season for your home. During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems that may arise and taking corrective action as soon as possible. Spring is the time to assess winter damage, start repairs and prepare for warmer months. Over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after, such as repairing walkways and steps, painting and checking your chimney and roof. 

While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a frequent basis year-round: 

• Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
• Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
• Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.
• Homes built after 2002 test arc fault circuit interrupter(s)) on electrical breakers for bedrooms outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the breaker to trip. If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.
• Regularly check the house for safety hazards, such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling flooring, inoperative smoke detectors, and so on.
• Test your Smoke and Carbon alarms every month using the test button.
• Your roof areas should be checked after storms and major rainfall to ensure deterioration or damage has not occurred to roof cover, drainage components, flashings, and penetrations.

Timing of the seasons varies not only from one area of Canada to another but also from year to year in a given area. For this reason, we have not identified the months for each season. The maintenance schedule presented here is, instead, a general guide for you to follow. The actual timing is left for you to decide, and you may want to further divide the list of items for each season into months.

Fall

• Have furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company yearly, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
• If you have central air conditioning, make sure the drain pan under the cooling coil mounted in the furnace plenum is draining properly and is clean.
• Lubricate circulating pump on hot water heating system as recommend by manufacturer if applicable. Recommend this be performed by qualified service technician as part of the heating system start-up process.
• Bleed air from hot water radiators. Recommend this be performed by qualified service technician as part of the heating system start-up process.
• Disconnect the power to the furnace and examine the forced-air furnace fan belt, if installed, for wear, looseness or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup.
• Recommend this be performed by qualified service technician as part of the heating system start-up process.
• Check chimneys for obstructions such as nests and or damaged sections of chimney liner. Recommend this be performed by qualified service technician as part of the heating system start-up process.
• Vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust.
• Remove the grilles on forced-air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
• Turn ON gas furnace pilot light (if your furnace has one), set the thermostat to “heat” and test the furnace for proper operation by raising the thermostat setting until the furnace starts to operate. Once you have confirmed proper operation, return the thermostat to the desired setting.
• Recommend this be performed by qualified service technician as part of the heating system start-up process
• Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every month.
• Check to see that the ductwork leading to and from the heat recovery ventilator is in good shape, the joints are tightly sealed (aluminum tape or mastic) and any duct insulation and plastic duct wrap is free of tears and holes.
• If the heat recovery ventilator has been shut off for the summer, clean the filters and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test and ensure all condensate water flows freely for waste drain.
• Check to see that bathroom exhaust fans and range hoods are operating properly. If possible, confirm that you are getting good airflow by observing the outside vent hood (the exterior damper should be held open by the airflow).
• Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.
• Replace smoke alarms ever 10 Years or when failed monthly self-test.
• Replace Carbon Alarms ever 7 Years or when failed monthly self-test. 
• Clean and set up humidifier systems if used.
• Check sump pump and line to ensure proper operation, and to ascertain that there are no line obstructions or visible leaks. Ensure discharge pipe drains all water away from foundation walls and in into drainage system located at edge of property. 
• Replace window screens with storm windows if applicable.
• Remove interior insect screens from windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass and to allow more free solar energy into your home.
• Ensure windows and skylights close tightly; repair or replace weather stripping, as needed.
• Ensure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use. Replace door weather stripping if required.
• If there is a door between your house and the garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely, check condition of gas tight door seals. Replace if  damaged or missing.  
• Cover outside of air-conditioning units and shut off power.
• Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation walls, so that water does not drain into your basement.
• Clean leaves from eaves troughs and roof, test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof. Ensure downspout leaders are draining roof run off water away from foundation walls. 
• Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close interior valve to outdoor hose connection and drain the hose bib (exterior faucet), unless your house has frost-proof hose bibs.
• Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria three to four time a year.
• If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if the tank needs to be emptied before the spring. Tanks should be pumped out at least once every three years.
• Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats, mice and squirrels.
• Winterize landscaping, for example, store outdoor furniture, prepare gardens and, if necessary, protect young trees or bushes for winter.

Winter

• Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season.
• Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every month.
• After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, drain off a dishpan full of water from the clean-out valve at the bottom of your hot water tank to control sediment and maintain efficiency.
• Check and clean humidifier every month during the winter season. Ensure overflow discharge pipes are connected and free flowing to waste drain system. 
• Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
• Vacuum fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs can prevent them from functioning.
• Vacuum radiator grilles on back of refrigerators and freezers, and empty and clean drip trays.
• Check pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers; recharge or replace if necessary.
• Check fire escape routes, door and window locks and hardware, and lighting around outside of house; ensure family has good security habits.
• Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
• Monitor your home for excessive moisture levels - for example, condensation on your windows, which can cause significant damage over time and pose serious health problems - and take corrective action if necessary.
• Check all faucets for signs of dripping and change washers as needed. Faucets requiring frequent replacement of washers may be in need of repair.
• If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
• Clean drains in dishwasher, sinks, bathtubs and shower stalls.
• Test plumbing shut-off valves to ensure they are working and to prevent them from seizing.
• Examine windows and doors for ice accumulation or cold air leaks. If found, make a note to repair or replace in the spring.
• Examine attic for frost accumulation. Check roof for ice dams or icicles. If there is excessive frost or staining of the underside of the roof, or ice dams on the roof surface consult with a Qualified Roofing Contractor for advice. Check condition of attic hatch seal, replace if damaged or missing. Keep snow clear of gas meters, gas appliance vents, exhaust vents and basement windows. 
• Monitor outdoor vents, gas meters and chimneys for ice and snow buildup. Consult with an appropriate contractor or your gas utility for information on how to safely deal with any ice problems you may discover.
• Check electrical cords, plugs and outlets for all indoor and outdoor seasonal lights to ensure fire safety; if worn, or if plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace immediately.

Spring

• Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked and cleaned every month.
• Have fireplace or wood stove and chimney systems cleaned and fully serviced by a WETT Certified Contractor each spring after system(s) no longer required for heating.
• Shut down, drain and clean furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.
• Switch on power to air conditioning and check system. Have it serviced every two or three years. Ensure outdoor ambient air temperatures are above 16 Deg. C for several days before system start up. 
• Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, if applicable.
• Check dehumidifier and drain - clean if necessary.
• Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria three to four time a year.
• Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.
• Replace smoke alarms ever 10 Years or when failed monthly self-test.
• Replace Carbon Alarms ever 7 Years or when failed monthly self-test.
• Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens. Check screens first and repair or replace if needed.
• Open valve to outside hose connection after all danger of frost has passed.
• Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair as required.
• Ensure sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in. Ensure discharge pipe is connected with no visible leaks and allows water to drain away from the foundation. Ensure discharge pipe drains all water away from foundation walls and in into drainage system located at edge of property.
• Re-level any exterior steps or decks that moved as a result of frost or settling.
• Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats, mice and squirrels.
• Check eaves troughs and downspouts for loose joints or damaged sections and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation walls.
• Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.
• Repair and paint fences as necessary - allow wood fences to dry adequately before tackling this task.
• Undertake spring landscape maintenance and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.
• Inspect and make necessary repairs to exterior decks, patios and landings.

Summer

• Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60 per cent. Use a dehumidifier to maintain relative humidity below 60 per cent.
• Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, and clean or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.
• Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping and, if necessary, take corrective action; for example, reduce humidity and/or insulate cold water pipes.
• Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
• If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, for example, a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
• Deep clean carpets and rugs.
• Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
• Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer, and vacuum lint from duct, the areas surrounding your dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside. Blocked dryer vents are a major fire risk.
• Check security of all guardrails and handrails both interior and exterior.
• Check smooth functioning of all windows, lubricate as required with approved product recommended by window manufacture.
• Inspect window putty on outside of glass panes of older houses, and replace if needed.
• Sand and touch up paint on windows and doors.
• Lubricate door hinges, and tighten screws as needed.
• Check for and replace damaged caulking and weather stripping around mechanical and electrical services, windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house.
• Lubricate garage door hardware, and ensure it is operating properly. Lubricate as required with approved product recommended by manufacture.
• Lubricate automatic garage door opener motor, chain and other moving parts, us approved product recommended by manufacture.
• Ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.
• Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter your house, and make sure there is no water leakage into the house along the electrical conduit. Check for overhanging tree branches that may need to be removed.
• Recommend consulting with Electrical Safety Authority or qualified licensed electrical contractor before any inspection or maintenance is performed.
• Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration; clean, replace or refinish as needed.
• Remove any plants that contact - and roots that penetrate - the siding or brick.
• From the ground, check the general condition of the roof and note any sagging that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
• Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney.
• Repair driveway and walkways as needed.
• Repair any damaged steps.

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