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Solstice House Check Up
Essential House Maintenance Chores Repeated every December and June
The summer and winter solstice are great times to perform needed house maintenance so let this article be a “maintenance needed” dash light to gently prod you toward some simple house care. Addressing these tasks will make you familiar with possible repairs, alleviate the worry of not knowing, and pre-empt the issues that come with deferred maintenance. So let’s ensure your house is in its best working condition! You’ll find below a list of tools to perform the Push-Button, Clean-It, Look-&-Smell and Final-Bonus Tasks that await completion every six months.
TOOLS NEEDED
- Outlet GFCI tester
- Replacement batteries for smoke detectors (likely 9 volt or AA)
- Access to hose or sink for washing
- Gloves
- New furnace filter
- Shop vacuum (hose that can reach ceiling)
- Step ladder (that can reach ceiling)
- Bucket (that can fit under sink drain)
- Zip-style drain cleaner
- Old tooth brush
- Replacement light bulb and coverplates
- Screw driver
- Bucket (for gutters)
- Pruning loppers
PUSH-BUTTON TASKS
Test your warning alarms and replace batteries if needed. This includes your smoke, carbon monoxide and moisture alarms (if applicable). These units have an estimated life of about 10 years so confirm an ear-piercing shriek is still present. Moisture alarms by hot water tanks and washing machines usually have metal conductors at the base and can be tested by touching these for the chirp.
TIP: When testing I usually cover the alarm speaker with my hand to stifle the noise and protect my ears.
Test your GFCI outlet receptacles. These are located wherever you have an outlet within 5 feet of water. After testing you will need to find the reset button (located at the receptacle “upstream” in the circuit, or in the main panel with newer construction). Double check that outlets have properly reset and are operating afterwards. We don’t want any appliance like a garage freezer defrosting!
TIP – You can purchase a small tester for less than $10 which will test receptacles that don’t have the familiar test and reset buttons. These are a homeowner must-have and can confirm a receptacle’s operation and diagnose issues.
Check your whole house fan settings. This unit should operate a minimum of 2-4 hours a day. Double check that this unit turns on via the timer and is working.
TIP – How do you check a fan is working? Tear a square! First, you can turn it on and listen. Second, tear a square of toilet paper and hold it against the plastic cover. Proper air flow will hold that square in place and release it when the fan is turned off.
CLEAN-IT TASKS
Replace and clean the heating filters and grills. Many furnace filters are disposable and are simply thrown away. Others are a washable material or a screen. If you have forced air or baseboard heaters, turn the electrical power off to these units and vacuum the visible and accessible areas. Removing the grill will reveal a lot of dust build-up. If there is an outdoor compressor for a heat pump or AC, blow away collecting leaves and organic debris from the unit.
Clear ventilation covers. Pull the fan covers or screens at the bathroom ceiling and kitchen fume hood. The bathroom fan plastic cover is usually held in place by springs and can be washed in the sink. Get your shop vac and clear the dust build up from the inner components. With your oven screens, a kitchen dish brush and some warm soapy water can help. Soak your fume hood screens and then run them through the dishwasher on a heavy wash cycle.
Clean drains and p-traps. First, check that these components are dry and there is no sign of leaks before starting. Then get ready for a wet mess – scum, hair, debris and water collect in the bath and kitchen drains. The drain nuts are to be hand tight and easily disassembled for this expected maintenance. Use an old tooth brush to scrub these clean. Tape, glue and any adhesive should not be required to re-assemble this. After you have re-assembled things test for leaks. If there is a leak something was not configured correctly, is not tight enough or indicates a different problem. The zip drain cleaner can reach down the shower drain to pull out debris.
TIP – Take a picture before you take the drain apart. It will provide a helpful reference when the parts are clean and looking all the same!
Remove lint from dryer ducting. There will be buildup in the piping that some shop vacs can reach. In some cases a professional will be needed for the deeper cleaning. The dryer vent cover is the biggest area of build-up so clear this. An added step is to remove the ductwork at the back of the dryer and clearing any lint there. This will improve air flow, reduce the risk of fire, and cut the dry time and operating costs!
Clear gutters of debris. Ideally, pick a dry day and get the gutters clear of the build up of leaves. Ensure the downspout extensions are properly lined up with their splash blocks or drains. All this removed gunk can go in the yard waste container. Do as much as you can and where you do not have the equipment or feel safe performing this task contract this out.
Treat your roof for moss. Moss grows on the north side, or more accurately, the shaded areas. The more regularly you treat your roof the less moss and organic growth, and this makes it safer to access your roof! Do not use abrasive treatments such as brooms or pressure washers. !! Use extreme caution and proper safety equipment in this. And don’t forget that roofs are especially slick in the winter months.
TIP – Years ago it was recommended that Tide Laundry Detergent with Bleach would do the trick when applied at the ridge line.
LOOK & SMELL TASKS
Look in your attic and crawlspace. These areas provide the greatest anxiety for home owners and accessing them is about as fun as crawling under your car. But it is important!
In your attic, look and smell for signs of rodents, notice if the ductwork for the bathroom fans is connected to a roof vent, and any other unusuals. Generally, a view from the access point is good enough. Take your phone and if you see something you wonder about, snap a picture and send it my way!
In the crawlspace, look for rodent and water activity on the black plastic. Notice any wires or ductwork lying on the ground. And again, send me a picture if there is anything you are uncertain about. One essential if you have a sump pump: Lift the float and see if the pump properly engages. If it does not turn on make sure the outlet is energized – this is another use for the handy little outlet tester. A non-operating pump needs to be fixed!
Confirm window vents are open. There has to be a way for fresh air to get into your house – even in cold winter weather! Confirm window (or wall) vents are open and permitting fresh air to enter the house as bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans pull the old air out. If your central furnace is outfitted to bring fresh air into the house no need to worry about this!
FINAL BONUS TASKS
Find and replace all those burned out light bulbs. It’s finally time to get to that light bulb that has been burned out over your stairs or in the corner of your dining room the past several months. A step ladder is hopefully all you need but in some cases something more may be needed. Gratefully, the advent of LED lighting makes bulb changing a rarity!
Replace broken or missing cover plates. There is always one that is cracked or missing! Get that replaced to give it a finished look and make it safer.
Vacuum out your floor registers and air returns. Since you got the shop vac out there are some bonus areas you can hit. Remove the covers on the floor registers and carefully vacuum out everything you hose can reach. Be careful! There are razor sheet metal edges, protruding screw tips and other sharps can fall into these areas. Then vacuum the grill on the furnace air return (the metal grill on the ceiling and wall).
Trim back any vegetation contacting the house. Winter is the time to do the pruning, trimming and removal of shrubs and trees. Leafless bushes are easier to access, you are better able to see where to cut and there is a lot less debris to dispose of. A little vegetative handiwork in winter will save you ten times the work in summer!
TIP – Bare vegetation near the house permits visual inspection of areas hidden during warmer months. Look for evidence of pests, insects and landscape materials against the wood siding.
