Timely Tips for Home Maintenance

Many Maricopa residents are new. They have new addresses; they have new jobs or are finding new routes to old jobs, and their children are attending new schools. Many live in brand new homes. However, whether your home is one month old, three months old, six or 26 years old, there are certain periodic maintenance issues that homeowners need to address.

Monthly maintenance:

· Test your smoke detector alarms and change any batteries that seem low.
· Check under every sink in your house for water leaks. Also check for leaks in the area around your hot water heater.
· Remove the filter from the range hood or microwave exhaust fan; clean it and any grease accumulations from the fan housing itself.
· If the flow of water from your faucets is reduced, clean the aerator screens.
· Check for any evidence of termites (usually tubes of earth) on or near your home’s foundation. If evidence is found, contact exterminators immediately.
· Clean and/or replace furnace filters.

Every other month maintenance:

· Oil the hinges on interior doors.
· Lubricate the hardware on your garage door, making sure it moves freely.

Six-month maintenance:

· Inspect grout, resealing or regrouting if necessary.
· Inspect tiled floors, shower doors, and tub enclosures for missing or damaged caulk.
· Check front doors for sun fading and/or chipping. (Remember to consult your CC & R’s before changing the door’s paint color.)

Yearly maintenance:

· Apply polish and/or furniture oil to wood cabinets.
· Inspect your home’s exterior for cracked or peeling paint.
· Check your heating and air conditioning system; consider professional seasonal system checks.

Follow these simple maintenance guidelines. Keep your home looking and working like NEW!