May 2012 Monthly Home Repair and Maintenance Tips and Ideas

Paying attention to basic home maintenance responsibilities will help protect your investment. Keep in mind that maintenance needs vary from home to home and community to community so you may want to add (or subtract) a few things from these lists, depending on where you live.

               May  is National Home Improvement Month  

• Gutters and Downspouts
  Winter ice formations in gutters can cause the gutter to pull away from the house as well as break seals in gutter joints and downspout connections. Loose or clogged gutters can allow rain to ultimately run into your house or collect near your foundation causing your basement to leak. These problems require gutter cleaning, inspections and repairs.
   
• Window and Door Screens:
  Inspect screens for holes and tears. A screen repair kit can be purchased from your local hardware store.
   
• Your Deck:
  Inspect your deck for loose nails and boards, and for rotted boards that need to be fixed or replaced.
   
• Pipes and Outside Hose Spicket:
  Before turning on your outside hose spicket, inspect pipes between the hose spicket and shut-off valve for signs of frost damage, splits or separated joints. If everything is in good working order make sure your outside hose spicket is turned off, and turn on the shut-off valve inside your home. Your outside hose spicket is now ready for use.
   
• Clean Your Fireplaces and Wood Stoves:
  Remove ashes and close your chimney flue.
   
• Attic:
  Make sure all your gable, soffit and ridge vents are open to allow proper ventilation. Make sure insulation covers the entire attic floor, look into hiring a professional to add more to meet recently updated building codes and reduce future heating and cooling costs. Check to make sure your attic and/or whole house fans are working properly; consider installing attic or whole house fans.
   
• Caulking and Grout:
  Inspect caulking and grout around tubs, showers and sinks; have it replaced if deteriorating.
   
• Air Conditioning System Inspection and Filter Change:
  Have your air conditioning system checked by a licensed HVAC mechanic. Replace your filter monthly.
   
• Paint:
  Scrape, sand, and repaint areas that have cracking or peeling paint or are in need of caulking so that you don't end up with rotted wood or the need to repaint the entire house.

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