Here’s my list of home maintenance tasks you can perform and never grab the tool bag + a few others that require very few tools or effort. These tasks are incredibly simple to perform and are meaningful to inspectors and insurance adjusters.
Test your GFCI receptacles.
Believe it or not – ground fault receptacles will eventually fail. Some fail sooner than you might think, especially in areas where moisture may enter the device. It’s why we put covers on outdoor GFCI devices.
They have a life cycle of about 15 years but can fail after only 5 – or even sooner. Check out the USCPC – US consumer product safety commission fact sheet for more info. Something as simple as a power surge or nearby lightning strike can affect them and both can happen any time of the day or night.
You’ll find them located in your kitchen, bathrooms, garage, near tubs and pools and on your porch or other wet locations.
Because they can be affected by power surges this important safety device should be regularly tested – once a month. Remember – look for the devices inside and outside the home.
With your finger, simply push the test button and then push the reset button. If it doesn’t reset don’t take a chance – call an electrician.
Some older homes don’t have them. Here’s a handy GFCI History Chart that explains the device’s usage evolution.
Clean and Maintain Exhaust Fan Covers/Filters
Exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen have removable covers. Some are held in place by small wire clips. Others are simply pushed into slots.
They’re made of dishwasher safe plastic or metal. Toss them in the dishwasher and clean the fan filters free of dust and debris. Or – – place the fan cover on a towel and use a vacuum equipped with a bristle brush dusting attachment. Clean the cover and grille thoroughly both inside and out. While the cover is off – reach up and clean inside the fan housing and around the motor.
Operate the Water Heater TPR Valve
The TPR, temperature and pressure relief, valve is typically mounted on the top or side of the tank. When the temperature inside the tank exceeds a certain value, or the pressure rises above a certain limit, the valve opens and lets out water. Cool water entering the tank lowers both temperature and pressure. Without the valve, the rise in temperature or pressure could damage the tank and pipes or, in some cases, even cause the tank to burst. Every TPR valve includes a handle so it can be manually operated. It’s a good idea to test TPR valves regularly.
Caution: If your water heater doesn’t have a valve or the valve doesn’t have a drain pipe – STOP – call a licensed plumber. If the valve does have a drain – you should use caution when testing and operating the valve. When in the open position, hot water will discharge through the valve. If after you operate the handle and water continues to flow or leak through the valve – STOP – call a licensed plumber. The valve should be replaced.
Test the Garage Door Balance Spring
This task should be performed at least once a year. It’s simple. If you have a garage door opener, with the door in the closed position, disengage the opener by pulling the red handle on the release rope. Manually lift the door about 1/2 way up. If balanced – the door will not fall closed or quickly jump open during the test. Watch this handy video from Liftmaster. While you’re checking the door, take a few minutes and spray the chain (if you have one – some openers are belt driven), the hinges and rollers with a silicone based lubricant.
How to replace a garage door weatherstrip.
Important: DON’T USE WD-40 or other solvant for this task. WD stands for “water displacing” and its main use is as a solvent or rust dissolver. The lubricant-like properties of WD-40 come not from the substance itself, but from dissolving components. It’s best to use a silicone or graphite based lubricant.
Change Your Air Filter – (at least every 90 days)
I’m sure you’ve heard this one before.
I can’t stress how important it is that you replace your heating and cooling air filter often. The filter removes airborne particulate that will clog the cooling system. Of the tips and ideas listed – this simple task is one of the most important.
When considering heating and cooling maintenance here are three things you SHOULD NOT DO. Leave these to the pros.
DON’T TRY TO CLEAN THE COILS.
Inside your A/C – the evaporator and condenser coils are delicate: those tiny fins are easily damaged if you use the wrong cleaning product or method. Damaged coils will lead to overheating and could create larger failures.
DON’T TRY TO FIX A LOW REFRIGERANT CHARGE.
This task calls for trained precision and knowledge of exactly how much refrigerant is needed. If your AC is low on refrigerant, it probably has a leak that must be found and fixed. Cleaning your unit can prevent this problem. Dirt and contaminants can corrode lines, leading to refrigerant leaks.
NEVER TRY TO FIX ELECTRICAL ISSUES.
If there’s damage to your AC or furnace after a power outage, power the system down and leave it off until you get help. Needless to say, if you’re not trained to handle electrical components, doing this yourself can be a deadly mistake.
My best tip: Call your HVAC contractor and inquire about a maintenance schedule and service contract. Have the system checked annually. In the long you’ll be glad you did.
Inspect your fire extinguisher(s)
I’ll assume you have and know how to use an extinguisher. This inspection doesn’t require much: (1) ensure it has easy access (not being blocked by a garbage can or anything else), (2) ensure the gauge shows adequate pressure, and (3) ensure it has no visible signs of wear and tear.
You don’t have a fire extinguisher? For your safety – get one!
Best Locations For Fire Extinguishers: At a minimum, the kitchen and garage. But you should also install them on every floor of the home and in areas where you’ll have a flame (like the back patio or outdoor kitchen).
Kitchen: According to U.S. Fire Administration statistics, the kitchen is the place where fires most often start. If you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, most grease fires can be contained. Do not put the fire extinguisher near the stove as it will be out of your reach if the fire is on the stovetop. You should not have to risk burns just to reach your extinguisher. Therefore, the best place to put the fire extinguisher is by the door of the kitchen so you have easy access to it.
Garage: It is a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher here because in most homes, this is the place we use as storage. Often, leftover paints, solvents, and building materials will be piled up without a second thought. Again, the best location to mount the fire extinguisher is by the door.
Replace the Batteries
Twice a year change the smoke alarm batteries. Once a year change your thermostat batteries.
No special tools are required to open the housing.
Every 10 years you should swap the smoke alarms out. Replace them. Also – if not already wired together, the alarms should be hardwired so that they all sound the alarm when one detects smoke or fire.
I recommend you install a programmable thermostat. One like the Nest uses an auto scheduler to learn your desired temps (no pre-programming necessary). The Wi-Fi enabled unit can change the temperature from your phone, tablet or laptop. It works with almost all 24-Volt heating and cooling systems, including gas, electric, forced air, heat pump, radiant, oil, hot water, solar and geothermal systems.
Tools Every Homeowner Needs
You don’t need tools for the tasks I’ve listed above, however, being prepared to fix a problem should be every homeowner’s priority (or at least until the pro shows up).
Here is my top 10 list of hand tools every homeowner should keep in their toolbag.
1. A hammer. The most basic – everything seems to begin with this tool. You’d be surprised how often you need a claw hammer. It’s simply indispensable.
2. Combination pliers. Pliers come in handy in just about every application (tightening bolts, removing screws, cutting wire). They are versatile and useful. I prefer ones with rubber on the handles.
3. Vise grips. If you need something held in place while you work vise grips are the best tool. Just adjust the screw end and vise grips stabilize just about anything.
4. Tape measure. An easy-lock metal tape measure will serve you well. Try to get one that measure at least 16-feet.
5. Needle-nose pliers. Combination pliers cousin is the needle-nose pliers. They come in handy particularly with electrical work or when you need to reach a tight spot.
6. Screwdriver set. The set doesn’t have to include a huge selection. A few different sizes of both Phillips and flathead screwdrivers will come in handy.
7. Utility knife. Sharp as a razor – for all of you precision-cutting (and scoring) needs – get a utility knife. Always be careful. They’re sharp!
8. A power drill. Ok – it’s not so much a hand tool in the traditional sense, however, for simple around the house tasks a small battery operated drill can be very handy. The most common chuck size is 3/8 inch. The chuck is the end that holds the bit. A 3/8 chuck will hold drill bit shanks up to 3/8 inch thick.
9. A level. From hanging pictures, to leveling your stove or installing your mailbox, a level is should be a priority for any do-it-yourselfer. They vary in size from 6 inches (bullet level) to up to 6 feet long.
10. Tapes and hardware. Try to gather a collection of various tapes (electrical tape, plumber’s tape, duct tape), and some different hardware (multiple sizes of screws and nails) to complete your home maintenance set.
Now all you need is a toolbox!
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