6 — Say you saw it in The Real Estate Browser of Lynchburg — Volume 8 Number 9 www . LynchburgRealEstateBrowser . com
Summer , Safety , and Home Maintenance
By Drew Howard , President , HomePro , Inc .
My favorite time of the year has arrived . Vacation ’ s , cookouts , time spent with family and friends , and drives around Central Virginia . This is the time of year to take advantage of the extra daylight to accomplish home projects , overlooked maintenance , and perform safety checks around the home . I hope you find this checklist helpful .
1 . Kitchen- take a few minutes to test the GFCI receptacles and make sure they are functioning as intended . Push the test button and see if the receptacle trips . Then push the reset button to reset the receptacle . Make sure you have a fire extinguisher located in the kitchen and away from the oven . Look under the sink and make sure there are no pipes leaking . Look for any mouse droppings under the cabinets .
2 . Plumbing- In the bathrooms look under the sinks and check for any leaks . Secure any loose hardware or fixtures . Perform routine caulking . Test for stopped drains and functional drainage of the sink and tub / shower . Make sure the toilet is not loose . If you do not know where the main water shut off is located take time to locate . Make sure there are no leaks on the valve handle . Inspect the water heater . If the water heater is fueled with gas make sure there are no combustible products located next to the tank . Clear all obstructions from around the water heater . Inspect the T / P valve and look to see if any water is dripping from the valve . Check the exterior hose bibs and always drain the hose if connected to the faucet .
3 . In all the rooms make sure the windows are operable and no broken glass or storm windows . That no receptacles are overloaded with extension cords . Make sure smoke alarms are working properly and change the batteries . Inspect hand rails and secure if they are loose . Replace any missing or burned out light bulbs . If you have a garage inspect the door and tracking . If the door has an automatic opener test the laser eyes to see that the door automatically reverses . Test all locks on exterior doors and confirm they are working properly .
4 . Electrical- Test all gfci receptacles in the home . Make sure extension cords are used to a minimum and that they are UL approved . Locate the main panel box . Inspect that the main panel cover is attached properly . Test any gfci breakers . Make sure all junction boxes , receptacles , and switches have covers over them . Replace any missing or burned out light bulbs both inside and out .
5 . HVAC- Look at the outdoor unit and clear any vegetation that may be obstructing the unit . If the condensate line discharges on the exterior of the home make sure it is draining properly . Replace filters and make sure the return vent is free of any obstructions . Test the air supply registers for normal air flow . You can purchase a cooking thermometer and test the air temperature between the supplies and return vent . The normal temperature differential should be about 16 degrees difference . If you have an air handler in the attic look to make sure there is not any water in the pan and that the condensate line is draining properly . Remove any stored items from the air handler if located in the basement . If you have a crawl space make sure the ducts are not sweating and creating condensation / mold growth on the floor joist . If this is occurring contact a HVAC specialist . If you have a window or wall mount AC unit look to see that the condensation is draining away from the home .
6 . Basement / crawl space / slab- Inspect any floor drains and sump pumps to see that they are draining properly . Make sure they have proper covers and free from obstructions . Look for any unwanted insect , bugs , rodents and droppings . With the excess rain this spring and summer look to see if there are any signs of moisture and mold . Remove any cardboard items used for storage . Never store gasoline or flammable materials in the basement . A dehumidifier is recommended to lower the humidity in the home during the summer months .
7 . Exterior- Make sure all downspouts are draining away from the home . Inspect the gutters and clean if any debris is present . Inspect the roof flashing at the chimney and plumbing vents . Look for any loose or missing shingles on the roof . Remove any vegetation growing on the house and trim shrubs obstructing windows . If you do any digging in the yard call to have underground utilities marked . Look under decks and the soffits of the home for wasp nest . If you have a pool I always recommend getting a copy of the National Pool and Spa code book .
If you have any questions about your home please give me a call ( 434 ) 660-3449 . Have a safe and fun summer .