Home Maintenance Schedule

Regular maintenance is key. Inspecting your home on a regular basis is the best way to protect your investment. Establish a routine for yourself and you will find the work is easy to accomplish.

Seasonal

• Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
• Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
• If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.
• Regularly check the house for safety hazards such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling carpet, etc.

Summer

• Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60 per cent. Use a dehumidifier to maintain safe relative humidity.
• Clean or replace air conditioning filter, and wash or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.
• Check the basement floor drain.
• If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
• Deep clean carpets and rugs and vacuum bathroom fan grille.
• Disconnect the duct connected to the dryer and vacuum lint from duct.
• Check all windows and doors, lubricate as required and replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping.
• Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats and squirrels.
• Remove any plants that contact, or roots that penetrate, the siding or brick.
• Repair driveway and walkways as needed and repair any damaged steps that present a safety problem.

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: www.cmhc.ca