Your home in Arizona, doesn’t necessarily have the wild temperature shifts experienced by our neighbors to the north, east & west. However, it’s a good idea to stay on top of home maintenance, and fall is a great time to get things done. These checklists can help keep things in top shape all year.
Monthly
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Inspect HVAC filters.
If you have pets, you may need to change your HVAC filters on a monthly basis. However, if everyone in your home is relatively healthy and you don’t have the extra dander and debris in the air, change your filters every three months to make sure the air stays clean and clear.
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Clean the garbage disposal.
Even though you rinse food down the drain, little bits and pieces get stuck underneath the rubber ring. Clean it once a month to prevent odors.
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Inspect the fire extinguisher.
Make sure you have a clear path to your fire extinguisher and that its gauge shows adequate pressure.
Quarterly
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Test your detectors.
Your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are your family’s first defense against fire. At the start of each season, hit the test button and listen for the beep. If the alarm doesn’t sound, change the batteries and try again.
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Flush unused toilets.
Take a stroll down your hallway to the guest bathroom to flush the toilet and run water down the drains. This will help prevent gunk build up and ensure you are ready for the horde of visitors during the holiday season.
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Check your garage doors.
Electric garage doors manufactured after 1993 are required to feature an auto-reverse function. Test the doors’ photoelectric sensors each quarter to ensure your children aren’t trapped if they inadvertently wander underneath a closing garage door. Dwell Inspect Arizona offers more detail on how to do this here.
Bi-annually
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Test the hot water heater.
Check your hot water heater’s pressure release valve and drain the tank once or twice per year. This is especially important if you live in an area with hard water since calcium deposits can cause premature appliance failure. Hunker’s Kathy Eastwood offers instructions on how to check and flush your hot water heater.
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Deep clean inside and out.
Spend one afternoon in the summer and one in the fall deep cleaning the parts of your home that don’t normally see the vacuum. This could be guest bedrooms, under the couch, or behind appliances. Don’t forget the basement and don’t be afraid to toss things to the curb that you haven’t seen since this time last year.
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Vacuum your refrigerator.
Specifically, vacuum the condenser coils at the bottom of your refrigerator. This is one of the largest appliances in your home, and depending on how old your fridge is, it may be the second largest consumer of power in the house. Vacuum the coils twice each year; you can potentially save $100 over 12 months.
Fall
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Get your heater ready.
Cool nights can come on quickly. Contact your local HVAC services provider and have your furnace inspected.
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Clean the chimney.
Cleaning the chimney is a messy ordeal, but it’s one that can keep your home from succumbing to harmful soot build up.
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Prep the walkway.
Spend a few minutes checking the pavement along the patio and driveway. Keep a bag or two of salt handy in case of freezing temperatures.
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Check the roof.
Damaged or missing shingles can allow water to penetrate your home, which can cause a host of problems from mold to foundation failure.
All it takes is a few minutes each month to ensure your home is ready for the seasons. Don’t neglect simple home maintenance tasks now, you may be sorry later.
Sent in by Paul Denikin, Dad Knows DIY
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