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Before we get too far into the summer, here are some maintenance items to inspect on your home.
HOME FIX:
Complete summer maintenance early BY C. DWIGHT BARNETT TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Before we get too far into the summer, here are some maintenance items to inspect on your home. Start on the roof if you’re able, or view it from the ground for safety. Look for signs of wear to the shingles: curling, cracking, nails popping through the shingles and split or missing shingles. Check the valleys where two rooflines intersect. Check the metal, wall to roof, flashings around chimneys and flues. Check the rubber boots around plumbing vents. Inspect the flashing around skylights and sky windows. Caulk as needed. At the gabled ends, repair missing screens and clean out old bird and hornet nests. Inspect the tops of masonry chimneys. These tend to crack and need to be caulked. Loose brick and missing mortar need to be repaired. If you have a chimney cap, make sure it is secure. Clean and inspect gutters. Leaky and clogged gutters can cause a wet basement or flooded crawl space. Make sure the downspouts carry the runoff water at least 6 feet from the house. On the exterior of the home looked for chipped, peeling, or flaking paint. Inspect for loose vinyl or aluminum siding. Check for broken or missing storm windows and screens. If you have your screens in storage, it’s time to bring them out and inspect for damage. Check window glazing. Putty, especially if you have storm windows, can harden and become useless. Clean off the old putty and apply new before painting the window jambs.
Inspect the caulking around windows and doors and recaulk all loose and missing areas. Close foundation vents and uncover basement windows. Inspect crawl spaces for signs of flooding. If water is present, have a sump pump installed. Inspect for erosion. Washed-out areas next to the foundation should be filled and compacted. Maintain a slope away from the foundation of 1/2 inch per foot. Turn off the power to the outside unit of the central air conditioning system and spray the outside coils with a garden hose. Remember to turn the power back on when you’ve finished. Inspect the incoming overhead electrical wires. If the wiring passes through and close to tree limbs, contact the power company. Downed limbs can cause power outages for you and for your neighbors. Interior inspections should include: Electrical service panel. Know where it is and how to turn off the main switch. If it’s a fused service, have spare fuses on hand and close to the box. If it’s a breakered service, make sure each circuit is labeled. Central air conditioning system. Remove the filter and check inside the filter box. If the cooling coil is visible, make sure it is clean. If not, have it professionally cleaned and serviced before the warmer months. Change the filter now and again every 3 to 4 months. If there is a humidifier attached to the air system, turn it off until winter. Because a built-in humidifier can cause rusting, it
would be better to have the unit removed. Batteries. Check flashlights and emergency lighting. Replace weak batteries and keep spare batteries handy. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms. Know where the main water shut-off valve is and how to use it. Locate the main gas or oil shut-off valve and learn how to use it. Check the water lines and drain lines under the home for signs of leaks. Check the water heater. Does it vent properly? The vent must have a positive rise all the way to the chimney. Is there a 3/4 inch metal overflow line on the water heater’s safety valve? The end of this line should extend to within 6 inches of the floor or drain to the outside.
Replace worn faucet fittings and leaking washers. Clean clogged and slow-draining fixtures. Make sure any foundation or sump pumps are in working condition. In the attic, check the insulation. Strong winter winds can blow loose insulation into piles. The insulation should be spread evenly over the attic floor. The insulation should not touch the roof’s decking near the outside walls. A 2-inch air gap is needed for ventilation. Check with your local utility for R-values and types of insulation recommended for your area. Check the underside of the roof’s decking for signs of past leaks or for black rot staining.
Marksheffel Rd.
FROM THE $250S
C. Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 268, Evansville, Ind. 47702 or e-mail him at d.Barnett@insightbb.com.
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Peterson Rd.
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If you have a whole house fan make sure it is not covered before turning it on. Insulate and cover attic access openings that are accessible from inside the home. Check for and uncover all bath and kitchen vent fans. These should be vented to the exterior and not to the attic. Uncover recessed lighting fixtures. Covered fixtures can build up enough heat to cause a fire.
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