14 HOME & AUTO
The Daily Clarion Friday, March 27, 2020
10 maintenance tasks experts say many miss I
f you pride yourself on keeping your home in tiptop shape, you’re the kind of homeowner who takes the necessar y steps to keep your house running like a well-oiled machine — or at least you think you’re taking all of the right steps. The hard truth, though, is many people overlook a number of important home maintenance tasks. Experts say homeowners often miss these home maintenance tasks, which can have serious consequences, as maintaining your home is a whole lot easier — and a lot less expensive — than dealing with big repairs.
1. CLEAN YOUR REFRIGERATOR’S CONDENSER COILS Most refrigerators have condenser coils located across the bottom or at the back of the unit that cool and condense the refrigerant. These coils can collect dust and pet hair and get clogged, forcing your refrigerator to work harder to stay cold. Clean refrigerator’s condenser coil once a year, twice if you have a pet that sheds. You can do this yourself by unplugging the refrigerator, removing the grill protecting the coils and gently using the hose from a vacuum cleaner to suck out dust particles and debris. Make sure to wear a dust mask.
er’s collection bin annually, or two to three times a year if you have “hard” water, meaning it’s high in dissolved minerals, specifically calcium, iron and magnesium, and causes limescale buildup. (You can buy a water test kit online for about $15 to $30 to test your water’s hardness yourself.) An even mixture of white vinegar and warm water will do the trick.
3. CLEAN YOUR BATHROOM’S EXHAUST FANS TWICE A YEAR Bathroom exhaust fans help eliminate odors and remove moisture that would other wise land on surfaces and turn into mold; however, a fan can’t operate properly if its cover is dirty. Give bathroom vent covers a thorough cleaning with soapy water twice a year to keep your exhaust fans running efficiently.
4. CLEAN THE DRYER VENT, NOT JUST THE LINT SCREEN Most homeowners know it’s important to clean their dr yer’s lint screen in between loads to prevent fires, but many people don’t check for lint buildup in and around the dr yer duct and vent filter. Failure to clean the dr yer is the leading cause of clothes dr yer fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Dr yer vents should be cleaned at least once a year.
5. FLUSH THE WATER HEATER FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE
Your home’s water system will 2. CLEAN YOUR REFRIGERATOR’S perform better and last longer if you ICE CUBE MAKER You’ll want to clean your ice mak-
flush the tank once a year to remove
sediment. According to HomeAdvisor, plumbers will include flushing in their annual tuneup for about $200.
6. SWEEP THE CHIMNEY TO AVOID FIRES, CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKS Love using your wood-burning fireplace? Smoke can leave behind ash and carbon deposits called creosote. The National Fire Protection Association recommends a chimney inspection at least once a year.
7. CLEAN THE DISHWASHER A FEW TIMES A YEAR A good trick for deodorizing the dishwasher is to place a bowl full of vinegar in the middle of the bottom rack and then run a normal wash cycle. The vinegar trick is mainly for deodorizing, but it will also remove some of the stains and discolorations that can build up over time in a dishwasher’s interior. For more stubborn stains, which are common in homes with hard water, homeowners can tr y a store-brought dishwasher cleaner.
ly to build up mold, but it can happen to top-loaders, too.
9. REMOVE CALCIUM DEPOSITS FROM SHOWER HEADS To remove calcium deposits and other gunk, fill a small bag with one cup equal parts water and distilled white vinegar and attach it to the shower head’s nozzle with a twist tie, letting it soak for 20 minutes. For a more thorough clean, remove the shower head to let it fully soak and then use an old toothbrush to clean away any remaining debris. Make sure to flush the shower head with hot water once you’re done cleaning before using it. A full soak should be done about once ever y three months.
10. INSPECT TREES AND TREE LIMBS NEAR YOUR HOME FOR SAFETY
Depending on its proximity to your home and the tree’s condition, strong winds could force it to come crashing into your house. If you have trees close to your home, you’ll want to hire a profes8. KEEP YOUR WASHING sional arborist to do an annual MACHINE MILDEW-FREE sweep of your property. Doing Run a cup of white vinegar this means you’ll have an expert through the washing machine, using who can identify early signs of a cleaning cycle (available on some disease or rotting. Expect to pay washers) or a normal cycle with hot $75 to $100 for an inspection of water, once per month. one to five trees, and each addiAlso, keep your washing tional tree will cost around $25. machine’s lid or door open in Then, follow the arborist’s advice between cycles to allow the basket to on what foliage to trim or cut dr y out. Front-loaders are more like- down.
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