Home Maintenance Tips from a Lehigh Valley Home Inspector

Checklists for the Seasons  
These are checklists that you can use and incorporate into your routine home maintenance plan for your house. They are broken up into seasons.  

In the Spring:  
• Check for damage to your roof  
• Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration  
• Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system  as recommended by the manufacturer  
• Check your water heater  
• Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged  • Check your fire extinguishers  
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter  
• Review your fire escape plan with your family  
• Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level  walking surface  
• Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function  • Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer  • Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide  alarms  
In the Summer:  
• Check kids playing equipment  
• Check your wood deck or concrete patio for deterioration  
• Check the nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs  
• Check exterior siding  
• Check all window and door locks  
• Check your home for water leaks  
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and  dishwasher for cracks and bubbles  
In the Fall:  
• Check your home for water leaks  
• Have a heating professional check your heating system every year 
• Protect your home from frozen pipes  
• Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone  
• Test your emergency generator  
• Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your  fireplace damper  
• Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures  • Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide  alarms  
• Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce  heat/cooling loss  
• Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to  prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring  
In the Winter:  
• Clean the gutters and downspouts  
• Confirm firewood at least 20 feet away from your home  
• Remove screens from windows and install storm windows  
• Familiarize responsible family members with the gas main valve and other  appliance valves  
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer  • Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections  • Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter  
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and  dishwasher for cracks and bubbles  
• Check your water heater  
• Test all AFCI and GFCI devices  

​​Adapted from the home maintenance book by Ben Gromicko “Now that you’ve had a home inspection.” http://www.nachi.org/home-maintenance-book.html