Latest News

Maintaining Your Home

January 2, 2019

Congratulations new homeowner! A new home is an exciting, yet substantial investment. Protect your growing investment with preventative home maintenance and care.

Why should you do regular home maintenance? Regular home maintenance will maintain the value of the property. A well-maintained home usually sells more readily and usually brings a higher price. Regular care minimizes unexpected repair work and expense. And, regular small repairs keep costs from becoming larger. 70 West Builders has provided the following checklist of home maintenance tips to guide you:

Monthly Checklist

Air Conditioning and Heating

• Check air filters and clean or replace as necessary
• Vacuum air supply and air return registers to remove dust and lint

Interior Caulking

• Check for cracks or separations in caulking around sinks, bathtubs, toilets, faucets, counter tops, back splashes, ceramic tile walls, ceramic floors, window sills and any other areas originally caulked by your builder. To repair these areas, use an appropriate caulking compound and follow the caulking instructions in the relevant sections of this manual
• 
  

Range Hood Fan

• Clean or replace dirty filter

Plumbing

• Flush all toilets and run water through all sinks, especially in bathrooms that are not used on a regular basis

Quarterly Checklist

Septic System

• Use Rid-X® Septic System Treatment (or similar product) on a regular, quarterly basis to maintain and restore the bacterial balance in your septic system. (if applies)

Semi-Annual Checklist

Cabinets

• Clean and apply a light coat of wax to wood-finish cabinets

Caulking/Painting

• Check all areas originally caulked by the builder, especially exterior windows and doors.
• Check exterior pain and stain surfaces and refinish as necessary.

Doors

• Check screws on door lock set and hardware, and tighten as necessary.
• Lubricate bi-fold and by-pass doors as necessary.
• Clean sliding door track and apply silicone spray to tracks as needed. (Caution: use only a silicone lubricant)

Electric

• Check electrical extension and appliance cords. Replace frayed or split cords.

Exterior Finishes

• Check for cracks and voids in exterior caulking and re-caulk as necessary.

Roofing

• Visually inspect roof from the ground for broken or missing tiles or shingles and gaps in flashing.
• Check and clean gutters and downspouts, if installed.

Air Conditioning/Heating System

• Ensure that air supply registers are not blocked and remove excess leaves from exterior vents.
• Check accessible water lines and valves to sinks, toilets, refrigerator and clothes washer. Tighten if loose or leaking.
• Check pipes and drains for water leakage

Windows

• Check sills for caulking cracks or separations and re-caulk as necessary.
• Check weather stripping around windows and repair or replace as necessary.
• Check opening and closing operation. Clean tracks and lubricate as necessary, using silicon spray.
• Inspect window screens and repair or replace if necessary.

Fire Extinguishers & Smoke Detectors

• Check fire extinguishers to ensure they are fully charged.
• Test smoke detectors and change batteries if needed.

Annual Checklis

Attic

• Check attic vents to ensure that soffit vents are not blocked.
• Check inside attic for signs of roof leaks.

Cabinets & Doors

• Check fit and hinges of cabinet drawers, doors and exterior doors. Tighten and adjust as necessary.

Air Conditioning System

• Have HVAC contractor perform annual maintenance check-up.

Clothes Dryer

• Check dryer hose for lint.

Pressure Cleaning

• Clean roof shingles of mildew and dirt as necessary.
• Clean pavers, driveways, patios, decks and walks as necessary.
• Clean exterior finishes such as siding, stucco, brickwork, stone of mildew and dirt as necessary.

Visit our vendor partner’s, Bonded Builders Warranty Group, website www.homeowners.bondedbuilders.com for a more detailed maintenance checklist, general information and safety tips