Joel Barkman, NVIA Fauquier County Chapter President

Homeowner Maintenance

by Joel Barkman

Spring is in the air! It is so refreshing to see green grass and all the early flowering plants, typifying new life, hope and refreshment. But a wet basement and other negatives resulting from a lack of homeowner maintenance should not dampen the excitement of the vibrant colors of the season.

This weekend we will no doubt have a whole list of household chores to do. Once again we're able to throw the windows open and enjoy some fresh outside air. Oh, we know you'd rather be golfing or playing tennis or watching TV, but keeping your home in good shape is important. Your home may be the biggest investment you will ever make. Taking good care of it with regular maintenance is necessary to maintain its value and ensure it will provide a comfortable, safe shelter for you and your family for a long time. Here are a few memory joggers that are essential to spring.

Backfill: you need plenty of slope for water to drain away from your home quickly. As a rule of thumb, you need 6 inches of slope in the first 10 feet away from your home. All gutter downspouts need extensions so water moves away from your foundation. If you have water draining into the ground around your immediate walls it is only a matter of time until you will see it appear inside your basement. Do not use mulch as fill dirt since it only decays and adds to the problem
Gutters: If you have not cleaned out your gutters the extra weight is placing a strain on your home that will require expensive repairs. Inspect during a rain to assure they are draining correctly.
Paint and Caulk: The exterior of your house is built to withstand exposure to the elements, but a periodic cleaning, painting and caulking will improve the appearance, and in many instances prolong the life of siding and other exterior products.
Landscaping: Plants and trees that were so young and beautiful may have matured and need trimming to keep them from rubbing against your home or their root system putting pressure against your walls.

If you have a new home, you probably received a warranty from the builder on workmanship and materials. This warranty applies to problems related to the construction of the home, but it does not apply to problems that arise because of failure to perform routine maintenance.

For example, if your roof begins to leak after six months because of faulty workmanship, your warranty would cover that. If you develop a problem because water backed up in clogged gutters that you should have cleaned, the builder is not responsible for repairs.

Also, some items, such as appliances, may be covered by manufacturers' warranties and are not the responsibility of the builder.

You should fully familiarize yourself with the terms of your warranty soon after you move into your home. With all the excitement surrounding a move into a new home, most people have little desire to curl up in front of the fireplace and read a legal document. Nonetheless, you should not wait to read your warranty until a problem arises. Set aside an hour to learn what your rights and responsibilities are from the outset.

For a little more fireside reading, here is a home maintenance quiz that will test your maintenance knowledge. While this quiz does not address every home maintenance project, it does provide helpful tips and reminders for chores you may have overlooked.

How often do forced-air furnace filters need to be changed?
At least every three months during the heating/cooling season
Should you run hot or cold water through your garbage disposal?
Cold water
How often should the moving parts of garage doors be oiled?
Every three months
What tools can you use to unclog your drains?
A plunger and a plumber's snake.
What tool can be used to unclog a toilet?
Coil spring-steel auger
What faucet part needs to be cleaned every three to four months?
Aerator-the screen inside the end of the faucet
Where should the fire in your fireplace be built?
On the irons or grate, never on the fireplace floor
What will prevent soot and add color to the fire in your fireplace?
Throw in a handful of salt
Where should your firewood be stored?
Outside, away from your house and not directly on the ground
What helps keep unpainted concrete floors easy to keep clean?
Concrete sealer
What should you use to clean unpainted concrete floors?
A solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of washing soda in a gallon of hot water. Mix scouring powder to the solution for tough jobs.
When can you clean hardwood floors with water?
When the floors have a polyurethane finish
Do hardwood floors need to be waxed?
Hardwood floors that do not have a polyurethane finish probably will need to be waxed periodically. Use liquid or paste "spirit" wax.
What is the best polish for vinyl floors?
Water emulsion wax
When is basement condensation at its maximum?
In new homes because gallons of water went into the concrete of basement walls. Run a de-humidifier all summer!
Why should noisy water pipes be fixed promptly?
The condition that causes noisy pipes may be accompanied by vibration that can cause fittings to loosen and leak.
How often should your roof be inspected?
A qualified roofer should inspect your roof every three years.
What should be regularly checked on your security system?
The alarms and circuit breakers should be checked to make sure they are in working order and the sensors should be inspected one by one.
To ensure your safety, what household equipment uses batteries that must be checked regularly to make sure they are operable?
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
What do you use to fill nail holes and cracks in plaster walls and gypsum wallboard?
Spackling
What is the white powdery substance that develops on masonry walls?
Efflorescence sometimes appears on masonry walls. It is crystallized soluble salts that can be removed by scrubbing with water and a stiff brush.
At what temperature should your water heater be set?
120 degrees Fahrenheit
How often do skylights need to be inspected?
Skylights should be inspected each time your roof is inspected so leaks don't develop from cracks and interruptions around its seals, caulking and flashings.
What is a simple solution you can use to wash extremely dirty exterior windows?
A solution of equal parts vinegar and water or 3 tablespoons of denatured alcohol per quart of warm water. Use a piece of crumpled newspaper to wash the glass to avoid lint left behind by paper towels.
What can you use to help a window slide easily?
Rub the channel with a piece of paraffin.
What should you look for when you inspect your siding yearly?
Determine if wood-sided homes need to be repainted; check to see if the caulking around the windows and doors has split and cracked, and replace the caulk; clean the mildew; trim shrubbery away so it does not touch the siding.