New homeowners are often equally as overwhelmed as they are excited about their new purchase. Not knowing where to start, their home maintenance tasks feel like too much to tackle. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner make sense of her home maintenance with a thorough checklist as well as a set of tools to get the job done.
Start on Top
Start the home maintenance checklist on the roof, where you can inspect the roofing shingles, gutters, chimneys, vents, and other surfaces.
● Look for excessive grit in your gutters or in front of the downspouts, as this indicates roof deterioration
● Inspect the bricks and flashing around your chimney for deterioration and leaks
● Ensure that drip-edge flashing overlaps your gutters to allow the gutter system to remove as much water as possible
Exterior Checks
Once a year, perform an exterior inspection to ensure your home is watertight and protected from pests.
● Check the siding and replace any missing or damaged pieces
● Check mortar joints around bricks for missing or deteriorating mortar
Check the Attic
Spend some time in the attic looking for issues, such as:
● Water damage from leaking roofs or vents
● Pest issues like mice, raccoons, bats, or bees
● Insulation type and depth to verify that your home is insulated properly
Window Inspections
Make sure to check all of your windows. Look for common issues such as:
● Leaky window seals around the sashes
● Sashes that don’t move freely
● Condensation within the glass, indicating a failed seal in the insulated glass unit
● Functioning sash stops, tilt latches, and window locks
Electrical
Locate your main electrical panel and become familiar with its components:
● Identify the main electrical service breaker
● Identify the individual circuit breakers
● Ensure the breaker descriptions are accurate
Plumbing
You’ll want to find the main plumbing valves and become familiar with their operation:
● Find and label your main water shut-off valve. Create or buy a large sign that makes it easy to find the valve in an emergency.
● Locate your water meter and the isolation valves on either side
● Find your gas meter outside and ensure that it’s easy to find in the case of an emergency (remember, if you smell gas, get out!)
Important Maintenance Tools
Every homeowner should have a basic set of tools for regular maintenance tasks. They include:
- Screwdriver set
- Utility knife
- Nail set
- Pry bars
- Flashlight
- Silicone lubricant
- Hammer
- Tongue and groove pliers
- Level
- Tape measure
- Hex set
- Caulk gun
- Stubby wrench and socket set
- Receptacle tester
- Stud finder
- Drill and impact driver
- Drill and drive bit set
- Tool bag
Your Home Information Binder
Finally, assemble a home information binder to keep all of your important home maintenance documents and contact information in one place. It should include items such as:
● Your floorplan and layout
● The location of important shutoffs
● Your electrician, plumber, and other important contacts’ information
● Manuals for appliances and systems
● Warranty documents
● Maintenance logs
