Home Maintenance Tips
To prevent damage to your home and to save yourself money, time and frustration, follow these tips to protect vital systems.
HVAC Systems
Inspect, clean or replace your system’s filter each month.
Check heating and cooling registers to make sure they are not blocked.
Hire a professional to inspect your heating and cooling system at the beginning of each season.
Buy a maintenance contract to cover regular service of major heating and cooling systems.
Hire a professional to inspect and clean the chimney and flue.
Call a professional if you see rust, hear odd sounds or detect odd smells from the system.
Electrical Systems
Don’t overload outlets, circuits or extension cords. If in doubt, have a professional check the current consumption of your plugged-in items, the capacity of the circuit, and the capacity of the cords.
Hire a professional to install ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets wherever they are required by the electrical code and particularly near water and outdoor locations.
Check electrical cords for fraying and cracking, and replace them if necessary.
Never run cords under rugs or furniture.
Consider hiring a professional to upgrade your electrical service from a fuse system to a circuit-breaker system.
Install a surge protector in your electrical service entrance panel (usually your main circuit breaker panel, where the power enters the house) and install individual surge protectors at all major appliance connections.
Plumbing Systems
Drain pipes and washing machine hoses if you will be away from your property for an extended period.
Hire a professional to install shut-offs in convenient locations, particularly before bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
Inspect the hot water heater for rust stains or water on or around the base. This can indicate a leaking valve or cracked tank.
Inspect and repair caulk around tub and toilet fixtures.
Turn off faucets leading to washing machine hoses when not using the washer.
Used with permission from Penn National Insurance. Please visit their website for more helpful information: Penn National Insurance