Homeowner Maintenance

Whether for a vacation, business travel, or other reasons, nearly all of us occasionally leave our homes for days or weeks at a time. With some preparation, such absences can be managed uneventfully. Keep these guidelines in mind when planning an extended absence:

• Plan in advance
  • Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on the property. If possible, provide them with a way to reach you while you are away.
  • Stop mail, newspapers, and other deliveries.
  • Use lighting timers (available at hardware stores for $10 to $20).
• As you leave
  • Confirm that all doors and windows are locked and the deadbolts are engaged.
  • Shut off the main water supply. Set the thermostat on the water heater to “vacation” to save energy.

For more tips on extended absences, see your homeowner manual, or visit the homeowner portal.

Good planning and thoughtful everyday habits can save significant amounts of energy and water. In the process of conserving, you also save money as an additional benefit. Keep these hints in mind as you select and use your home’s features:

• Heating and Cooling
  • Maintain all your home’s systems in clean and good working order to prevent inconvenience and maximize efficiency. Arrange for a professional to service heat and air conditioning systems a minimum of once every two years.
  • Limit use of your fireplace in extremely cold or windy weather when the chimney draft will draw room air out at an extreme rate.
  • Ceiling fans cost little to operate, and the moving air allows you to feel comfortable at temperatures several degrees higher.
• Water and Water Heater
  • Set your water heater at 120 degrees if your dishwasher has a water booster heater. If not, set the water heater to 130 degrees.
  • If you have a tankless water heater, have it flushed with an approved solution kit each year.
  • Correct plumbing leaks, running toilets, or dripping faucets ASAP.
• Appliances
  • Use cold water when operating your disposal. This not only saves hot water you pay to heat, it preserves the disposal motor.
  • Microwave rather than using the range when possible, especially during hot weather.
  • Run the dishwasher when it has a full load and use the air-dry cycle. Avoid regular use of the rinse and hold cycle.
• Electrical
  • Use compact fluorescent bulbs or LED bulbs where possible. Incandescent bulbs are the least efficient source of light.
  • Turn lights and other electric items off when you finish using them or leave the room.
• Maintenance
  • Check weather stripping on all exterior doors and adjust as needed. Ensure that door thresholds are a good fit—most are adjustable.
  • After any activity in the attic, check that the insulation is evenly distributed.

For more tips on energy and water conservation, see your homeowner manual, or visit the homeowner portal.

Taking care of your concrete is an essential part of making your home last! Here are some tips that will make your concrete last.

• Remove snow from concrete in the winter
• Don’t use salt on your concrete
• Seal your concrete

Here are a few things to help you enjoy your home during the cold months of winter!

• Change your furnace filter
• Have your sprinkler system properly winterized by having it drained and “blown out”
• Furnace start up and maintenance
• Check around your foundation for settlement and add soil if needed
• Check and clean out your gutters as needed
• Remove hoses from hose bibs outside. This will prevent your hose bib water line from freezing and cracking in the wall

Here are some spring-time reminders to make your home last!

• Change your furnace filter
• Seal your concrete with a concrete sealer
• Walkthrough your sprinkler system and check all stations
• Air conditioning start up
• Check around your foundation for settlement and add soil if needed
• Check and clean out your gutters as needed

A clean filter will help keep your home clean and reduce dusting chores. Remember to change the filter monthly in the first year of owning your new home and every other month in the years following. A clogged filter can slow airflow and cause cold spots in your home. Although it takes less than one minute to change the filter, this is one of the most frequently overlooked detail of normal furnace care.

Tracking salt and water from outside is hard on our flooring. Remove your shoes and place entry mats by entrances, this will help collect the usual dirt, sand, grit and water that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor.

If you are experiencing issues with any of your appliances that are under warranty, follow the instructions below.

Contact the manufacturer directly with model and serial number, closing date, and description of problem. Refer to your Appliance Service information sheet.

• GE Appliances (1-800-432-2737)
• Bosch Appliances (1-800-944-2904)