While every home is different in its own right, there are a few consistent maintenance areas that people often overlook, and numerous problems can arise as a result. Here are a few often overlooked items to add to your spring cleaning checklist.
- Your Filters – Your home’s heating system or your furnace tends to work the hardest in winter because it’s when we spend the most time inside. As such, this is when filters are the most likely to be near their capacity or at the end of their life. Some of the most common areas to find filters to check are:
(a) The Furnace – Your furnace is the lung of your home, so keeping it breathing easy is paramount to home efficiency. Change your furnace filter and check the vents for dirt accumulations. Note when you last had the furnace and ducts cleaned. A dirty HVAC system has the biggest impact on air quality and has a profound impact on allergies and general health.
(b) Your Humidifier – Calgary’s water is not the softest, so you will likely find that your humidifier filter is chocked full of white scale. Changing it will ensure proper airflow through it, making it easier to keep your home at desired humidity levels. This is especially important to those who have hardwood flooring, as consistent humidity levels will help prevent gapping and cracking.
- Your Safety Warning Devices – Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be routinely checked, but did you know that they also expire? If they remember, most people will check them once or twice a year, but rarely do they remember to check the date of manufacture which you’ll find stamped on the device. Consult the device manufacturer for effective dates, but as a rule of thumb, a device should be replaced at least every 10 years.
- Tile and Grout – Tiled areas, such as floors and bathrooms, should be checked for mould and mildew. It has a nasty habit of forming in the grout between the tiles because it is so porous and a trap for moisture. It can be sealed, but sealer has an expiration date, and most people don’t think to do much maintenance to tile until you see the grout lines start to turn black. This can be really tough to clean, and cleaning chemicals are usually pretty harsh. Catching this early can save you a lot of frustrating work, and in some cases the only way to effectively clean it is with professional services.
- Your Homes Exhaust Vents – Your home breathes, so to speak, and one of the more common problems we see is exhaust vents that are in poor shape. Plugged or broken vents can be a prime place for rodents to get in and is usually an easy fix. Plugged vents can hold a bigger danger, especially ones that release heat, such as a dryer vent. Blocking that heat not only makes your appliance work harder but can also create the prime conditions for a fire to start. Unfortunately, birds love to make their home in dryer vents. Check your homes exterior vents for cracking, check that reverse flow devices operate normally, and check that you don’t have any unwanted visitors making them home.
- Your Carpets – If there are allergy sufferers in your home, don’t overlook the carpets. They can be a big allergen trap, even though they may not look dirty. Recommended carpet cleaning schedules are every one to two years, depending on traffic. New carpets usually come with a 10-to-15-year warranty, but they are only valid if the carpets are professionally cleaned every 18 to 24 months, depending on the manufacturer. If they have been treated with moisture repellent, such as Scotchgard, it tends to wear out in the high traffic areas first, which is especially important if you have pets. Dog or cat urine may not be visible once it has been absorbed, but it can cause damage to the carpet and underlay due to its high ammonia content.
A few extra minutes to check items you may have overlooked may wind up saving you from dealing with problems you may not have considered. Working a few extra items into your spring home maintenance may wind up giving you some piece of mind as you get out and enjoy the summer.
