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Your new home, while mostly maintenance free, will still need some attention. We have provided a list of things to pay attention to based on the season. Click on any season above to see those tips.
Winter Maintenance Tips
-Appliances
When moving any appliance for regular cleaning or maintenance, be extremely cautious as finished vinyl or wood flooring can be easily damaged.
-Bathrooms
If the caulking around your bathtub, shower, or sink appears dried or cracked, remove the old caulking and replace it. If you do not have a caulking gun, caulking material can be bought in applicator tubes or in disposable caulking guns. It is a good idea to fill the bathtub before caulking. This is a high maintenance area and it is very important that all caulking joints be checked and maintained on a regular basis (every 3 months or as needed). Shower enclosures should be wiped down with towel, cloth, or squeegee after each use to help prevent mold, mildew, or soap residue build-up.
-Cabinets & Kitchen Countertops
Keep all countertop seams dry. Maintain caulking between wall and countertop backsplash to prevent moisture from accumulating behind cabinets.
-Check the Fireplace
In the spring make sure the Dante valve for gas supply is turned off.
-Check the Roof
Make sure the flashing around the chimney or vent pipes is watertight.
-Electrical Panel
The panel contains the main shut-off breaker to your home, along with individual circuit breakers to labeled circuits. An overloaded circuit breaker 'trips' and turns off power to the circuit, protecting the wire from overheating. To reset breaker, first switch breaker all the way to 'Off', then to 'On'. CAUTION: A circuit that continues to 'trip' may signify an electrical problem which should be repaired by a licensed electrician. It is advisable to maintain clearance around the panel for easy access in an emergency situation.
-Foundation/Crawl Space
Foundation vents should remain open at all time except in the event of extreme cold. Periodically, verify there is no standing water in crawl space for 48 hours after rainfall; Check this once a year.
-Garage Doors/Optional Openers
Oil all moving parts on garage door every three months and tighten bolts on tracks every twelve months. Never attempt to adjust garage door spring in any way.
-Insulation
Your Essex Homes Se, Inc. home has been designed to provide the proper insulation for our climate. Open doors, windows, fireplace flues and clogged filters are more often the cause of inadequate cooling or heating than deficient insulation. A lack of proper window treatments can also prevent the heating/cooling system from functioning properly.
-Lawn Care
Fertilize trees and shrubs in the spring and fall only. Use 60-80% slow release fertilizer.
-Louvers
If your home has a pitched roof, the space between the ceiling and the roof may have louvered openings. Louvered openings should remain unobstructed all year round.
-Paint Exterior
It is the homeowner's responsibility that the exterior caulking be checked and maintained as needed. It is the homeowner's responsibility to constantly access the performance of the exterior finish of the home and to repaint any areas as neccessary.
-Seal Around Doors and Windows
Add or replace worn weather-stripping around doors and windows. Replace worn door sweeps at the bottom of doors.
-Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are wired directly to your house wiring system, and also have a battery backup for your safety. They are installed in locations specified by local building code. Smoke detectors should be tested and cleaned periodically. During a power failure, the smoke detectors signals a lack of power by an intermittent beeping.
-Termite Treatment
Termites cause major damage to structures. It is highly recommended that you maintain an inspection and treatment program after the first year. Do not store wood in the crawl space as it could easily become a prime breeding area for termites.
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