Home Sweet Home: Regular Maintenance Will Keep It That
Way
 House-proud?
Of course you are. Owning your own home or condo is an
accomplishment and a dream come true for millions of
Americans. Keeping your home in good repair not only makes
financial sense if you ever choose to resell, it’s also
common sense, because a well kept home is a comfortable,
secure nest for you and your family. At HomeRX we
offer a suite of services designed to maintain and improve
your biggest asset…and the lifestyle you’ve worked so hard
to enjoy. We are ready to answer your call, whenever you
need us, for work around your home that you don’t have the
time or skills to perform.
We also recognize that many of you are
willing and able to take on at least some of the projects
required to keep your ‘HOME’ looking good and functioning
efficiently. So we’re pleased to offer the following
resources focusing on required regular maintenance and
common problems and solutions. Sometimes a little knowledge
and a few basic tools are all you need. If you run into any
problems, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
(850) 264-1897
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Home
Maintenance Checklist for Spring
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- Gutters and
downspouts: Remove
leaves and debris from gutters
and downspouts. Reattach gutters
that have pulled away from the
house. Run a hose on the roof
and check for proper drainage.
If leaks exist, dry the area and
use caulking or epoxy to seal
the leak.
- Siding:
Clean siding with a pressure
washer to keep mold from
growing. Check all wood surfaces
for weathering and paint
failure. If wood is showing
through, sand the immediate area
and apply a primer coat before
painting. If paint is peeling,
scrape loose paint and sand
smooth before painting.
- Exterior caulking:
Inspect caulking and
replace if deteriorating. Scrape
out all the eroding caulk and
re-caulk the needed area.
- Window sills, door
sills, and thresholds:
Fill cracks, caulk edges,
repaint or replace if necessary.
- Window and door
screens: Clean
screening and check for holes.
Holes bigger than a quarter
leave plenty of room for bugs to
climb in. Patch holes or replace
the screen. Save bad screen to
patch holes next year. Tighten
or repair any loose or damaged
frames and repaint. Replace
broken, worn, or missing
hardware. Wind can ruin screens
and frames that are allowed to
flap and move, so make sure they
are securely fastened. Tighten
and lubricate door hinges and
closers.
- Drain waste and vent
system: Flush out
system.
- Hot water heater: Lubricate
circulating pump and motor.
- Evaporative air
conditioner: Clean
unit, check belt tension and
adjust if needed. Replace
cracked or worn belt.
- Heat pump:
Lubricate blower motor.
- Foundation:
Check foundation walls, floors,
concrete and masonry for
cracking, heaving, or
deterioration. If a significant
number of bricks are losing
their mortar, call a
professional. If you can slide a
nickel into a crack in your
concrete floor, slab or
foundation, call a professional
immediately.
- Roof:
Inspect roof surface flashing,
eaves and soffits. Check
flashings around all surface
projections and sidewalls.
- Decks and porches:
Check all decks, patios,
porches, stairs and railings for
loose members and deterioration.
Open decks and wood fences need
to be treated every four to six
years, depending on how much
exposure they get to sun and
rain. If the stain doesn't look
like it should, or water has
turned some of the wood a dark
gray, hire a professional to
treat your deck and fence.
- Landscape:
Cut back and trim all vegetation
and overgrown bushes that are
touching structures. Limbs and
leaves can cut into your home's
paint, requiring that side of
the house to be repainted. A
little trimming can save a lot
of money and time.
- Sprinklers:
Check lawn sprinkler system for
leaky valves, exposed lines and
improperly working sprinkler
heads. If there is an area of
your yard that collects too much
water or doesn't get enough, run
the sprinklers to figure out the
problem. If it's not something
you can fix yourself, call a
professional before your lawn
needs the water.
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