Home Preventive Maintenance Checklists: 9 Outdoor Tips for February

15-20 Minutes
Easy
Many of my friends have asked me for home preventive maintenance checklists.
It makes sense that your home should have a maintenance schedule since it's your biggest asset. But it's easy to forget.
Here are 9 Preventive Maintenance Tips that will ensure your house is safe during February. Don't let Punxsutawney Phil get your down if he sees his shadow!!!
1. Check for Ice Dams- these can cause gutter & downspout damage and lead to water entering your house's interior walls.
2. Dryer Duct Exhaust-bird nests, lack of caulk, and blockage can lead to poor dryer performance, pests or rodents entering your home, and fire hazards.
3. Electric Meter Safety-lack of properly sealed and secured meter box is an electrical nightmare waiting to happen.
4. Furnace Exhaust-survey the exhaust port for ice or snow obstructions which will cause a newer high efficiency furnace to stop working.
5. Electrical Wire Seals-either use duct seal, Great Stuff insulating foam, or caulk to create a water tight seal around wires & cables entering your home's interior.
6. Gas Line Safety-gas leaks do happen, I've experience several and you can inspect your gas meter's connections by spraying them with a soap & water solution.
7. GFCI Outlets-test and reset your exterior GFCI outlets to make sue they work properly and prevent unnecessary electrical shocks at your next karaoke party.
8. Oven Hood Exhaust-similar to dryer duct exhaust inspections, make sure air is flowing freely through t he vent that leads from the oven hood to the outside.
9. Tree Branch Hazards-if you have trees survey them for large branches that are broken and hanging loose, otherwise you might be in for a surprise in the spring.
In case you'd like more pictures and more detailed tips here's a link to my post http://www.homerepairtutor.com/home-preventive-maintenance-for-february/
I hope this helps you and if you have anything to add to the list let me know. I'd love to add your idea and give your credit :)
Make it a great day!
Spray gas meter fittings to check for leaks
Survey wires going into your house and check for gaps
Inspect your furnace's exhaust for obstructions like snow, leaves, or ice
Look at your electric meter box for good seals, signs of rust, etc.
Check your dryer's vent for bird's nests, pests, clogs, etc.
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2 of 6 comments
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Feb 04, 2013
    Didn't get to the list but I'm putting the last coat on tonight after I get off here which can sometimes be a while.
  • John White John White on May 11, 2018

    Thanks for sharing these useful tips to maintain our home outdoor. These checklist helps a lot in maintaining your machine safe.

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