Home Quest describes how to maintain a healthy home

1. For today’s discussion, I have prepared some items
that I believe will help you maintain your home, and
while doing this help to provide a safe and healthy
environment for you to live in.

2. Home Maintenance
EXTERIOR
All homes require periodic and scheduled
maintenance.
This can include items that range from trimming your
shrubs to replacing your roof surfaces.
We recommend that you walk around your home at
least twice per year with a critical eye for damage or
potential damage to your home.

3. Two laps around the house can make a
difference.
For the first lap, walk around the house at a distance
that would allow you to see the whole house, including
the roof.
Try to note if:
There are tree branches touching or overhanging the
roof. Are there any dead trees that can fall on the
building?
Are the roof surfaces are laying flat and are they are
intact. Is there any damage or wear since your last
look? What is the condition of the chimney?
The gutters are intact and secured to the house.

4. Are the shrubs are overgrown and touching the
building or obstructing windows.
The grading around the house. Try to imagine where
surface water from rain or melting snow will drain to. Is
it away from the house or toward the house?
Look down the “lines” of the house. Are the walls
straight and flat?
Look around the grounds for wet spots and sink holes.

5. For the second lap move close to the house and walk
around the building
Try to note:
The condition of the driveway and the walks. Are there
tripping hazards? Are the railings secure.
The condition of the siding, the trim and the exterior
finishes. Are there opportunities for water penetration
or entry of pests? Is the siding intact? Are there rotted
boards?
Check decks for weathered or worn decking that may
cause splinters, and check the railings to be sure they
are secure.

6. The windows and doors. Are there cracked and broken
windows? Are there damaged screens?
The air conditioning system. Is there 2-3 feet of clear
space around the exterior compressor?
Garden hose faucets. Are they leaking, secure and
operational?
Light fixtures and outlets. Are they covered and
operational?

7. INTERIOR
On the interior of your home, just like the exterior, you
have to be aware of water penetration and how you
manage water in the home. Failure to notice and repair
water leaks and water penetration in the home is
probably the single largest cause of damage to a
home.
Remember…….. WATER ALWAYS WINS!
With this in mind, consider going into your attic during,
or right after, a heavy rain. Check around the attic for
roof leaks, especially around roof penetrations such as
the chimney and plumbing vents. You can have
leaking that doesn’t damage your ceiling!

8. Periodically check the bathrooms and the kitchen.
Look for leaking sink, bathtub, and shower faucets,
and corroded or leaking drain pipes.
Replace damaged caulk or grout joints at countertops,
sink perimeters, showers, bathtubs, etc. Check for
loose tiles.
Make sure the toilets have not loosened from the floor.
Be sure that the toilets are not “running” which wastes
water and puts unnecessary loads on septic systems.
Check tile floors for open joints and loose grout.

9. Check the laundry room. Inspect the water hoses for
the washer for bubbles or leaks. Clean the dryer hose.
Clogged dryer hoses are a fire hazard.
Check the basement, any crawl space area and the
garage for evidence of leaking pipes from the house
above.
Check lower levels of the building for water seepage.

10. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Just like maintaining your car, some of the systems in
your home require periodic inspection, cleaning, and
service to operate safely and efficiently.
This is especially important if your home has oil,
natural gas, or propane fuels for the heating and hot
water systems. Systems that use these fuels MUST
be inspected annually!
Neglected or improperly maintained systems can be
unhealthy…..sometimes even dangerous. Routine
maintenance will usually prevent hazards and improve
system efficiency….reduce costs.

11. Your mechanical systems will not last forever. These
systems do have a life expectancy. For example:
Most well maintained, forced hot air furnaces have an
average life expectancy of 12-18 years.
Most forced hot water steel boilers have an average
life expectancy of 15-20 years. But a cast iron boiler
may last 30+ years.
Most water heaters have an average life expectancy of
10-15 years.
If your system are beyond their average life
expectancy, budget to replace them.

12. If your home has forced hot air heating or cooling, it is
important to regularly change (or clean) the air filters
for these systems. Some air filters require MONTHLY
replacement!
It is recommended to also clean the ducts periodically
to help maintain a healthy air distribution system.

13. GENERAL SAFETY & HEALTH
Confirm that there are smoke detectors at every level
in your home. Its even better to have one at every
bedroom. When you change the clocks in the fall and
in the spring, change the batteries in battery operated
smoke detectors.
Keep a properly maintained fire extinguisher near the
kitchen.
Repair loose electrical outlets and switches. Replace
frayed electrical cords and extension cords.
Periodically adjust and lubricate garage doors and their
openers.

14. Check stairs for loose stair treads, loose carpets on the
stairs, or loose railings and make repairs to help
prevent falling.
Check lights at entrances and walkways.
Have a chimney sweep inspect and clean fireplaces
and their flues after about 40 fires. Never use a
chimney company that calls you first!
Be sure to close the door to the house before you start
your car in the garage.
Have a licensed exterminator inspect your home for
wood destroying insects at least every other year.
When possible use a small independent company
instead of a franchise.

15. Check sump pumps to be sure the sump is clean, the
pump is operational and will discharge away from the
house.
If you have a well, have your water tested annually for
physical properties and bacteria.
If you have a septic system, have the septic tank
pumped every other year. Older septic systems often
require pumping annually.

16. If there is anything we can do to help you in the future,
please don’t hesitate to call us.
John Koch III & Johnny Koch IV
203-929-9900
Email: Info@HomeQuestInspection.com
Web Site: HomeQuestInspection.com
Blog: SheltonHomeInspectionNews.com