Home maintenance tasks you never think about

When it comes to home maintenance, there are the obvious things that stand out for everyone; clearing the gutters, shoveling the driveway, repairing downspouts, sealing windows, etc.

We bet there’s a handful of home maintenance tasks that you never think about. We’ve listed a few for you. How many of these do you do?

Test the sump pump

When was the last time you checked to see if your sump pump was working? Better question – do you even know where your sump pump is? That said, not all homes have them. If you do, you’ll find it in the basement. What they do is pump water away from the foundation of your home. If you do have one, you should occasionally dump water into the basin to ensure it is operating correctly.

Clean refrigerator coils

You hopefully clean the inside of your fridge every now and then, but when was the last time you pulled out the fridge and cleaned the coils? Over time, dust and hair build up around the coils, causing the compressor to work harder and use more energy. You will need a special coil cleaning brush and a vacuum to get the job done!

Lube garage door components   

The rollers, springs, tracks, and hinges of your garage door get a lot of use, especially in the winter. They’re also somewhat exposed to the elements, so the wear and tear can be heavy. Your springs especially will just give out at some point, so rather than simply lubing them up, you may have to fully replace them if they look rusted or worn out.

Clean out window wells

Another cause of basement flooding is a damaged window well. If you go outside right now, what will you see – a clean window well with a plastic cover or an open hole next to your home collecting debris, water, and snow? If you’re not covering your window wells, make sure you clear debris away on a regular basis and check for cracks in the window frame and surrounding foundation.

Clean the ducts

Have you ever cleaned your home’s ducts? This job likely requires a professional even if you understand how to access your ducts. The primary goal of duct cleaning is to prevent contaminated air from circulating throughout your home and negatively affecting your family. If there’s moisture building up, you could be at risk of growing mold, which will also affect your air quality.

Drain the water heater

Sediment build up can make your water heater work too hard, wasting energy because it’s not working as efficiently as it’s supposed to. To drain your water heater, turn it off, then turn off the gas to the heater. Turn off the cold water supply and turn on the hot water in a sink. Open the pressure relief valve, connect a garden hose to the drainage spigot, then turn on the spigot and drain.

These are just a few of the home maintenance tasks that you’ve likely never even thought about. Even if you recently purchased a new home, add these to your home maintenance checklist and rest easy knowing that you’re taking good care of your home!