House in Progress Diary

What ever happened to mailbag...?

Oh yeah, we used to answer reader questions every once in a while.  Let's do that again.

 

Kim

 

Hi Kim, great question.  We probably don't model the perfect approach to maintenance but we'll give it a shot.

First, here a summary of what we (try to) do on a monthly basis...

• basic cleaning (especially important if there's any renovation-related work going on), etc.
• cleaning out the lint trap on the dryer for each use 
  
• periodically pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drains
• in the winter, we try to drain the sludge from our furnace once a month because we have a steam heat radiator system.  This isn't needed for forced air systems.
  

We get our drains and our sump pump examined and cleaned every 2-3 years.  But we don't seem to have as many problems with tree roots as others might.

Then there's the seasonal stuff...

Spring: Check your attic for any roof leaks after a spring rain, check your basement for any leaks or flooding, have your air conditioner serviced, check the batteries in your smoke detector.  We usually get the air conditioner serviced.  And swap out our storm windows and screens.  If water leaks in front of us, then we pay attention.  We really should be more proactive there.

Summer: Inspect your roof (it will need to be replaced or redone every 10-15 years), do outdoor projects (early summer before it gets hot).  But who are we kidding?  One of us will usually guilt the other into mowing the lawn once every two weeks.  We are usually working on the big home improvement projects in the summer and the maintenance slides. 

Fall: Clean leaves out of your gutters, have your furnace checked, check the batteries in your smoke detector, shut off the valves to any outdoor water spigots that could freeze in the winter.  We remember to have the furnace checked.  Jeannie makes me hold the ladder for her so she can clean out the gutters because clogged gutters make her nuts.  We drag the lawn furniture that we never had time to use into the garage.

Winter: Look for ice dams on your roof that can cause leaks in the attic when they melt....beyond that just stay warm. During the first cold spell of the season, the radiators will let us know with their banging and clanging which ones need to be serviced.  

Because of the massive "to do list" that we have for renovation projects, we are more about repair and rebuilding than maintenance.  It's ironic because the house is in the condition that it is in because the previous owners neglected basic maintenance on it for decades at a time.  

Though, if I think about it, we catch many small maintenance issues when we do our normal housecleaning.  If you're scrubbing a sink or sweeping the floor under a radiator, you tend to notice radiator leaks or a slow-flowing drain.  So, we probably tend to the inside of the house most often when we are cleaning it.  It takes more forethought to tend to the spaces that you don't spend as much time with...the exterior, the roof, crawlspaces and the attic. 

We also don't ignore things that need to be repaired when they start out as small problems.  This way the issues get researched and nipped in the bud before they become really big expensive problems.  For example, if we see a screw is loose, we grab a screwdriver and tighten it.  Squeaky hinge?  We oil it.  Sagging gutter?  We tighten it back up.  Catching small things early is key. 

Because it is an old house, there is some exterior wood trim and we have wood windows.  Keeping an eye on window glazing and wooden window sills is important because they take a lot of abuse from extreme weather.  Replace glazing when it cracks and breaks. Cover sills with zinc or make sure that the surface stays in good repair.

Because you have an older home, you will need to examine surfaces and elements that the owner of a newer home may not have to worry about yet.  How is the grout in any ceramic tile?  Does it need to be repaired?  Are your chimneys lined?  Do they need to be cleaned?  How about old pipes?  Any leaks that need to be repaired? You are going to have to be on guard against deterioration, since your house is older and has seen more wear.  

If you are looking for specific maintenance issues for old homes, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation has a reprint of a 1993 Old House Journal article that you might find helpful. 

If you're looking for more general guidance, here's a very extensive annual home maintenance calendar that was published by the Mercury News.  Looks like Oprah has also gotten a word in on this subject.

By the way, have you emptied the drip tray under your refrigerator lately?  Do you know if it even has a drip tray?  These are the things that I can never remember myself. 

Hope that helps and best of luck with your place! 

Posted by aaron on February 7, 2007 at 10:14 PM