Maintain

Home Energy and Safety

You may have lots of work to do around your home but there are key areas you want to keep at the top of your list. Your #1 focus should always be the health and safety (smoke and carbon monoixde detectors, a fire escape plan, repairing water leaks immediately to avoid mold growth) of your family and guests. You should also prioritize improvements that will help you save energy and the environement … and you’ll see lots more articles about these topics this year.

• Go Green and SAVE $$
• Healthy Homes: What is Healthy Air?
• Paint it Green
• Safety: How to Protect Your Family from Fires
• Download our FREE Home Energy Report (click here for your home energy report)
  • Trends in Home Energy Usage
  • Core Concepts in Home Energy Use
  • Planning Your Home Energy Enhancements
  • Sealing and Insulating Air Leaks
  • Heating, Cooling and Landscaping
  • Water Heating
  • Windows and Lighting
  • Refrigerators, Freezers and other Appliances
  • Home Electronics
  • Top 10 Recommendations
• Want to learn more about your home, and how comfortable it is? Print this home energy log and document when you notice yourself raising the room temperature or putting on a sweater. Over several months you should see patterns and have a good idea of the energy improvements which will benefit you and your family the most.
  

Exterior Home Maintenance

Your home’s exterior is exposed to the elements year round, from rain or snow to heavy winds and sunlight. These all create wear and tear on the materials used to protect your home’s interior. By following a consistent maintenance schedule for your roof, gutters, siding, windows, doors, trim boards, landscaping, walk/driveways and exterior features like decks and fencing, you will minimize the need for more expensive home repairs.

• Create Outdoor Living Spaces
• Deck Do’s and Don’ts
• Doors: How to Order an Exterior Door
• Gutter Frequently Asked Questions
• Ordering an Exterior Door
• Water Damage: Top 10 Problems in Single Family Homes
• Water Damage and Wood Rot

Interior Home Maintenance

A house is a system of interlocking components. Starting with the exterior skin, moving  to the interior framework (foundation, floors, walls, ceilings and roof), the key systems (electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling) and the components that support our lifestyle (kitchen, bathrooms, lighting, appliances and electronics). Your home is comprised of 1,000s of components that must all function properly which requires ongoing maintenance from small tasks like caulking a bathtub or kitchen backsplash to replacing key systems like your hot water heater.

• Bathroom Remodeling Tips
• Brick Walls: Dealing with Moisture Problems
• Calculate How Much Paint to Buy
• Heating Costs: What You Need to Know
  • Save Heating Costs by Sealing Your Home
  • Save Heating Costs with Insulation
  • Save Heating Costs with Ventilation
• How to Pick the Right Interior Paint
• Interior Trim Can Add Spice to Any Room
• Paint it Green
• Wallpaper Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Home Maintenance Checklists

You go to your doctor for an annual checkup, take your car to the dealer for periodic maintenance but who tells you want maintenance your home needs? Some homeowners are good about fixing problems as soon as they find them while others wait to make repairs until they’re getting the house  ready to sell. You will save money by taking care of routine maintenance on a regular schedule as deferred maintenance almost always results in bigger repair bills. Water damage is especially bad as moisture can travel into unseen areas causing bigger & costly repairs like replacing a window rather than just the sill plate.

• Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
• Spring Home Maintenance Checklists – now broken down into more manageable lists
  • Exterior Maintenance Checklist
  • Interior Maintenance Checklist
  • Clean and Green Checklist
  • Yard Cleanup Checklist

• Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
• Winter Home Maintenance Checklist