Basic house maintenance?

[binny]

What do you consider basic house maintenance. I know a lot of this is going to be area specific ( I don't need to clean out a swamp cooler or whatever you do with one of those) but what are the basics that you do each season to prepare for the next?


I just had my sprinklers blown out and will put up the storm windows soon. Ive never done that before but this is a much older house and we haven't had the chance to replace a lot of the windows yet.

Of course the yard work, the garden prep for next spring, the basic cleaning.

My neighbour was out draining her hot water heater though, Ive never done that before. Is that something everyone does? Ive never done that before.


Also do you drain your hot tub for the winter?

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I would add to your list:

repainting exterior door jams and fences
restaining decking
changing furnace filters
cleaning out gutters

To answer your other questions:
we use our hot tub year round, but I have heard of draining them. Just make sure you blow all of the water out of the lines if you live in an area that freezes or else the will crack.
Yes, we do flush our hot water heater. Over time the piping can deteriorate and clog up.

 

[CEDmom]

We get our furnace serviced every year. We'll skip this year though because we're in a brand new house. We also turn off the water to the outside faucets and drain the lines.

 

[JR6ooo4]

check for caulking that has seperated. Like around doors and windows. Anywhere water and wind can get in.
Check the roof shingles for damage and make sure the gutters are clean so water will not stay and freeze. If it gets real cold you may want to cover the outside water faucets with a styrofaom cover.

Mikeeee

 

[SplshMtn99]

SWAMP COOLER??? Google, here I come.

Learn something new every day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_cooler

 

[cristit14]

Also do you drain your hot tub for the winter?

I don't have one, but winter is the ideal time to use a hot tub IMHO. It is great sitting in one with the snow coming down around you.

 

[SplshMtn99]

New England. Condo.

WINTER PREP:

We used to need to lower the storm windows & seal with plastic on our old windows. Don't need to do that anymore on new windows. I do still do it on storm doors though.

Take all patio furniture & decor in. Drain & put away hoses. Turn off water to outside faucets & drain so they don't freeze.

Remove A/C units from windows; clean filters & store units.

We heat with a wood pellet stove. Get chimney swept & checked annually. Oil the motor on pellet stove auger. Stock up on pellets.

Cut back any of my plants. Condo assoc will take care of raking all the leaves.

Winterize & store jetskiis.

ANNUALLY:
Relieve pressure on hot water heater. There is a valve to do that on.

Check driveway for cracks. Seal when needed (in the fall).

Check window & door caulk -- (but new now).

CONDO ASSOC takes care of yardwork, snow removal, roof & gutter issues, & decks.

 

[binny]

lol Splash. Yes Ive heard of one but have never had one.

Chimney sweep, that was on my list too.

I have a covered patio so I dont bother to put away the furniture.

DH and I have been going and forth on the hot tub draining. I think we should leave it he thinks we should drain it. Sounds like more work to me to drain it!
Besides I can see that it would be nice in the winter, its a little back inside though so that is where dh is coming from.

see? I never knew about the hot water heater. We had a new house before this one. I should take care of that. So do I need to shut it off or something beforehand? Or do I just turn that red handle? I am clueless here sorry.


I think I am going to seal the window in Cams room with plastic this year it is the winter coldest/summer hottest room in the house.


Filters were ust changed on the furnace and they are 6 month filters. So we should be good to go for a few more months.


Plants. I have dug up my tomatoes and pumpkins but I have no idea what some of this stuff is
I have a couple of clematis that I planted. Ive heard different opnions do I cut it back or leave it? Anyone know?
Other than that all that is left that I can identify is lambs ear, lavender, catnip, Quince, phlox, and sedum. I think all of those fairly well take of themselves. I dont know about the rest.



no jet skis (I wish though!)


shingles, I need to get that done too,. I know a couple blew up when we had a bad wind storm a while ago.

deck is going to have wait for spring I think. It was just done last year and looks ok anyway. Same with the rainbow set.


driveway I didnt think of. I should do that.

Thanks for the ideas. Would be glad to hear any more!

 

[SplshMtn99]

The hot water heater pressure thingy. DH says he just lifts the lever up quickly, then down quickly. A small amount of water will come out at bottom of pipe. That's all I know. lol

Clematis plant. I cut it back to about 18" - 24" above ground. To at least above the first leave joint area I think. First year, I cut it back way too far. It didn't grow back the next year; and I had to replace it. oops. You may want to google that for a better explanation. I've got to get to my plants this week. We already had the frist deep frost about 2 wks ago.