Home Maintenance and Safety - Reassurance Home Inspection Minnesota Home Inspection

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Maintaining Your Home

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Maintenance Advice For Homeowners

Upon Taking Ownership

After taking possession of a new home, if there are some maintenance and safety issues you know of or were disclosed by the home inspector, take care of the items that have to do with preventing infiltration (roof, gutter, grading, etc.) and safety and health issues ASAP.

The following list may help you with prioritize other concerns:

Change the locks on all exterior entrances and recode your garage door opener, for improved security.

Check that all windows and doors are secure. Improve window hardware as necessary. Security rods can be added to sliding windows and doors. Consideration could also be given to a security system.

Install smoke detectors on each level of the home. Ensure that there is a smoke detector outside all sleeping areas. Replace batteries on any existing smoke detectors and test them. Make a note to replace batteries again in one year.

Create a plan of action in the event of a fire in your home. Ensure that there is an operable window or door in every room of the house. Consult with your local fire department regarding fire safety issues and what to do in the event of fire.

Examine driveways and walkways for trip hazards. Undertake repairs where necessary.

Examine the interior of the home for trip hazards. Loose or torn carpeting and flooring should be repaired.

Undertake improvements to all stairways, decks, porches and landings where there is a risk of falling or stumbling.

Review your home inspection report for any items that require immediate improvement or further investigation. Address these areas as required.

Install rain caps and vermin screens on all chimney flues, as necessary.

Investigate the location of the main shut-offs for the plumbing, heating, and electrical systems. If you attended the home inspection, these items would have been pointed out to you.

Regular Maintenance

Every Month

Check that fire extinguisher(s) are fully charged. Re-charge if necessary.

Examine heating/cooling air filters and replace or clean as necessary.

Inspect and clean humidifiers and electronic air cleaners.

If the house has hot water heating, bleed radiator valves.

Clean gutters and downspouts. Ensure that downspouts are secure and that the discharge of the downspouts is appropriate. Remove debris from window wells.

Carefully inspect the condition of shower enclosures. Repair or replace deteriorated grout and caulk. Ensure that water is not escaping the enclosure during showering. Check below all plumbing fixtures for evidence of leakage.

Repair or replace leaking faucets or shower heads. Check for loose tiles and cracked or missing grout. Repair ASAP.

Secure loose toilets to be snug but Do Not Over Tighten as this may crack the toilet, and repair flush mechanisms that tend to leak or get clogged.

Spring and Fall

The roof should be examined for evidence of damage to roof coverings, flashings and chimneys.

Look in the attic (if accessible) to ensure that roof vents and soffit vents are not obstructed. Use caution when painting the exterior not to paint over and plug the soffit vents. Check for evidence of leakage, condensation, or vermin activity. Level out the insulation if needed.

Trim back tree branches and shrubs to ensure that they are not in contact with the house.

Inspect the exterior walls and foundation for evidence of damage, cracking or movement. Watch for bird nests or other vermin or insect activity.

Survey the basement and/or crawl space walls for evidence of moisture seepage.

Look at overhead wires coming to the house. They should be secure and clear of trees or other obstructions. Use caution if this is a problem and consider a professional for tree trimming close to wires.

Check that the grade of the land around the house encourages water to flow away from the foundation. The ground may settle causing pooling and infiltration of moisture. I recommend a minimum of 6 ft. for all downspout extentions.

Inspect all driveways, walkways, decks, porches, and landscape components for evidence of deterioration, movement, or safety hazards.

Clean the windows and test their operation. Check the caulking around doors and windows to ensure a weather and pest tight seal. Check weather-stripping on the doors and windows as necessary. Watch for evidence of rot in wood window frames. Paint and repair window sills and frames as necessary.

Test all ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices.

Shut off isolating valves for exterior hose bibs (faucets) in the fall, if below freezing temperatures are anticipated.

Test the Temperature and Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve on water heaters.

Inspect for evidence of wood-boring insect activity. Eliminate any wood/soil contact around the perimeter of the home.

Test the overhead garage door opener to ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is responding properly. Clean and lubricate hinges, rollers and tracks, and the gasket on overhead doors.

Replace or clean exhaust hood filters.

Clean, inspect and/or service all appliances as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Annually

Replace smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries.

Have the heating, cooling and water heater systems cleaned and serviced.

Examine the electrical panels, wiring and electrical components for evidence of overheating. Ensure that all components are secure. Flip the breakers on and off to ensure that they are not stuck in the on position.

Have chimneys inspected and cleaned. Ensure that rain caps and vermin screens are secure.

If the house has a well or a cistern, check and service the pump and holding tank. Have the water quality tested. If the property has a septic system, have the system periodically pumped and inspected (usually about every 3 years).

If your home is in an area prone to wood-destroying insects (termites, carpenter ants, etc.), have the home annually inspected by a state licensed WDI inspector . Preventative treatments may be recommended in some cases.

Prevention Is Always The Best Approach

Preventative maintenance is the best way to keep your house in good shape. It also reduces the risk of unexpected repairs, small problems becoming big ones, and improves the odds of selling your house quickly and at fair market value, when the time comes. Please feel free to contact our office (612 - 701-9672) should you have any questions regarding the operation, repair, or maintenance of your home. Enjoy your home!

We perform home inspections in Minnesota across the entire twin cities Minneapolis / St. Paul metro and surrounding area including; Afton, Albertville, Andover, Annadale, Anoka, Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Augusta, Bayport, Becker, Bell Plaine, Big Lake, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Buffalo, Burnsville, Cambridge, Cannon Falls, Carver, Champlin, Chaska, Chisago City, Circle Pines, Coates, Cokato, Cologne, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Corcoran, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Dassel, Dayton, Delano, Deephaven, Duluth, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Elko, Excelsior, Falcon Heights, Faribault, Farmington, Forest Lake, Fridley, Gem Lake, Glencoe, Golden Valley, Goodhue, Greenfield, Greenwood, Dupont, Ham Lake, Hampton, Hanover, Hastings, Heidelberg, Hopkins, Hutchinson, Hugo, Independence, Inver Grove Heights, Isanti, Jonathan, Jordan, Kenyon, Lake Elmo, Lake St. Croix Beach, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Lester Prairie, Lexington, Lillydale, Lino Lakes, Lindstrom, Litchfield, Little Canada, Long Lake, Lonsdale, Loretto, Mankato, Maple Grove, Maple Lake, Maple Plain, Maplewood, Marine on the St. Croix, Mankato, Mayer, Medicine Lake, Mendota Heights, Miesville, Milaca, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Monticello, Montgomery, Montrose, Mound, Mounds View, New Brighton, New Germany, New Hope, New Market, New Prague, New Trier, Newport, North Branch, Northfield , North St. Paul, Norwood Young America, Oak Grove, Oakdale, Oak Park Heights, Orono, Osseo, Otsego, Owatonna, Pine City, Pine Island, Plymouth, Princeton, Ramsey, Randolph, Red Wing, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Rochester, Rockford, Rogers, Rosemount, Roseville, Rush City, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Shoreview, Shorewood, South St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius, St. Cloud, St. Francis, St. Louis Park, St. Michael, St. Paul Park, St. Peter, Stillwater, Vadnais Heights, Vermillion, Victoria, Waconia, Waseca, Watertown, Waverly, Wayzata, Webster, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Winstead, Woodbury, Woodland, Wyoming, Zimmerman, Zumbrota and many other surrounding Minnesota cities in the following counties; Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dodge, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Le Sueur, McLoed, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Victoria, Waseca, Washington, Wright.

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