Homeowners 101: Week 11
Week 11: March 12, 2023
I hope everyone is adjusting to the Spring Forward we had this week! The middle of March is the strange land between winter and spring for most of the US. Some of us are experiencing drought or heat, while others are getting atmospheric rivers or extreme cold. With preventive maintenance and planning, we can avoid damage to our homes or address it quickly. April will bring more precipitation, so making sure your home is prepared is important, like making sure water will drain away from the foundation or that your windows are leakproof.
Copy and paste each bulleted item into your calendar. Set the recurring task based on the time frame in parentheses (monthly, weekly, etc). The week long schedule is a template to get your started. Set each of the home maintenance tasks on a day that works best for you, or ignore the ones that don't apply to your home.
Sunday:
Clear expired food and to-go containers out of the fridge & check your fridge’s temperature, airflow, and inside water filter. (weekly)
Deep clean your garbage disposal (monthly)
This is the month to clean and repair exterior decking. Inspect your deck and give it a good cleaning. Make a plan to DIY or hire someone to repair if needed, and re-stain the wood. (yearly)
Monday:
Take a break! *
o You can choose a day that is right for you, but a rest day from home maintenance is important to keep from burning out. I choose Mondays because let’s face it, work takes a big chunk out of all of us on Monday.
Tuesday:
Check foundation drainage: keep rainwater out of your home’s basement or crawl space by making sure that the ground slopes away from the house on all sides. The soil around your home should follow the “6 in 10” rule: six inches of ground slope in the first 10 feet next to the house foundation. (yearly)
If your home has had recent severe weather, continue checking for ice, wind, or water damage outside and inside your home (ongoing)
Trim up spent perennials to give them a fresh start this spring (seasonal)
Remove any debris or leaves from areas around the house, or where they might block the flow of water (seasonal)
Wednesday:
Check your air filters and change as needed. (monthly)
Vacuum out external fridge filter. (monthly)
Weather permitting, check your roof for any signs of wind or rain damage. Pay attention to areas where shingles meet flashing. (seasonal)
If winter weather has passed in your region, clean out your fireplace. Set a reminder for the coming weeks to have it professionally cleaned and/or inspected before next year. (yearly)
Thursday:
Next week is Week 2 of Brush & Bulky item collection in Dallas.
Brush and bulky items may be set out beginning on the Thursday prior to your collection week through Sunday prior to your collection week. Please see the My Schedule app here to find your week and find what items are accepted.
Wash the exterior of your windows. If you have a lot of windows, break it up into twice yearly or quarterly tasks (yearly)
Friday:
Deep clean your oven and stove. (monthly)
Inspect your sidewalks and driveway for any cracks or winter ice damage that may need repair. Make a plan to DIY this month or hire a pro (yearly).
Empty all trash bins and take the trash bins outside* (weekly)
Assign this to the day trash is collected at your home.
Saturday:
Clean the AC coils on your exterior unit (yearly)
Winter is harsh on plumbing, so check for plumbing leaks by checking your water meter (yearly)
Check out Ten Signs of a Hidden Leak Underground
Start pest management chores like refreshing bait traps for ants or roaches. (seasonal)
Continue monitoring your home for signs of emerging termites or carpenter ants (seasonal)
Hopefully your maintenance this week is routine and not related to weather damage. Have a safe Week 11, and happy home health!
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