The Illinois Professional Inspections, LLC Home Maintenance Checklist.

 

Recommendations for the home owner. You can be overwhelmed as you move into your new home, there are many maintenance items around the home that most people tend to forget or not give attention to. We realize this. Since we know it is important to maintain your home we have established a seasonal checklist for you to follow. We have provided you with the following checklist that is divided into a monthly safety checklist and a bi-annual, and mechanical systems maintenance lists to assist you.

Your Monthly Home Inspection Items: In any home, you’re bound to find certain items that always need to be inspected on a monthly basis to ensure that they are working properly. The following list of items are the most important ones in your home and should only involve approximately an hour of your time. As a recommendation to you, we suggest that you go through this checklist on a monthly basis beginning on the first of every month.

	On your garage door opener test the safety reverse sensor. If your door is pressure sensitive, the door should be able to stop when an obstacle is encountered at the floor level. If possible, we suggest upgrading to the “electronic eye” type reverse system, specifically if children are living in the house.
	Test all of the GFCI outlets. Exterior and interior electrical outlets most commonly located in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoors within 6 feet of running water should be ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) which are a safety device that will stop all flow of electricity when a small surge in the line is encounter. Once a month, press the test button to ensure that it is not sticking in the on positions and make sure your dedicated outlets are not GFCI outlets.
	Test carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. They are probably two of the most important items in your home. On a monthly basis Test these items in the home and replace the battery once a year.

 

Your Annual Home Maintenance Items: Twice a year beginning in the spring and beginning in the fall. This is part of the tasks that are involved when you have your own home. Most of the items on this list are not too intensive and can easily be completed in a few days. A good time to start these tasks would be in the beginning of spring or in the beginning of fall.

	Monitor for roof damages. Inspect the roof for missing/damage/ shingles and replace or repair as necessary. Also caulk around any projections through the roof, all exposed nail heads or staples, and inspect all areas where the roof meets a vertical wall for signs of deterioration.
	Protect and adjust all exterior hose faucets. For the state of Illinois climate it is necessary to shut off the exterior faucets to prevent cold weather from freezing the pipes on the inside of the home.
	Re-grade the landscape around your home. Make necessary adjustments in the grading of the soil immediately around the home to be sloping away from the home, this will aid in reducing water/moisture in the basement/crawlspace. The correct grading is a one inch drop per foot for the first six feet away from the home.
	Clean gutters. If your gutters are full of leaves and debris is like not having a gutter system at all. Twice a year clean out all gutters and downspouts and reconnect all extensions so that the water from the downspouts is discharged at least six feet from the home.
	Seal walks and driveway. Seal all the openings in walkways and driveway to protect the home from water penetration. The water below the slab can cause heaving or settling. Provide caulk around windows, doors, and any other projections on the exterior of the home. Sealing around openings on the exterior of the home will prevent water penetration and reduce moisture contents inside of the home.
	Clean A/C unit & condenser. Remove debris and dust off the condenser unit located on the exterior of the home, spray with water hose, this will allow air to flow more freely.
	Exterior of home should be free of branches and shrubs. Branches from trees that are rubbing on the roof will cause premature failure of the roof shingles. Trim branches/shrubbery from the exterior of the home will help prevent damage from continued moisture against the wall siding.
	Repair/replace all weather stripping & window screen. As the winter season approaches, look for deteriorated stripping on the exterior windows/doors and replace damage or missing screens as the summer approaches.
	Check for window damages. Look for any broken glass windows on the exterior of the home. Clean out all window wells at floor level and replace/install dome covers. All windows should be able to freely open and close for adequate ventilation and for emergency exit.
	Monitor kitchen and bathroom sinks, cabinets an fixtures. Repair any needed caulking and or grouting, done early can save having to do large-scale repairs at a later date.

 

Your Home Mechanical System Items:

	The furnace. It is recommended by manufacturers that every two years your furnace should be looked at by a licensed contractor. Before winter arrives look for excessive rust and scale deposits at the base of the burner unit and also fire the unit and inspect the color of the flame. A properly functioning furnace should have a clean burner compartment and the flame should be a primarily of a blue color. Twice a year, check the duct work for signs of rust, holes, or wear material from vibration dampers. Furnace filters need to be changed or cleaned every month, both during the heating and cooling months. In the summer, check the air conditioning condensate line and replace if rusted or scale deposits are found. Also look at the refrigerant lines for missing insulation and replace missing areas as needed
	The water heater. Check the pressure relief valve to ensure that water will flow freely when opened. For a more efficient water heater, drain approximately one gallon from the faucet at the bottom of tank will decrease the amount of sediment and deposit buildup. Also, check for burning areas around the combustion chamber, check for water stains at the base of the unit.
	The water softener. Recommend to clean the salt tank on the water softener approximately two times a year. In addition you should check the discharge line for rust and scale build up and replace/repair as needed.
	The electrical system. Fuse boxes that are of an older style really need no maintenance. However, circuit breakers should be tripped tested twice a year to ensure that they are not stuck in the open position. In case of an emergency, homeowners should always be aware or the location of the circuit panel and the main service disconnect. Proper labeling all of the individual breakers will also aid in determining the proper disconnects in case of an emergency.
	The Plumbing system. It is very important to know the location of the main water shut off and maintaining clearance to it in case of an emergency. Water shut offs should all be turned at least once a year to ensure nothing is frozen in the on position. Inspect to see signs of scale deposits build ups in the exposed piping and replace as necessary.
	The Waste lines. Very little or no maintenance is associated with drain lines. Always check under kitchen and bathroom sinks for water drips and loose or rusted collar connections and verify that the toilet is tightly secured to the floor.
	The Sump pit. Your house may contain a drain tile system which has been installed, every month check the sump basket for water. If a sump pump is installed, ensure that it is operating properly and the drain for it extends at least six feet from the home and is not reduced or dented.
	The Fireplace. Open the damper and using a flash light check the flue stack visually from the top and bottom. Look for build up of creosote inside the chimney liner. All chimneys should be cleaned approximately every eighty uses. For most people this will occur every two years. Also check the fire box enclosure for any cracks or missing mortar.