Spring Maintenance Tips and, Sometimes, the Unexpected
by Bill Primavera
The Home Guru
Recently I learned that someone is reported to have said something about me that might at first blush seem unflattering.
The comment was, “He thinks he knows everything about everything, but he only knows a little about a lot of things.” At first I was surprised to hear this, but considering that my critic was speaking in a political context and happens to be from a far different ideology than mine, I brushed off the comment with amusement.
And certainly in terms of assuming the persona of The Home Guru, the assessment is true, except for the fact that I would never want to pass myself off as a “know-it-all.” I fully accept and profess my limitations as an expert, especially in the field of home maintenance. The study is just too extensive for anyone to know everything about.
My one saving grace for a guru moniker may be that I know how to source information and service for those chores where I know I need help. And, that list could fill a book.
When I need advice about what to do or not do around the house, I go first to my wife who is my chief advisor when I’m looking for direction. “Gee, honey, how should I prioritize all the maintenance chores that should be done around the house this spring?” was the question. The answer: “Make a list.”
Good advice, and she is the consummate list-maker, but where do I start? “Check out the insurance companies,” she said wisely. “They always give good advice about how to keep things safe and sound in the home.”
In my search I stumbled upon a list of spring maintenance tips suggested by Home Farm Insurance and, frankly I was bowled over by its thoroughness. It would seem to require a Mr. Fix-It master’s degree. Any mere mortal would break out in a sweat just in pondering it.
My suggestion would be to prioritize such a list according to what seems the most important to your particular situation. That is what I did in the selected list I include here.
And those priorities can change in an instant when the unexpected problem occurs. And did it ever this week!
The other morning my wife was drying her hair with a blower at her dressing table and suddenly a whole circuit blew that had never blown before. I couldn’t fathom how that could have happened. I went downstairs and flipped the circuit breakers assigned to the bedroom, but nothing came back on. I knew that greater expertise than mine was needed.
When I called my electrician over, he went to the basement and discovered a problem that I never could have expected would be on my spring maintenance list: my entire circuit breaker panel needed to be replaced.
How could that be, I thought? It was installed new less than 20 years ago when I upgraded the amps to the house. Didn’t panels last longer than that? Not so, it seems. Inside the panel box, the wiring had started to rust from the dampness of the basement and I was warned that this could present more problems if I didn’t install a new panel.
So there goes an unexpected, major expense, certainly a priority that could knock some of my other upgrade plans out of the picture.
But as I went down the list from Home Farm, I picked out some spring maintenance tips that seemed prudent and had little or no expense. They include:
* Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
* Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.
* Make sure the light bulbs in all fixtures are the right wattage.
* Replace all extension cords that have become brittle or worn.
* Check the roof for damage and all fascia and trim for deterioration.
* Check the shut-off valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function.
* Clean the clothes dryer duct, damper and space under the dryer.
* Replace or clean your furnace filter.
* Have your water heater checked.
* Make sure you have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher handy.
* Review your fire escape plan with your family.
* Consider installing a lightning protection system for your home.
* Look into protecting all your appliances from power surges (look it up online).
* And have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer.
These tips should keep you busy and safer in your home for the rest of the year.
Bill Primavera is a licensed Realtor® (www.PrimaveraHomes.com), affiliated with Coldwell Banker, and a marketing practitioner (www.PrimaveraPR.com). For questions or comments about the housing market, or selling or buying a home, he can be reached directly at 914-522-2076.