Slacker’s Guide to Home Maintenance

It’s easy to let home maintenance projects around the house slide, but if you don’t take care of them now, they can lead to much bigger problems down the road. Here are a few important weekend projects to put on your “to do” list.

Trim Shrubs

Shrubs that are too close to your house can deflect rain onto the siding and prevent moisture from drying out. This can result in rotten wood and provide a fertile environment for mold and mildew to grow. Keep all bushes trimmed back at least 12” to 18” away from your house and well back from air conditioner units.

Find out more:

• Watch video on Keeping Shrubs Away from Your House
• Watch video on How to Prune Shrubs in Your Yard
• Read article on Basic Shrub Pruning Techniques

Painting

Painting the outside of your house is a big job, but it needs to be done regularly to provide protection for the siding and trim. A good paint job requires a lot of prep work, which is as important as the painting itself.

Houses built before 1979 should be tested to see if the paint contains lead before beginning, since breathing or ingesting sanding dust from lead based paint can lead to lead poisoning (See Lead Exposure and Safety Tips).

Start by pressure washing your house and treating any mildew with a diluted bleach solution. Next, scrape the house thoroughly to remove any peeling paint or sand the wood with a rotary sander. The goal is not to remove all the paint, just the part that is loose or peeling. Feather out the edges with a sander so it will look smooth.

Always wear dust and eye protection while sanding and scraping. Use a stain blocking primer over bare wood to prevent knots and sap from bleeding through. After caulking any gaps or cracks, apply two top coats of good quality exterior paint, being sure to follow the directions on the can.

Find out more:

• Watch video on How to Paint the Exterior of Your House
• Read article on How to Paint Anything Outside

Clean Gutters

Clogged overflowing gutters can lead to rotten fascia boards and even cause damage to the foundation. Clean them during dry weather starting at the downspout and working back. Wear gloves and use a gardening trowel or a scoop made from an antifreeze container.

Rather than throwing the leaves and debris away, put them on your compost pile. After the gutters are clean, use a garden hose to wash out the inside, and check to be sure the downspouts are flowing freely.

Find out more:

• Watch video on How to Clean Gutters and Downspouts
• Read article on How to Clean and Repair Gutters

Caulk Tub

Another often overlooked home repair is sealing the joint between the tub and wall tile. A crack in the joint can let water seep behind the tile. This can allow mold and mildew to grow and result in damage to the wood framing or ceiling stains. First, score the old caulking with a utility knife then use a putty knife or scraper to remove it.

Next, clean the joint well and dry the area thoroughly with a hair dryer. Once it is dry, seal the gap with 100% silicone caulk. To smooth out the caulk, dip your finger in mineral spirits before running it along the bead, or use a product called Caulk-EZ which comes in an aerosol can that is sprayed on top of the caulking.

Find out more:

• Watch videos on How to Caulk Around a Tub
• Watch videos on Caulking a Tub

Grout Sealer

While ceramic tile is a durable, low maintenance material that is virtually impervious to dirt and stains, grout is not. Unless stain-proof grout was used, the grout lines need to be sealed. Allow the grout in new floors to cure for 30 days before sealing it.

If the grout is dirty or stained, use a mild breach solution and scrub brush to clean it then allow the floor to dry completely before sealing. The easiest way to apply the sealer is with a grout sealer applicator bottle. If the grout will not clean up, you can use a special grout stain pen to stain and seal it all at the same time.

Find out more:

• Watch videos on Sealing Grout in Tile Floors
• Watch videos on Cleaning and Staining Grout

Drain Water Heater

Draining your water heater removes sediment from the tank that can cause it to work harder and cost more to use. Begin by turning off the power or gas to the water heater. Next, turn the cold water supply valve off, and hook a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Open the drain valve and pressure relief valve on top of the tank and allow the water in the tank to drain out.

When the tank is empty, open the cold water valve for a few minutes to flush out the last remaining sediment. Finally, close the drain valve and pressure relief valve and allow the tank to fill back up.

Find out more:

• Watch videos on How to Drain a Water Heater
• Watch videos on Draining a Hot Water Heater

Change Air Filter

It’s important to change the air filter on your central heating/cooling system every one to three months to keep it operating efficiently. Open the return cover and remove the old filter. Replace it with a new one that is sized to fit the opening, being sure to orient it so the air flow arrow is pointing in toward the ductwork. Before closing the cover, vacuum or wipe it off.

Find out more:

• Watch video on Changing the Air Filter in Your Home
• Read article on Air Conditioners: From Maintenance To Buying New

Repair Weather Stripping

Replacing the worn and damaged weather stripping around exterior doors will save you money on your energy bills. Take a piece of the old weather stripping with you to the home improvement store to match it. The weather stripping in newer doors fits in a groove in the door casing.

To remove weather stripping, simply pull it out. Cut a new piece to length and insert it back in the groove. Older doors can be retrofit with self-adhesive foam weather stripping or strips that are nailed in place.

Find out more:

• Watch video on How to Replace Worn Weatherstripping

Caulk Windows

Gaps around windows let heated and cooled air escape and increase your energy bills. Seal small cracks and gaps with caulking. To fill larger cracks, buy a roll of foam backer rod and push it into the gap before applying caulking on top of it.

Still larger gaps and holes can be filled using aerosol cans of expandable foam. After the foam cures, trim it flush then stain or paint it to match the existing siding. Both backer rod and expandable foam are available at The Home Depot stores.

Find out more:

• Watch video on How to Caulk and Seal Around Windows and Doors

Taking care of these few simple maintenance projects around the house will help keep your home in top shape and prevent small problems from growing into big ones.

Other Tips From This Episode

Power tools used on Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford® were provided by Ryobi.