Preventative maintenance will extend the life of certain components and reduce repairs. It can also help lower energy costs.

The following items should be included in your preventative maintenance schedule:

Eaves troughs and downspouts should be checked regularly to make sure they are not clogged with leaves or other debris. Downspout extensions directing roof water away from the house walls should be in place at the bottom of the downspouts. The more trees and foliage that are near the building, the more often these items need to be checked and cleaned out.

Exterior walls should be routinely checked for damaged brick, cracked stucco or rot in wood siding. Areas with paint bubbling or blistering should be regularly touched up or repainted.

Windows and doors should be re-caulked as needed and the weather stripping replaced when it is required. Window frames should be cleaned regularly to make opening and closing them easier. Window wells should be cleaned out when they collect debris.

Air filters should be checked on furnaces at least quarterly and cleaned or replaced as necessary. Make sure that the filter is installed with the arrow pointing towards the furnace.

The humidifier water level should be checked monthly and water added as required. If the system has an air conditioner, the damper should be closed during the summer months.

Care should be taken with electric baseboard heaters so that they are not too close to combustibles, such as curtains.

Electrical service wires from the hydro pole should be inspected annually for clearance from tree branches. Caution: cutting back branches should not be attempted by the homeowner. Call your local hydro company or contact a qualified tree cutting professional.

Extension cords should not be used as permanent wiring and should not be stapled to walls or floors. They should not go through doors or windows and they should not be run under carpets.

Wood stoves should be cleaned annually to prevent the build up of creosote.

Outdoor faucets should be shut off from the inside of the house before winter and drained to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Missing cover plates on junction boxes and switches do not provide protection from live wiring. All fixtures, outlets, junction boxes and switches should be covered. These cover plates may be purchased at most hardware stores.

Wood burning fireplaces and chimneys should be checked by a qualified technician annually depending on how often they are used.

It is a good idea to identify the main water shut off valve and to tag it so that every member of the family can locate it easily and shut it off if there is a plumbing leak.

Clearance in the front and both sides of the electrical panel should always be provided in case of an emergency if you have to shut off the main power quickly. Three feet clearance in all directions is recommended.

Most air conditioners should have the power turned on for as much as 24 hours before running the unit. Window air conditioners should be brought inside each winter.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be tested monthly to make sure they are in proper working condition. The batteries should be replaced once a year. A good time to do this is in the fall when the clocks are changed.

AHIT Certified Home Inspector	Registered Home Inspector of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI)	CAHPI Registered Home Inspector