Home Warranty

Helpful Maintenance Tips on Utah Homes

WEEKLY

Carpets:Vacuum carpets in high-traffic areas daily. The buildup of dust and dirt in the carpet can dramatically reduce the life of your carpet. Daily to weekly vacuuming of the carpet will keep it looking better and make it last longer.

MONTHLY:

Air Conditioner: For safety and efficiency, inspect filter for: air conditioner dirt and debris. Clean and/or replace filters. Filters are available at grocery and home-care stores.
Wood Cabinets:Apply a lemon oil-based protection product to help prevent cabinets from drying out and developing cracks.
Plumbing: Check under kitchen and bathroom cabinets for leaks. Check the area around the hot water heater for leaks.
Kitchen Exhaust:Remove and clean the filter. Clean accumulated grease deposits from the fan housing.
Fences:Inspect iron fencing for rust spots and standing water around fence posts. Sand and touchup rust spots promptly. Fill in spots where water may be standing around fence posts.
Caulking:Inspect caulking around sinks, tubs and showers. Give special attention to the area where the tub meets vinyl or tile flooring. Recaulk as necessary.

EVERY THREE MONTHS:

Exterior Doors: Oil hinges and locks if required. Inspect finish for cracks and peeling. Use touchup paint where required.
Interior Doors: Lubricate hinges.
Garage Door: Lubricate hardware. Adjust if necessary.
Kitchen Tile Grout: Inspect for loose or missing grout. Regrout if necessary. Recaulk at the edge of the back splash if necessary.
Tiled Areas: Inspect caulked areas for missing or damaged caulking. Recaulk if necessary.
Faucet Aerators: Check for proper flow of water. If the flow is reduced, clean the aerator screens. During the first two (2) months, the faucet aerators could require more frequent cleaning.
Shower Doors: Inspect for proper fit. Adjust if necessary. Inspect caulking and recaulk if necessary.
Tub Enclosures: Inspect for proper fit. Adjust if necessary. Inspect caulking and recaulk if necessary.
Front Doors: Repaint if necessary. As always, call your Homeowners Association before you change any exterior color.

EVERY SIX MONTHS:

Exterior Paint: Inspect the exterior of your home for cracked or peeling paint. Repair and repaint if necessary. Your Homeowners Association may have regulations regarding exterior colors. Please call your Homeowners Association before you change the exterior paint colors. Southern and western exposures are more susceptible to cracking and peeling. Repair and paint before water and ice can get into the wood and cause more extensive damage.
Roof: Inspect for damaged tiles after storms and high winds. An annual inspection by a roofing professional is recommended.
Gutters: Clean debris from gutters every six (6) months and after storms.
Smoke Detectors: Replace the batteries every six (6) months, even if the unit tests okay. The unit will test okay when the batteries only have a couple of days or weeks of charge left in them. Use the old batteries in toys or nonessential items.

YEARLY:

Air Conditioner: After your first year of occupancy, it is a good idea for you to contact an AC professional to inspect your AC on an annual basis.
Doors: French doors and wood doors should be repainted every year or two. Paint quality and the amount of use of the door will determine whether the doors should be painted annually or every other year.
Outside Faucets: Disconnect hoses during winter and anytime the outdoor temperature gets to freezing or below.
Sprinkler System: Don’t forget to winterize!