New Year’s Resolutions for Home Maintenance

Most of us make new year’s resolutions to lead more healthful lives, or to meet personal goals for ourselves or our families. Seldom do we make resolutions about the regular maintenance and wellbeing of our homes, even though our homes are usually our most prized and valuable possessions.

Mapping out and scheduling a year’s worth of home maintenance tasks at once – as a January resolution – can help ensure these tasks will be completed and that your home will be protected. 

There are many tools and planners on the internet to help you do this. In addition, we offer some ideas for month-by-month maintenance below. While not an exhaustive list of everything you must take care of as a homeowner, we hope these ideas will inspire you to make regular home maintenance a goal for 2020!

January

There’s no better time than at the beginning of the year to do the most important task there is to home maintenance: safety checks. These include:

• Radon. January is National Radon Action Month, and all homeowners must check for Radon, preferably every year. One in every fifteen homes has elevated levels of this colorless, odorless gas. Toxic to humans, this gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Test kits are very affordable and easy to use, so there’s no reason not to test. A useful resource/information kit on radon can be found here.
• Smoke Detectors: According to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month and batteries should be replaced at least once a year (preferably twice). January is the perfect month to do this, as well as checking that you have the recommended number of fire alarms in your home. The National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code requires that, among other things, at a minimum, alarms be installed inside every sleeping room as well as outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Read up on the requirements to make sure you keep your family safe.
• Check for Dryer Lint. While lint may seem innocent, it is highly combustible and is a leading cause of fires sparked by washer or dryer machines in homes, fires that kill or injure hundreds of people each year and cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Most people think to check in the trap door inside their dryer for lint, but many neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer.
• Make sure your house can breathe. Bathrooms that aren’t vented to the outside (or vents that are covered over with shingles) can make your home a prime candidate for mold.

Finally, January is a great month to check over important paperwork, like your Homeowners Insurance Policy. If you have made any improvements to your home over the past year or have added structures or inventory such as new jewelry or electronics, these items should be included in your insurance portfolio.  

February 

Check for Leaks: The cold will enable you to check more effectively for leaks in your home. Check around windows and in other areas; if you feel cold air coming through, you may need additional insulation, or you may need to think about replacing your windows with more energy-efficient ones. Apart from anything else, properly insulating your home will save you money on heating bills. February is also a good time to check for water leaks that might be going undetected. Leaking water, if left unchecked, can cause extensive and costly damage. Check your showers, baths, and toilets for leaks and re-caulk as needed.

March 

Take advantage of the continued cold weather to finalize indoor maintenance on your home before spring. March is a great month to do routine maintenance like deep cleaning your dishwasher and other appliances. (Depending on your dishwasher model, simply running an otherwise-empty cycle with a cup of white household vinegar in the top basket may help to remove lime buildup and improve functionality). 

Another idea for your March checklist: Build a home emergency preparedness kit. A fun project to do with family or friends, this involves pulling together necessary items like flashlights, batteries, toilet paper, and a first aid kit. This can also present a good opportunity to discuss your family’s plan for what to do in case of an emergency. 

April 

The spring is a great time for decluttering. As mobile homes and tiny homes offer smaller-than-average dwelling space, decluttering is critical, so you have room to live and to move. 

As the weather is getting warmer and pollen season subsides, April is also the perfect time to begin outdoor projects, and power washing the outside of your home is a good place to start. The siding of your mobile home can accumulate dirt, grime, and mildew over winter months and even the smallest amount of dirt can show. Given that your exterior is the first thing people see, this work is worth your attention.

May

May is a great time to service your air conditioning unit! Having an A/C unit quit on you during the height of summer is no fun. Not to mention the fact that without proper service, a unit can get damaged, leading to costly repair bills and high electric bills due to poor performance. Before the intense heat arrives, make sure that your A/C has been serviced by a professional HVAC company.

June 

Summer is the perfect time to tackle outdoor jobs like planting or improving your landscaping, and for sprucing up your deck by pressure washing or repainting and re-sealing to avoid water damage. It can also be an opportunity to install tie-downs and anchors for your mobile home – if you don’t already have them – to protect you from strong winds and weather conditions that might come in the fall. (If you already have tie-downs in place, summer is a great opportunity to ensure that these elements are sound). Before beginning this process, it is wise to consult with a professional installer or building inspector. 

July

Insects are most active during the summer months. Keep an eye out for pests like termites and carpenter ants; these and other insects can threaten your home by burrowing through wood and causing significant structural damage. At Harmony Communities, we are available to help our residents tackle issues like these. If you see or suspect insect infestations, please contact your community manager right away.

August

Before the fall brings rain, leaves, and wind, August is a good time to check over your roof. Your roof is subject to wear and tear which can lead to larger issues in your home, like the development of mold or water damage. Because your roof is such an important part of your home – literally, everything resides under it! – it is important to pay regular attention to it. Check your eaves and gutters for leaks and standing water. Clear leaves and debris from gutters. Look for any loose or missing shingles and replace them; doing so will save you money by preventing damage from weather or storms.

September 

Generally speaking, September is the best month in which to plant trees (after the hottest days of summer are gone and before any risk of frost), and one of the easiest ways to save on your energy bill each year is to plant a shade tree or two on your property. Trees on the east and west sides of your home can provide morning and evening shade to cool your home in the summer, and a buffer against cold winds in the winter.

Be careful, however, not to plant trees too close to the house where they could fall on the roof and cause damage in a storm. In addition, be sure to check with your property manager before doing any major planting (and of course, many of Harmony’s communities already have plenty of shade trees, providing energy efficiency).

Indoors, there are many simple things you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly that are relatively inexpensive and can save money on energy costs in the long run. Replacing alkaline batteries with rechargeable batteries saves you money and helps the environment. Installing long-lasting compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs or light-emitting diode bulbs (LED) instead of incandescent bulbs, and replacing faulty fixtures with water-saving, low-flow alternatives can save money on utilities and increase your home’s efficiency.

October 

Take advantage of the relatively mild fall temperatures to inspect the outside of your home and touch up any exterior damage. If needed, add some new caulk, and even consider refreshing your paint; this will make your home feel newer and look cleaner. 

October is also a good time to look for signs of foundation damage, such as cracks in the foundation or gaps between bricks. In addition, checking the skirting around the bottom of your home and repairing any damage is one of the best defenses against frozen pipes when the cold of winter hits. Consider also examining the underlayments (plastic vapor barriers that fit snugly under your home and keep moisture and pests out as well as the climate-controlled air inside). Torn underlayments can let moisture and cold airflow in, and can lead to mold, damage, or burst pipes in the winter.

November

November is a good time to reinspect your roof, ensure your gutters are free from leaves and other debris that have fallen during the year; excess debris can trap water and lead to ice dams around your roof during colder weather. Rake your yard to keep your grass from dying and take time to collect debris or trim bushes away from your house, as these can act as a pathway for insects or small animals looking for warmth. 

December

Winterize your home. If you have screens on your windows, remove them so snow doesn’t get trapped and damage your window frames. Consider insulating your pipes to help protect them from bursting. If you can’t add insulation, keep an eye on the weather and let your faucets drip slowly when temperatures drop particularly low.

Never take the needs of your home for granted. Make a new year’s resolution to have a comprehensive home maintenance reminder checklist so you tackle important issues throughout the year and don’t wait for them to become costly problems. If you do, you’ll be providing a safe, clean, and healthy living environment for you and your family.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.