Maintenance

Caring for your new home is important, our team has compiled these home maintenance guides to help ease you into life as a homeowner. If you have questions please use the resources we have provided or contact our team.

Maintenance schedule overview

Your new construction home maintenance guide - learn how to care for you new home from the floors to the windows.

Weekly

Carpets

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

Appliances

As a general rule, be sure to keep all appliances clean from lint, grease, and grime. Particularly around moving parts (ignition switches, seals, agitators, etc) make sure working area is clean to prevent malfunctioning. Check owners manual for specific requirements of each appliance.

Landscaping

Water and fertilize grass as needed to maintain growth during summer months.

Furnace 

For furnace safety and efficiency, inspect filters for dirt and debris monthly. Clean and/or replace filters every three months. Furnace filters are available at grocery and home care stores.

HRV

Every three months regular maintenance should be performed please see owners manual for instructions.

Plumbing

  • Check under kitchen and bathroom cabinets for leaks. Check the area around the hot water heater for leaks.
  • Clean garbage disposal blades by grinding ice cubes and citrus fruit rinds. • Check laundry water supply hoses.
  • Check ice maker connections.
  • Flush all toilets and run water through all sinks, especially in bathrooms that are not used on a regular basis.
  • Check sump pit for water & test to be sure sump pump is operational and functioning correctly.

Kitchen Exhaust

Remove and clean the filter. Clean accumulated grease deposits from the fan housing.

Caulking

Inspect grout and caulking around sinks, tubs and showers. Give special attention to the area where the tub meets vinyl or tile flooring. Re-caulk as necessary. 

Smoke Detectors

Check operation by pushing test button. Check and replace battery if necessary.

Roof Ridge Vents

During the winter months you should check your ridge vents to make sure they are not blocked by ice/snow. If they are blocked that will cause poor ventilation in your attic and might lead to a roof leak.

Twice A Year (Spring & Fall)

Exterior Doors

  • Oil hinges and locks if required. Inspect finish for cracks and peeling. Use touch up paint where required.
  • Check weather striping and thresholds around exterior door and adjust if needed.

Interior Doors

Lubricate hinges if door is making noise or not swinging freely.

Garage Door

  • Lubricate hardware. Inspect mechanism for free travel. Adjust if necessary.
  • Spray springs with WD40 and use a Silicone base lubricate on hinges and bearing at the top of the garage door.

Kitchen Tile Grout

Inspect for loose or missing grout. Re-grout if necessary. Re-caulk at the edge of the backsplash if necessary.

Tiled Areas

Inspect caulked areas for missing or damaged caulking. Re-caulk if necessary.

Faucet Aerators

Check for proper flow of water. If the flow is reduced, clean the aerator screens. During the first two months, the faucet aerator screens could require more frequent cleaning. Also homes on wells will require more cleaning.

Shower Doors

Inspect for proper fit. Adjust if necessary. Inspect caulking and re-caulk if necessary.

Tub Enclosures

Inspect for proper fit. Adjust if necessary. Inspect caulking and re-caulk if necessary.

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 Homeowner’s Association before you change the exterior paint colors. Southern and western exposures are more susceptible to cracking and peeling. Repair and repaint before water and ice can get into the wood and cause more damage.

Roof

Inspect for damage after storms and high winds. An annual inspection by roofing professional is recommended.

Gutters

  • Clean debris from gutters every spring/fall and after storms. Windows
  • Inspect around all windows. Remove cracked or split caulking. Re-caulk around exterior of all windows.
  • Clean tracks of windows and sliding glass doors. 

Outside Faucets

In Alaska drain outside faucets to prevent freezing. Hoses should be disconnected from exterior hose bibs when not in use and before freezing temperatures hit.

Landscaping

Visually survey yard and existing drainage patterns. Verify that the ground slopes away from the foundation. Stabilize any bare areas with grass, ground cover or landscaping materials to discourage erosion. Dig out areas where soil has accumulated and fill in any low spots where necessary to reestablish drainage flow.

Crawl Space

Humidifier


Yearly

Furnace


After your first year of occupancy, it is a good idea for you to contact a heating professional to inspect and clean your furnace on an annual basis.

Check high efficiency unit neutralizer tube and replace marble chips when necessary.

Learn more here.



HRV

Please see owners manual for all maintenance and care.

Water Heater-On Demand Unit

  • Drain Sediment from the bottom of the water heater per the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Flush On-demand units per the manufacturer’s instructions
  • Check high efficiency unit neutralizer tube and replace marble chips when necessary.

Humidifier

Clean evaporator pad (or drum) yearly. Note if you have a well you may need additional cleaning.

Smoke Detectors

Replace the batteries every year, even if the unit tests OK.

Fireplace

If you have a wood burning fireplace, we recommend that you retain the services of a professional chimney cleaner once each year.

Carpets

Have carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year if needed. NOTE: Shampooing carpet more than twice a year may void your manufactured warranty.


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