1. Home Maintenance
When I moved in to my first house, I was wildly unprepared. And on top of that, I was young and not quite disciplined enough for the work that home ownership includes. I did the everyday chores, but I was lacking the bigger picture and the long-term preventive side of things. So here is my checklist of seasonal chores and tasks that might be good to remember.

2. WINTER T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Check for air leaks around doors and windows
When it’s cold and windy
Because they crank up your heating bill and it is a waste of energy.
Along the edges of doors and windows, use your hand to feel the air, or a Kleenex or candle to see it if it moves.
Redo the caulking if needed.
Test your outlets
Once a year (ground fault circuit interrupters can be verified every couple of months: test, then reset)
Because the safety shutoff system on ground fault circuit interrupters wears out (outlets with a test/reset).
Also to know if your outlets have power.
Use a circuit tester sold a hardware stores.
The reset button alone does not tell you if the feature is functional.
Check every outlet. If you don’t have a tester, simply walk around with a lamp and watch if it turns on.

3. WINTER T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Check caulking around showers and bathtubs
Once a year
Because you don’t want water getting into your walls or floors.
Check the caulking for mildew and pull on it slightly to make sure it does not come off.
Replace the caulking if needed.
Remove and clean shower heads
Once a year or as needed (depending on your water)
Because it helps with water pressure.
Unscrew and soak in vinegar for a few hours.
If it does not unscrew, tie a big of vinegar to the head to soak it.
Test your sump pump
Before snow melts
Because you don’t want to find out it doesn’t work when you need it. Water can quickly fill your basement.
Pour a 5 gallon bucket of water into the sump. The pump should turn on. Once empty, the pump should turn of.

4. Caulking Silicone vs Latex
Latex: easier to apply, can be painted, cleaning is easier, less odor, does not last as long, works on porous or nonporous surfaces.
Silicone: more difficult to apply, cannot always be painted, clean with mineral spirits, more odor, more flexible and durable, works best on nonporous surfaces.
Anyone can do it. Clean the surface. Use a Caulk gun, and cut the tube at 45 degree angle. get familiar with it before you start (practise pressure on the trigger). do it one shot with steady pressure. Finish by tooling, which means to pass your wet finger over the caulk to insure good adhesion.
If doing a bathtub, fill it with water and step in it while you caulk.
To remove old caulking, you can get tools and chemicals, but you can also just heat with a hairdryer and cut at both angles with a razor blade.

5. WINTER T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Check humidity levels in the house
Winter & Summer
Because it impacts on your health and the structure and materials of the house.
You can buy humidity meters at hardware stores. Levels should be around 40%.
Use humidifiers or dehumidifiers as needed. If you see condensation in your windows, humidity is too high.
Clean your fridge coils
Twice a year
Because you will save energy and make your refrigerator more efficient.
Make sure there is adequate air circulation, especially in the coils underneath. Clear out dust and hair.

6. If you have humidity…
If you see condensation in your windows, it is in your walls and your whole house as well.
You will need to decrease the humidity level:
Do not stock wood for heating in the house unless you really have to
Repair foundation cracks
Use a dehumidifier
Cover any exposed beaten earth or sump in basements and crawlspaces
Do not dry laundry in the house
Make sure your dryer evacuates outside
Use exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen, and make sure they evacuate outside

7. SPRING T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Check your basement for mold and mildew
Once a year
Because mold tends to develop in humid environments and can cause serious health effects.
Inspect the bottom of walls. Move your furniture to look behind it.
Mildew is a surface fungi that can be washed off. Mold is a serious condition that can cause both health problems and structural damage.
Check your exterior drainage
When snow melts
Because you could eventually have major problems. Puddles should not stay around your home for more than 24 hours.
Find the problem. Replace your gutter spouts. Raise the ground near the foundation by adding dirt. Have the pavement raised.
Gutter spouts should flow water away from the house. It is better to have the spouts above ground and at least 6 feet from the house.

8. SPRING T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S Clean your gutters
Spring and/or Fall
Because if they are blocked, water could be coming down along your home.
Climb up there with a ladder and remove the grime and leaves with hands, or use a tool on a pole.
Inspect the exterior of your house
Anytime after winter
To avoid little cracks and nooks that can turn into much bigger problems.
Look for paint chipping, siding damage, holes in the brick or grout. Check the foundation for cracks.
Silicone and caulking can fix a lot of problems.

9. SPRING T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Get your air conditioner ready for summer
Before it gets so warm you want to use it
If airflow is restricted, it reduces the efficiency.
If you use central air, have it serviced by an HVAC technician.
You can clean and replace filters yourself.
Put up and repair window screens
Before you start opening your windows
Simply because you don’t want bugs getting inside your house.
Fill rips with adhesive, or put a patch of screen on a hole. Secure with glue or sow in place.
Clear dead plants and shrubs
Spring and Fall
Because they will be healthier and will grow nicer.
I think you know. Trim & cut. Pick up fallen dead branches.
Keep an eye on big roots near your foundation.
Clean walls, nooks & crannies
Spring cleaning
Things you don’t routinely clean can build years of grime
Get the whole family to pitch in for one day of complete house cleaning

10. SPRING T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S Check tree growth
Once a year
To trim dangerous branches
You can rent or buy cutters. I’ve seen some very unsafe behaviors. Be smart.
Have it professionally trimmed if it is near electric lines.
Check your roof
After the snow is gone
To nip it in the butt if you have damage or leaks that could become bigger problems.
Just do a visual examination, use binoculars if needed.
Wash your windows
When they are dirty. If you don’t do it during the year, spring cleaning is a good time to do it.
For cleanliness and to have a nice view of the outdoors.
With some elbow grease and Windex.
You can get a pole to wash windows that are out of reach.

11. SPRING T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Check your attic and venting
Once a year
To check for moisture problems, to check ventilation and to be sure you don’t have any pensioners up there.
Ideally, stand on a ladder and put your head through the attic hatch. Don’t walk around your attic unless you know for a fact it is ok to do so.
Many attic floors are not floors, they are the ceiling of the room below. You risk falling through if you don’t know what you are doing.
Turn on outdoors hose (water supply)
When night temperatures are above minus 2 or 3 degrees Celsius
So you can water your plants, wash your car… You know.
Find the tap on a pipe in your basement. Turn that on and you can turn on your outdoor taps.
Make sure the drain is closed tight on that basement tap.

12. SPRING T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S Pool opening
Before summer
To get a nice clean pool to play in.
Remove cover, winter plugs. Install jets and baskets. Hook up pump filters.
Make a supply of chemicals and supplies for the summer.
Clean the garage
Make this a spring or summer ritual. You will be thankful.
Because you want to organize your space.
How.. Well, I think you know how.
If your storage is your basement, include it.

13. SUMMER T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Check, clean and repair your deck or patio
Once a year, ideally on a nice sunny day
For safety, and because you want it to look good.
Wash it. Re-stain it if needed. Replace loose boards or posts.
Staining the wood keeps it from discoloration from sun and rain.
Clean faucet aerators
Once a year, whenever really
Because dirty aerators reduces water pressure.
Unscrew the tip of the faucet and soak the filter in vinegar, scrub with a toothbrush.
If using pliers to unscrew, wrap the jaws in electrical tape to avoid damage to faucet.
Check grout in bathrooms and kitchens
Once a year, whenever
Because you want it to look good, last long and keep mold and mildew away.
It should be its original color, no grey or black mildew stains. Brush with plastic bristles.
You can regularly use a mildew repellant spray to be preventive.

14. sinks & Faucets
If your faucet has low pressure: remove and clean the aerator
If your drain is not draining: unclog the P-trap in the u-shaped pipe underneath
If your shower head is leaking: remove and clean the shower head, and change the plumber’s tape around the pipe coming out of the wall
If your faucet is leaking: replace the washer or o-ring in the faucet

15. FALL T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Inspect and clean chimney or heating system
Once a year
Combustion gases must evacuate outdoors for your safety.
Call a professional.
In many regions, insurance companies monitor this. It needs to be done for insurance coverage.
Winterize air conditioner
Before winter
To protect it from cold weather, snow and ice.
Remove and store window units. For central air, cover the outside unit with a tarp.
You can leave window units where they are if you put a weatherproof cover on it.

16. FALL T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Flush water heater and remove sediment
Once a year
Because it makes your heater more efficient and prolongs its life.
Open the tap at the bottom to let the water run out until it comes out clear. Use a hose to direct the water where you need it.
Check pavement for cracks
Once a year before winter
If water gets into cracks and freezes, it will expand the damage.
Have your driveway resealed.

17. FALL T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Figure out your snow removal
Before snowfall
Because if you wait until there is snow, everything will be booked or sold.
Buy some salt & shovels, or hire a snow removal service.
Pick up leaves
Otherwise you will have a nice thick paste of leaves covering your lawn after the snow melts.
Use a good old rake and some biodegradable paper bags.
Pool
Before temperatures freeze, after your last swim
To increase the life of your pool and avoid winter damage.
Adjust pH, shock the pool. Clean and vacuum. Lower water level. Shut off pumps and store. Put on cover.
If you have slides, ladders or diving boards, take it off and store it.

18. FALL T A S K W H E N W H Y H O W N O T E S
Turn off outdoor hose (water supply)
When night temperatures go below minus 2 or 3 degrees Celsius
Because if water stays in the pipes and freezes, your pipes will burst.
Turn off the tap in the basement. Then open your outdoor taps and the drain to empty the water.
You can get a winter tap that is longer and activates from the inside (in case you want an outdoor skating rink).
See how it’s done :

19. Monthly checklist Check water softener filters & add salt as needed
Remove and clean range burners
Wash and rinse the dryer lint screen
Test the temperature-relief valve on your water heater
Test fire alarms, smoke detectors and carbon-monoxide detectors
Clean your drains using vinegar and baking soda (be eco-friendly, don’t use chemicals)
Check your fire extinguishers (adequate pressure on gauge, and know how to use it)
Clean or replace HVAC filters
Test the auto-reverse safety on garage doors
Clean the range-hood filter

20. Your house maintenance toolkit
Bucket
Ladder
Scrub brush (toothbrush style)
Caulking gun
Level
Screws, nails
Hammer
Pliers
Duct tape
Drill
Gloves
Paintbrush
Flashlight
Goggles sandpaper
Plunger
Scraper / putty knife
Screwdrivers
Rags
Glue (wood glue, not crazy glue)
Tape measure
Shop vac
Hand saw
Wrenches
sponges

21. References
Mémo maison (a program I took in 2007, but still very pertinent)
(yes, unfortunate name, but good information)
And my mum and dad : )

22. Thanks for reading :-) Have a great one!!