NEW HOME WINTER MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

The second full month of winter is only a week away. While newly built homes are more efficient and generally require less maintenance than older homes, it is still necessary to take proper precautions indoors and out.

If you have not begun winter maintenance on your newly constructed home, here is a checklist to follow in order to protect your greatest investment.

1. Take cover. It is critical to protect your central air conditioning unit by covering it. If yours has snow on it, simply brush it off and cover it. Air conditioning covers can be purchased online or at home improvement and hardware stores. They usually cost between $40 and $60 and are well worth it.

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1. Get rid of gas. In the garage, make sure you drain gas that still remains inside of mowers, trimmers and other yard tools. If you do not, the gas will eventually decompose and leave a varnish within the plastic tubing and carburetor. Just drain the gas tank and then turn on the engine until all of the gas has run out. You may want to refer to any product manuals for additional tips on how best to store these tools during the winter.
2. Replace your HVAC filter. Most manufacturers recommend changing the filters after two or three hundred hours of use which basically averages out to once a month. Consult your HVAC system’s instruction manual in case your filters can be replaced less frequently. Keep in mind that the more ‘contaminants’ carried inside or produced in home, the more frequently your HVAC filters should be changed. For example, if you have pets, you may want to change them more frequently than the manual advises due to dander and dust.
3. Reverse fan blades. Most newly constructed homes have ceiling fans with a switch that allows you to reverse the rotational direction of the fan blades. During cold Michigan winters, it’s best to blow air down as warm air rises to the ceiling. Blowing the air back down in your home’s rooms that have ceiling fans will help keep your home warmer and as a bonus, help you save a little on heating costs since you will be using your furnace a little less.
4. Test your smoke alarms. Simply push the ‘TEST’ button on your smoke alarm. Caution—you may want to wear ear plugs while doing this because the high pitched noise from the alarm can be rather alarmingly loud. After pushing the button, if there is a red light blinking on the face of the alarm instead of a green light, replace the battery backup in the alarm. This way, if your home loses power, the alarm will still function properly by alerting you as to any smoke developing in your dream home.

For tips on maintaining your home’s exterior during cold Southeast Michigan months, check out our December Dream Home Maintenance Checklist blog post.

Article by: Jennifer Elkow