Maintenance Tips

(To be performed when the house is left unoccupied)

• Water heaters: If electric, turn off the power to the water heater.  If gas, turn the control to pilot on the water heater.
• Pump & Water Main: If there is no automatic backwash scheduled for a water system, turn off the water pump, the main water valve and switch
• Monitor home (during cold winter months): The house should be checked twice a day during cold outside temperatures if a low temperature alarm does not exist.
• Temperature setting: set the thermastats in the house to at least 50 degrees during moderate outside temperatures (above 20 degrees) and during colder temperatures (below 20 degrees), set the thermostats to at least 60 degrees
• Doors inside house (during cold winter months): leave all inside doors and cabinets doors under sinks open to help circulate the heat.

• Locate and tag your main water shut off valve so that if needed, it can be shut off.  Also, ensure this valve operates.
• Insulate all pipes in basement to help prevent heat loss in the winter months and cold water condensation in the summer months
• Items to be taken care of prior to outside temperatures dropping below freezing: One, remove all hoses from the outside faucets and second, shut off and drain down all outside faucets that are not frost proof and third, drain down all outside water to pool houses, pool areas and gardens

• Annually clean the furnace or boiler for efficient operation;  this should be performed by your local oil or gas company.
• Annually inspect the furnace or boiler for proper operaton;  this should be performed by your local oil or gas compnay.                  
• Annually replace or clean air filters for efficient operation    
• Registers, vents and baseboard heat should be vacuumed regularly to keep them free of dust, dirt and pet hair
• Antifreeze in hot water heating systems is a good insurance to prevent heating pipes from freezing and bursting during situations where electricity or the heating system stops operating
• When the temperature drops below freezing and the winds are strong, RAISE the temperature of your thermostat.  This not only will help the house from freezing but also if the electricity goes out, the houses temperaturewill be above freezing for a longer period of time.
• Regularly clean and inspect chimney