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Summer Maintenance Tips for Your Home

Check all recreational equipment and review outdoor safety tips
Check your wood deck or concrete patio for possible deterioration
Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs
Check exterior siding
Check all window and door locks for proper operation
Have your roof inspected for potential leaks once every few years
Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Check your home for water leaks
Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles
Check your water heater
Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer
Socialize your dog to help reduce potential dog bites

Swimming Pool Safety

Pool equipment should be checked frequently.
Consider removing diving boards. At a minimum, check them periodically to make sure bolts are tightened, the base is secured to the concrete and surfaces are slip-resistant.
Pool slides can be particularly dangerous. Never go down the slide headfirst. Make sure bolts are tightened and secured.
Provide handrails where narrow or steep steps are present and cover steps with a nonskid material. Check routinely to make sure they are secure and have no sharp edges and replace all broken treads.
Make sure there is secure fencing around any pool to keep children and unauthorized individuals from the pool area. All gates should be self-closing and lockable.
Completely remove pool covers when anyone is in the pool. Extreme care should be taken to prevent children from climbing on top of the cover or getting caught underneath. Check the cover often and remove water that accumulates on top; make sure the cover is properly anchored and tied down.
Make sure there is rescue equipment around the pool.
Depth markings should be completely visible to all swimmers.
Secure all grates and drains so they cannot be removed without the use of tools. Instruct all swimmers on the dangers of entrapment and drowning that can occur when fingers, toes or the body come too close to these items. Anyone with long hair should also be cautioned not to get his or her hair near a pool outlet because the suction can be strong enough to hold even an adult under water.
Follow manufacturer directions for proper storage of all pool chemicals in a clean, well-ventilated area that can be secured.
Make sure all electrical appliances are kept away from the pool and use ground-fault-circuit-interrupter (GFCI) outlets at outside receptacles.

Check your wood deck or concrete patio for possible deterioration

If you find any exposed wood surfaces, they should be stained or painted.

Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs.

Other safety ideas for stairs:

Tile and painted wood or concrete stairs can be slippery when wet or when a person's shoes are wet. Resurface the treads with slip-resistant strips near the stair nosing.
All stairs of at least three risers should have a handrail.
Do not store items on the stairs.

Check exterior siding

Brick veneer

Check for any open cracks that are wider than 1/16 inch. Seal these with a clear silicone sealant or have them tuck-pointed. Fill only the crack to prevent excessive water from getting inside the wall.
Check for soft mortar joints, which crumble. If the mortar joints are still flush, they should be watched. If they have washed out beyond 1/4 inch from the face, the mortar joints in this area should be tuck-pointed. Mortar joints are usually most susceptible to deterioration. The mortar should be firm and extend to the corner of the brick. Contact a qualified professional to complete these repairs.
If the mortar is soft and crumbly or has holes, exposing the brick edges, the mortar joints need to be tuck-pointed. This involves removing the existing mortar back at least 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and replacing with new mortar. Contact a qualified professional to complete these repairs.

Synthetic Stucco (EIFS siding)

For additional information on EIFS, go to the Institute for Business and Home Safety at http://www.ibhs.org.

Vinyl and Aluminum Siding

Check for cracks or damaged siding; replace or repair. The biggest threat to siding is the wind. Wind can catch seams and corners and tear lightweight vinyl or aluminum siding off the walls. This then allows water into the wall cavity, causing water damage.

Wood Siding

Check for any peeling paint. Scrape and repaint these areas.
Remove vines growing on the house, siding, brick or mortar. They can compromise the integrity of the siding.
Trim or cut back tree branches away from your home to reduce damage in the event of a wind or ice storm.

Check all window and door locks for proper operation.

Windows that can be opened by breaking the glass and unlocking the lock are less effective deterrents to criminals. Check with your local hardware store for window lock alternatives.
All exterior doors, including doors from your attached garage, should have deadbolt locks.

Have your roof inspected for potential leaks once every few years.

Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Read more at Smoke alarms save lives.

Check your home for water leaks.

Read more about Preventing water damage in your home.

Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles.

Replace hoses that show signs of leaking. If needed, hire a qualified plumber. Read more at Preventing water damage in your home.

Check your water heater

If you have a gas-fired water heater, make sure it is venting properly. Light a match next to the vent and wave it out (don't blow it out). See if the smoke is pulled up into the vent. If it isn't, have a professional inspect and repair it. Otherwise, carbon monoxide and other byproducts of incomplete combustion can build up in the home.
Check around the base of your water heater for evidence of leaks. If your water heater is over 5 years old, it should be checked monthly for any leakage or rusting at the bottom. If water leakage or rust is found, the water heater should be replaced.

Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer.

Poor maintenance allows lint to build up in the exhaust duct and cause fire.

Garbage disposal Tips and Repair

There are two types of garbage Disposals; they are the Batch Feed - Activated by turning a stopper and the Continuous Feed - Activated by a wall switch. Problems usually involve jams or clogs, or occasionally leaks.

Safety Tip:

If dismantling the Disposal or working on electrical connections, shut off power at the main disconnect. Never put your hand in the Disposal. Use pliers or tongs to remove an object. Never pour a chemical drain cleaner into a Disposal. Hot water and a little white vinegar will help clear drain grease and rid the disposal of foul odors.

First, turn the unit off at the wall switch. Then look under the sink and locate a small red button on the base of the unit. This is the electrical reset. If the unit is no longer humming, it probably means the overload has been tripped. Push this button in to reset the thermal overload/reset.

Try to switch the unit on. If the unit now hums but will not run, turn it off immediately. You have a jam in the disposal that needs to be cleared.

Check under the sink for a small L-shaped service wrench that looks like an Allen wrench with a bend on each end. It may be taped on the side or in a small plastic pouch stapled to the side of the cabinet. At the end of this tool is a hex wrench that fits into a hole you'll find on the bottom of the disposal, in the center. Work the wrench back and forth until the unit moves freely for several revolutions. As you move the wrench, you are moving the shaft of the disposal.

If you can't find the service wrench in your sink cabinet, you can buy one at any hardware store. Another way to free up the disposal is by working from above with a socket on the end of a long extension. There will be a hex nut on the shaft inside the disposal. No sockets set, then take a broom handle and stick it in the disposal on an angle against an impeller blade and work the blade back and forth until the jam dislodges. Then press the reset button.

Now look into the disposal from above. Check for any foreign objects. Remove them with tongs. Run water and start the unit.

Not Draining?

You should first try a plunger. Seat it firmly over the opening and firmly push up and down a few times. Turn the switch on and see if the clog is cleared, if not you will have to clear the trap.

The trap is the curved pipe under your sink. Loosen the slip nuts on the trap with water pump pliers. Unscrew the nuts by hand and slide them away from the connections. Once you have the trap in your hand, carefully dump out its contents and clean it with a small wire brush. We suggest that you put a bucket underneath it.

Cleaning Wood Decks

Chlorine kills algae, moss, and mildew. BUT - chlorine breaks down the lignin holding the wood together, causing excessive damage to otherwise healthy wood.

Chlorine is dangerous, environmentally unsound, and likely to cause problems with surrounding greenery. If you must use it we recommend using no more than 1 cup per gallon of water.

The addition of 1 cup of Tri Sodium Phosphate (excellent detergent)

aids in making the solution stay "wet" longer.

Oxalic acid, "wood bleach", is used to remove stains and lighten darkened gray weathered wood. A solution (four ounces per gallon of water) of oxalic acid crystals dissolved in water should be applied to the discolored area. Stains will fade and disappear in twenty minutes or less following this application.

New Pressure treated lumber: A treatment of Oxalic acid will open up the mill glaze and allow you to seal or stain the wood.

Leaving any wood unprotected for a year only leads to a dirty gray look, splitting and cracking. Use a deep penetrating semi-transparent stain or a solid color stain reduced 50% with our Shields All for the first coat then 2nd coat with the full bodied stain. The first coat reduced with Shields All (new window) will insure penetration deep into the wood providing a good mechanical "tooth" for adhesion.

Caution: Oxalic acid is poisonous but not dangerous if precautions are taken. Wear rubber gloves and be careful not to let the acid or solution touch your skin or eyes. Wear old clothes. Try not to spill any on plants. When you have finished, wash containers, clothes and brushes thoroughly. .

Sodium percarbonate (Disodium Peroxydicarbonate) (not to be confused with sodium bicarbonate)

Also know as "oxygen bleach", it is Biodegradable, Non-toxic, Color-safe and Fabric-safe. It is not harsh like chlorine bleach. It's mildly acidic and may be used to help neutralize previously-applied basic cleaners.

Environmentally friendly, sodium percarbonate will react with water to form hydrogen peroxide, which acts as both cleaner and slightly acidic bleach/brightener. A great benefit is that the hydrogen peroxide will evaporate and leave behind no pockets of acidic solids. The hydrogen peroxide is unusually effective in lightening heavily darkened wood.

Except for industrial-strength cleaning or stripping jobs, sodium percarbonate is our hands-down choice for most average wood preparation jobs.

Oxygen bleach when used in conjunction with trisodium phosphate (TSP) is an unbeatable cleaning/bleaching solution for your wood deck. TSP is formulated to remove dirt, grease and grime and acts as a wetting agent so that the Oxygen bleach can get down into the pores of the wood. TSP can also be used for walls, woodwork and as a cleaning agent for use prior to any repaint job. Mixed in a strong solution it will remove grease and grime from driveway and garage floors.

CAUTION: The extreme pressure will break up the wood fibers leaving a fuzzy wood finish of broken wood fiber. Not only does this shorten the life of the wood, it also leaves you with poor surface to refinish. Locking down the loose fibers requires more effort and material. There is no need to use one of the giant 3000 psi machines designed to remove multiple layers of paint from cement and stucco, a 1500 psi or smaller machine with a wide fan tip will do a nice job without destroying everything in its path.