Maintenance Priority Maintenance Exterior Electrical Plumbing Household Pests

Heating and Cooling Maintenance

All Forced Air Systems:

Air filters on forced-air systems should be checked monthly and cleaned or replaced as needed. Electronic filters should be checked monthly and cleaned as needed. The manufacturers instructions should be followed carefully. Care should be taken to ensure the interior components are installed in the correct orientation after cleaning.

Noisy blower sections should be brought to the attention of a licensed HVAC technician.

Electric Furnaces:

Electric furnaces should be inspected by a licensed HVAC technician every year to ensure that all the components are operating properly and no connections are loose or burned. The fuses or circuit breakers in some electric systems can be checked by the homeowner.

Gas Furnaces:

If gas odors can be detected, call the gas company immediately. ,Do not try to lite the furnace, turn on any electrical equipment or use anything with an open flame.

Gas furnaces should be cleaned and serviced annually by a licensed HVAC technician. The exhaust pipe should be checked for loose or corroded sections. The heat shield (located where the burner enters the heat exchanger) should be checked to ensure that it is not loose or corroded. Burn marks around the heat shield may indicate a draft or combustion problem a licensed HVAC technician should be contacted.

Hot Water Systems:

Radiators and convectors should be inspected annually for leakage (particularly at the valves). Radiators should be bled of air annually, and as necessary during the heating season.

Oil Furnaces and Boilers:

Oil systems should be checked by a qualified technician on an annual basis. Oily soot deposits at registers of forced-air systems may indicate a cracked heat exchanger a licensed HVAC technician should be contacted.

The exhaust pipe from the furnace or boiler should be checked for loose connections or corroded sections. The barometric damper on the exhaust pipe should rotate freely. The chimney clean out should be cleared of any debris. The oil tank should be inspected for leaks. Soot on the front of the furnace or boiler may indicate a draft or combustion problem a licensed HVAC technician should be contacted.

Electric baseboard heaters

Should be inspected to ensure an adequate clearance from combustibles. Baseboard heaters which have been mechanically damaged should be repaired or replaced.

Wood Stoves:

Wood stove chimneys and flues should be checked for creosote buildup and cleaned at least annually (more frequently depending upon use). Clearance to combustibles around wood stoves should be maintained at all times. If there is any doubt about the safety of a wood stove a licensed technician should be contacted.

Air Conditioners/Heat Pumps:

A qualified technician should be engaged to inspect, clean and service the system annually. Most systems require the power to be on for up to twenty four hours before using the system. Check the condenser unit safety drain pan for corrosion. Corroded drain pans should be replaced. Check the condenser drain pan for proper slope for drainage. Check the drain pan for insulation and debris that could obstruct the drain. The secondary condensate drain line emerging at the eave of the house should be visually checked regularly for leakage during the cooling season. Safety cutoffs should be installed on the secondary condensate drain line or in the drain pan to prevent moisture damage in the event of overflow.

The outdoor condenser unit should be level. The refrigerant lines should be checked for damaged, missing or loose insulation. Debris and vegetation should be kept away from the outdoor condenser unit. Most manufacturers prefer to have the outdoor unit left uncovered during the winter to prevent rust. The evaporator coil should be kept clean. A noisy fan may indicate a bearing problem or misalignment.

Dog urine will damage (corrode)the condenser coils.

Disclaimer:

RoadRunner Inspection Service has provided the above information in an attempt to inform new home owners about general home maintenance. The maintenance suggestions listed above are by no means comprehensive and inclusive of all items that need maintenance in a home. These statements above are only a compilation of maintenance suggestions based on our experience in the business of Real Estate property management, ownership and renovation.