It's April ~ Rainy Day Home Maintenance ~

10 Things to Do When April Showers Are Falling

1.  Watch the Waterworks ~ Check the state of your gutters by safely observing their function during a steady rain.  Are the gutters properly connected and functioning?  When water leaves the downspouts, where does it go?  Check to see that the grade is directed away from the foundation, properly sending water away from the home.

2.  Address Indoor Safety ~ Too damp to work safely outside?  Turn your attention to keeping the interior of your home safe and secure.  Test smoke detectors, alarms, and carbon monoxide meters for proper function and replace batteries.

3.  Clean Dryer Vents ~ Did you know that fires can occur when lint builds up in a dryer or in the exhaust duct?  Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.  So, clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up, and disconnect the duct to remove any build-up.  Be sure to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again!

4.  Look for Leaks ~ A rainy day is a great time to look for leaks and areas where your home needs protection from water penetration.  Look for water drips or water stains in the attic.  If you locate a water drop, trace it to its source.  Also, look carefully to be sure you cannot see daylight anywhere through your roof.  repair as necessary.

5.  Fix Drips ~ The only droplets you should hear today are outside your home.  Check faucets and valves for drips or leaks.  Replace washers in dripping faucets and address other leaks as necessary.

6.  Check Grout and Caulk ~ One way to extend the life of your bathroom is to regularly check tile joints, tub grout and caulking.  replace and repair the areas as necessary.  Consider replacing old caulk with mildew resistant caulk.

7.  Maintain your Refrigerator ~ Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight.  Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill.  If you can pull the bill out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced.  In addition, if you have a coil-back refrigerator, vacuum the coils at least twice each year.  Your refrigerator will run more efficiently with clean coils.  And, stock up!  A full refrigerator uses less energy than an empty one.

8.  Get Organized ~ Locate all appliance manuals, review the warranties and note the suggested maintenance.  Take the day to address some of those items or to come up with a maintenance schedule.

9.  Take Inventory ~ In the event of a fire of other disaster, an itemized list of your valuable belongings will be vital.  Try inventory software.  It makes it easy to update your list over time and many will allow you to store your information online for safe keeping.

10.  Test GFCI Outlets ~ Do you know if your ground fault circuit interrupter outlets are functioning properly?  Press the "Test" button and that should cut the power to any device that is plugged into the outlet receptacle and any additional outlet receptacles that are wired downstream on the same circuit.  When you press the "Reset" button the power should be restored.