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Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist

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Monthly maintenance checklist for any houseAs the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use this monthly home maintenance checklist to stay ahead of problems around the house.

Sink Aerator and Drain Cleaning

Mineral buildup from hard water will plug up an aerator in a faucet over time. If the flow looks irregular, this is most likely the problem. Remove the end cap of the faucet, pull out the aerator, and clean it with a nylon brush. Use water and vinegar to help remove the buildup.

While cleaning the faucets, dump a couple cups vinegar down each sink and tub drain. The vinegar will help to break down any buildup in the pipes to help prevent drain clogs. Drop a half cup of baking soda down the drain first for slow draining sinks or tubs. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and create a more powerful effect. Use a pot of boiling water to flush the mixture and other debris through. The same steps can be used to fix a clog.

Air Conditioner Maintenance and Cleaning

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Maintain the AC every spring to reduce energy costs and prolong the life of the unit.Caring for the Air Conditioner

For a home’s heating system the furnace is the heart. For a cooling system it isn’t that simple. The air conditioner does all the work, but it is split into two major components: the condenser and the evaporator. The part of the air conditioning system on the outside of the house is the condenser. On the inside, usually integrated with the furnace and blower, is the evaporator. Connecting these two components are refrigerant lines that transfer heat (energy) outside.

Maintenance, Cleaning, and Inspection

Professional Inspection

While there are a few tasks you can complete as a DIY homeowner, it is best to get a professional to service the air conditioner once a year. They have special equipment to test the refrigerant line pressures. This reading allows them to detect a leak much earlier than a homeowner, who probably won’t notice the problem until the system has a hard time cooling.

All About Drinking Water

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water softener and salt tankLearn all about drinking water in your home and how you can manage it for better health and taste. First off, water is the most important fluid for our bodies. The Mayo Clinic recommends that the average male drink 3 liters and the average female drinks 2.2 liters per day. It is much easier to reach these recommended minimums if we like the taste of the water. Also, water that is better for us will make a bigger impact.

Hard Water

While hard water can be a big nuisance for your home, it can be great for your health. The difference between hard water and soft water is the minerals. As rain water passes though soil and rocks it picks up minerals. The two minerals most commonly associated with hard water is calcium and magnesium. These are both good minerals for staying healthy.

Water softeners use sodium to create an ion exchange and treat the hardness. This process reduces buildup on water fixtures, soap scum, and increases the effectiveness of detergent in the washer. However, it is recommended that a cold water line be used to bypass the water softener for drinking water. This way the house isn’t negatively affected by hard water and you can still reap the benefits of the minerals.

If you are unsure about your water, use this simple DIY test for hard water.