20 Commonly Forgotten Home Maintenance Tasks
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- Owning a house comes with its share of challenges and maintenance tasks that need to be completed on a regular basis. Here are 20 of the most common things to remember about taking care of your home.
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Music from RUclips library.
#maintenance #homerepairs #diy
Proverbs 3:33 
Хобби
*List of tasks:*
01. (0:05) Clean your refrigerator coils
02. (0:52) Clean the dust from the tops of ceiling fans
03. (1:26) Flush sediment from hot water tank
04. (2:06) Replace water filters
05. (2:38) Clean the lint from deep inside the dryer
06. (3:16) Clean the dust out of the dryer hose
07. (3:40) Maintain bathroom vents
08. (4:12) De-ice your freezer
09. (4:46) Use fuel stabiliser on long-term stored equipment
10. (5:06) Clean out downpipes, not just gutters
11. (5:45) Make sure downpipes flow away from house foundation
12. (6:07) Have fireplaces inspected for creosote
13. (6:27) Clean out sediment from faucet aerators
14. (6:46) Lubricate garage doors and springs
15. (7:14) Test fire alarms and extinguishers
16. (7:37) Clean HVAC/AC filter
17. (8:18) Wash garbage bins
18. (8:37) Inspect roof for damage/holes/cracks
19. (8:48) Clean and seal decking
20. (9:03) Clean window weep-holes
*This is not a replacement for any advice given in this video.*
thank you!
The sediment one I have heard licensed plumbers say not to do that because the chances of you screwing something up and creating a dangerous situation is higher than a dangerous situation created by not flushing it
@@blankname6629 of course they do, that's their business.
@@AteThisYesterday they tell you not to flush it and to not even service it.
@@blankname6629 we just had ours replaced and were told by the installers to flush it yearly. We do have old, crusty pipes, though, so that may have been some of the reason.
I can see how someone without the right knowledge could create a mess, blow it up, or get jolted, though.
An extra one: each year move any valve in the house a few times open and shut. When they need to be open (main water for example), turn valve fully open and then for example a turn back. This should keep all your valves in good condition for many years to come.
Many, if not most, globe-style shutoff valves have both closed seats and open seats. The purpose of the closed seat is obvious: to keep water from flowing when the valve is shut. But the open seat is important too; it keeps water from leaking out around the stem if the packing gland (gasket/seal) is bad or not tight. The problem is, the open seat doesn’t do any good if the valve isn’t fully opened into the seat. So although it’s a good idea to exercise your shutoff valves, you should always leave them either in the fully opened or fully closed positions. BTW, some valves are better off left alone, like PVC ball valves, which can start leaking if operated unnecessarily.
🤣
Oh thanks for that! Something so simple... Don't know why I had never thought of doing that.
We have a few that need replacing :P
So important! Just had a plumber out to replace the valve on the line to my toilet that had gotten too stuck for me to move. I only discovered it because I was going to replace toilet "innards" and couldn't close the valve to do it. Had I followed this tip I bet the valve wouldn't have become stuck . . . 😕
That’s a great way to bust your water line. If you get any air in your water line when you shut it off then crank it wide open your gonna bust a line if you don’t have the cold water on your sinks or bath on
My husband's cooking tests our downstairs smoke detectors weekly. 😆
LOL
I'm obsessed with maintaining my house and fixing any small things before they become large.
Owning a home is like having a kid. You suddenly become a much more responsible human being!
Certainly not the worst habit to have.
Even as a renter for the foreseeable future, I find this video very informative and useful. More people should see videos like this.
Even living with my parents for the foreseeable future it’s good to do the things they are too old to care about anymore
As a homeowner, these are invaluable tips saving me from costly repairs. Thank you sir!
FYI, before draining the hotwater tank, turn off the cold-water fill valve and put regulator on pilot. Then open a hot water faucet in the house to relieve pressure.
Also, if your water heater is electric first turn off the breaker. The elements are designed to only run when submerged in water and if they run while the tank is drained they can fail or worse start a fire.
Thanks for this info! Just what I wondered about when learning about that tip!
I do *not* turn off the incoming cold-water fill valve! I simply connect a garden hose to the drain valve and open the drain valve. After a few minutes, I stop when it's fairly sediment-free. I use a bucket to occasionally check the draining sediment.
@@mwoods8988, I understand the concept. With cold water fill valve open, then the pressure is in the hot water tank and it may well help the flow through the garden hose. I totally get that, but it is what it is.
@@mwoods8988 Alternately, if I tank has not been touched in a long time you can turn the incoming water off, drain, then (slowly) turn the water back on. Any sediment that didn't come out will get stirred up. Then continue your way.
#3: also make sure you turn off power if it’s an electric water heater so you don’t burn up your elements.
Great advice on these thank you!
IMPORTANT: Smoke and CO detectors....You should replace batteries as suggested, but the detectors have a life expectancy. CO: 6yrs Smoke: 10 yrs. We inspected 80 houses in our community. 90% had expired detectors but kept on replacing the batteries. You can replace the batteries until the cows come home but the chemical to detect CO/Smoke no longer works after its life has expired. Get the lithium 10 year battery with your new smoke detector unless you want to climb a ladder and change them every year.
Thanks for the great advice!
You all need ladders to change your smoke detectors?? Jeez. What sort of peasantry my life consists of lol
@@terrapinflyer273 I live in an apartment so i don't need to change mine on my own, but the ceilings in this place are TALL. I'm not sure I could reach even with a stool, lmao. In my old place i probably wouldn't need a ladder though, the ceilings and walls were a lot shorter
@@terrapinflyer273 my ceilings are only 7', but I'm only 5' soo... yeah, i do ;) what kind of beautiful tallness must your life consist of? ;)
@Hardware John I don't like the ones with sealed batteries because they don't always last the full 10 years. I've had to replace a number of lithium batteries long before their supposed end date (and I don't buy off brand batteries). Same problem with LED fixtures they are selling now without replaceable bulbs.
For defrosting a freezer, I found if I leave the freezer door open with the frig off for an hour or so, the ice buildup becomes warm enough that I can break it off in pieces and put those in the sink or throw them outside.
You should give a roundabout timeline for the items listed vs. just saying a regular basis all the time.
Some people may think to check their faucet filter every week when you really don't have to.
Either way, great video!
#12 fireplace: don’t forget the cement top. You let that go, and eventually the whole chimney will be destroyed. #13 faucet aerator. Lay a cloth over the drain before removing the aerator. That little thing will fit perfectly right down the hole.
Those are a couple great points, thank you
We have an organization in my city that will contract with older adults to do maintenance on their homes so that they can remain in their homes as long as possible.
Event the simple routine tasks can become overwhelming for seniors.
That is such a a great program your town has!
Great video...My wife & I started playing a drinking game everytime you said "on a regular basis" & we got wasted...😁Seriously though, thanks for the tips!
I do have a tendency to repeat things a few too many times 😁
Lmaoooooo
I can attest to the bathroom fan being a fire hazard. Mine actually did catch fire and my house was a total loss. I rebuilt and am back in my home now but I was displaced for 8 months during the rebuild / remodel. Not a fun time in my life
There was a fire in our apartment complex many years ago caused by the dryer vent duct and bathroom vent duct being tied together (a code violation, but it was built like this). Dryer lint collected in the bathroom vent fan and it ultimately caught fire just like in your case.
Maybe put a timer on it.
Yeahh those things get NASTY. Try to clean ours thoroughly every few months. And yell at my roommate for leaving it running when he leaves the house...
These are easy to clean- first turn off the breaker (have a light source to clip onto your ladder), remove the grill (ours pulls down with two tension wire clips- pinch together and they can be removed altogether for the cleaning process. The particles will be stuck the housing, the fan blades and will fall off in chunks. Try to vacuum the particle coating with your shop vac which will be used to clean the floor at the end. This will take 15-20 minutes, even up to a half hour. I have a friend who has replaced the fan rather than clean it. Removal and replacement is about $50 or more depending on the unit and takes about the same amount of time.
why do those bathroom fans catch fire?
Ooooo love the pillow case trick! Cleaning fan blades drives me crazy! 🤣
Those are some solid golden nuggets
Me: *doesn't own a house*
Also me: *writing notes furiously*
I appreciate the pillowcase-on-the-fan-blade tip; it's a keeper. Thanks for the dryer vent reminder, too. It's an out-of-sight, out-of-mind appliance. Of course, I could just create a PM schedule. For gas-powered equipment, I add StaBil to the containers each fill, so I don't have to keep track of fuel age. I use some pieces of equipment frequently, others may sit for months.
I installed a timer switch on my bathroom fan, not only to keep the fan from burning out, but also to save on wasted electricity if I forget to turn it off, which for me was every time I turned it on. The timer switches are readily available at the big box building supply houses, and mine has options for the length of time the timer runs before shutting off.
That is a great idea, thank you for the suggestion
Great idea. A humidistat switch will save even more electricity
Mine kicks on too much at times. Timers are where it’s at
Dryer lint is SO flammable that I collect it and use it as a fire-starter for the fireplace or outdoor fire pit.
This information in this video is gold. It surprises me how few people realize all these upkeeps they have to do on their home
Thanks for this video!!! You are very kind and not judgmental. It just popped up and I was like OMG I needed this!!! 😊
Love the list. I can honestly say all 20 of these items are on my radar. Of course I'm guilty of letting things go too long, but I am getting better. Notes: drones are great for roof inspections! I recently had my roof replaced and took a lot of drone footage before, during, and after. Notes ideas for future lists - gas dryers are just as if not more dangerous as far as lint goes, but gas dryers also need service to the burners and sensors. The same thing goes for a gas stove. That being said, gas burner service isn't for every home owner.
Good video! The window weep holes were a surprise to me I've never seen them before, And the dryer tip is very important but to add on to it I would suggest taking the front or side panel off your dryer every couple years cuz the dryer we have lets a lot of lent past the filter and it gets stuck in the blower fan and makes awful banging sounds.
Pretty good video. I just replaced our dryer vent and it was full of birds' nests and lint, pretty much completely blocked. I'll keep some of these in mind, and as usual for me, forget everything else. Thanks.
Another item that probably could go on this list would be to turn off and back on any valves you have for water in your house. This includes valves to the water heater, valves to toilets and faucets, valves to the washing machine etc. Helps keep them from getting seized open due to corrosion
So important and something I never thought about. Just got a plumber to replace a valve that I couldn't close (to turn off water to toilet in order to replace "innards"). Bet that wouldn't have happened if I knew about this tip!
I feel like this is stuff they should actually be teaching us in schools not all the weird stuff they shove into our minds we don’t end up needing
I think it's deliberate that they want us to not learn anything that applies to real-life
GREAT video!!! I would add: Hot water tank: replace the anode rod every 3-5 years. Lawn tractor: either remove the battery and place on a trickle charge, or instal a charging pigtail to the battery and just plug it in. HVAC filter: write the date on the new filter. Easier to keep track of. Also, on the hot water heater, water filter, add a shipping tag to record the dates changed. They are a 3X5 tag with a wire that can be attached to these appliances to keep a record of maintenance i.e. changed the anode rod, flushed the tank, or changed the water filter.
Some great tips here. Thank you!
So nice to see more and more videos about home maintenance. 👍
Dryer lint is extremely flammable and the lint trap should be cleaned after every use! I would also suggest to take that 90° bend out of your dryer hose.
Don't use that tinfoil dryer vent they are very dangerous
@@grungemunkey What would you use instead?
I would also suggest removing the 180° turn in your dryer venting. Not only does it help collect lint but it also adds 20 ft of air flow this is making your dryer work harder and more moist. It's also good to check the air makeup in your laundry room to make sure there's enough air coming into the room when the dryer is on. As for the aluminum venting, I much prefer to use it over the cheap plastic kind as long as it's a good brand. The cheaper the venting, the more chance for disintegration. Great video btw
@Aspen82 I used straight sided aluminum venting, it came in sheets with one end crimped. I rolled it to the shape of the vent and taped it with foil tape. Super easy to remove and blow or brush out. The benefit is that there aren't and wrinkles or pinches for damp dust to get stuck.
I may have added two comments with additional information on your points, I still found two of your ideas that I had not thought about. Thank you for your great video. (I like the railing on your deck.)
Nice collection of maintenance suggestions...Thanks
Informative video and very straight to the point. Thanks for sharing!
I'm a first time/single home owner this was so helpful ❤
Knew some of these, but learned a lot of new things to maintain...thanks!
Great ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Great video, thanks for making it.
I've been having to clean my ceiling fans and dredding it. That pillow case trick is a life saver! Thanks to the wife!
Thank you for the tip on the Fridge. I assumed my crummy apartment had a old fridge but that helped me out.
Very helpful video, thanks!
A really good list that provides a lot of valuable information in a short amount of time.
Yes, this is the stuff RUclips should be showing more of. Helps and can prevent damage to people's homes and even fires! This might save some lives in the future
Great advice, thank you.
About half of this was great advice for apartments too!
this is like the perfect home owners guide. I love this!
These are great reminders, Thank you! (Just to clarify, on 4.00 regarding your bathroom extractor fan, you need to let this stay on a timer for (av. 20mins) after you leave the bathroom as the function of this fan is to take away the dampness and condensation from your bathroom to prevents fungal growth) otherwise a great episode buddy! 👍👍
or buy the ones with humidity sensors to automatically go on and off! Although they don't always get it right either..
Great tips thank you!
My wife and I are new home owners and we wanted to thank you for this video. Keep up the great work!
Congratulations on your New Home!
You're comfortable in front of the camera and the video has great information, thank you!
Good ideas, as for the sink aerator, you can soak it in white vinegar over night. It will clean it nice. Thanks for helping people who might not know these tid bits.
Great pillowcase idea.
Very good list! We can all use a reminder once in a while! Can I add that you should also clean your dryer lint trap once a month? Most people don't realize that it develops a film in it from fabric softener and dryer sheets that will make it harder for it to trap lint and debris. Scrub it with a dish brush and some regular dish soap and rinse it clean once a month. Also, clean out the filter above your stove too!
Definitely thank you for the additional tips
Awesome stuff!
Buying a home soon!! Not looking forward to the maintenance, but this will help
Thank You!!!
Great tips, excellent video!
#9: Having a professional small engine mechanic next door has been one heck of a learning experience as well allowing me to save money and time. While the fuel stabilizer dose work to a certain degree, your mower, generator or any other 4 or 2 stroke engine tools, are better stored with a synthetic fuel. (Available at your home box stores or your local hardware store in quart or one-gallon containers, 2 and 4 stroke blends.) Most states regulate automotive gasoline to contain ethanol up to 10% or greater. This is very bad news for combustion engines. The ethanol will weaken or dissolve hose lines and carburetor components. The shelf life of synthetic fuel is about one year according to the manufacturer for an opened can. I have had great results with my stored snowblower for two years with the fuel. Also change the oil of your mower every year.
A good thing to also do is shut off the fuel and run the machine till it dies. That way there's no gas sitting in the carb or the lines.
I just purchase ethanol free fuel and use a fuel stabilizer in all engines except my car. I also do what John does, by draining the fuel and run until it shuts off.
correct way to do it is empty or disconnect the tank and run it out of gas until it dies. - guy with probably 20 carburetors at this moment.
@@paladain55 Agreed, have done this to my riding mower for over 15 years, worked flawlessly every spring start up.
Never had this problem growing up. I look for places selling pure gas and put that in my lawn equipment.
That ceiling fan tip is awesome thanks
You seem very kind and I am thankful you shared this video. I didn't really have a dad growing up to learn this from, so I am learning from you. :)
I feel honored
Great video!
Great video! I just cleaned my fridge coils and they were way overdue lol
Great video! Keep up the awesome work.
I don’t even have a house I literally live in a tiny apartment yet this is so super satisfying
Great stuff. Thanks a bunch SLC!
Any time!
As a owner/housekeeper business, I do some of these for clients as an extra non-chargeable service😊🙋♀️
wow, these were really important great tips!
Home ownership is a pain in rear good video thanks.
Heck yes, thanks for the tips :)
You never cease to amaze me Thank you so much for these tips this is wonderful you get a five-star rating in my books today as usual and first-place trophy. 🏆🥇⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much Rhonda.
Beautiful
Thanks!
New to your channel. Excellent tips, thank you so much.
Love the reccomend time intervals, "on a regular basis" 😉 great video. 👍
🙂 Had to think hard about those 🙂
Had a VERY slow flowing bathroom faucet, forgot you could remove the aerator. There were some calcium deposits blocking the flow. Good as new now, thank you!
Your wife's fan cleaning technique is brilliant! I'll be using this in the future.
Also, if you have cats that can get in your laundry room, keep an extra close eye on your dryer hose! My cat likes to hang out behind the dryer and a few years back she caused a tear in the hose.
Ceiling fans just aren't worth it to me. I use standing floor fans, and those things get so disgusting inside in the course of just a year. Clean blades or not, most people will probably never disassemble their ceiling fans and clean them out. Most people can't disassemble and reassemble a simple electric motor unless they do it on a regular basis.
Thank you. Great tips 👌
Thanks Peter
Very interesting tips
Awesome!
Thank you.
Some wisdom right here.
Thank you good sir
Ei Man, thanks for remind us to do these tasks, those are very important. Congratulations
My pleasure!
Man you are the truth! Good stuff
I did work on a home that caught fire because of the far fan. Caused quite a bit of damage. Also for the trash can I like getting the carpet smelling backing soda. I don't even have carpet but it's cheaper then the trash bags that snell. We do clean the trash can often and never had garbage smells thanks to having town trash pickup but why not lol.
Fantastic home owner tips Cliff. I would recommend NOT using white lithium grease on garage door tracks if you live in a cold weather state. Please don’t ask me how I know…😂. Doug from MN
Lithium greaves also traps moisture
Trash can, A/C, lawn care equip...done regularly.. LOL However the rest I'm gonna be a busy man on the rest! "See, that's what I mean. These are need to knows, and a lot of us forget about these others" ! I am a blessed man to be a subscriber!
Thank you for caring!! Be blessed my friends🙏🏻
Thank you Anthony, we are blessed to have you as a subscriber.
I have your *exact* fridge! Almost 30 years and still going strong. I knoww those coils well lol :-). If you're curious about the yellowing ice dispenser insert (tho yours isn't nearly as bad as most I see) - it's caused by the always-on heating strips tucked behind it. I just cut the wires when I replaced the insert and it's still bright white (at least 10 years now). Apparently they're there to stop condensation (and thus mold) on the ice chute, which I can easily get by without. I just stuffed a towel in it to keep the cold air out. Great video.
Thank you, and it is great to know that our fridge will last a long time.
That 270 degree bend in your dryer vent is a fire hazard, too! You should straighten it out as much as you can. In fact, your path to the vent hole is so short you should consider replacing the flexible dryer hose with a nonflexible one.
Never test a fire extinguisher unless you’re about to fight a fire, as once you pull the pin and trigger the device, it will not maintain its pressure.
I think he meant check the pressure gauge
Don’t forget to spray the 4 pulleys (sheeves) on the garage doors also. Most time when the door shakes while closing it’s because these pulleys are dry
Very informative, although I do live in a condo, so I don’t have to worry about things like roofing, gutter cleaning, etc., and we just had our dryer vent cleaned out. I do however, need to have somebody assist me with cleaning my ceiling fans as I am disabled, and highly allergic to dust mites.
Dryer vents are dangerous, especially the one you showed (plastic or vinyl pipe is just as bad) and it had a U turn. You should replace with an all metal (sheet metal pipe). Thanks..Jim
A yearly cleaning of the washing machine drain with some liquid plumber or drano is something I never realized. I do clean my air conditioner condensate drain lines every spring with a mixture of water & Clorox. FLY NAVY!!!
Liquid plumber and Drano (and bleach) are disgusting poisonous products that you are putting into our environment. Please consider more mindful and healthy ways of home maintenance. JFC!
Love the content. How about a video where you show how you do these? 😀
Howdy! I would recomend changing out the exhaust valve on your water heater with a brass ball valve. the tiny plastic valve that comes with the heater is a joke.
Love your channel I’m very particular about what channels I subscribe to but yours is extremely helpful but you did say one thing in this video that is not true that you want to put stable in your gas powered equipment that sits for a while you do NOT!!! You want more to drain the gas out of it if you let the gas sit for a while, it will attract moisture, and that intern clogs your carburetor eventually. And I should also add that you inspired me to make my garage walls the way I did they are 100% French cleats.
Great
Man, I needed this kick in the butt. I've been in a home maintenance/improvement rut the last year or so, probably because of all the issues going on in the world. Gonna go through everything this weekend.
This was great! My parents literally don't do any of these things.
i was literally saying the same thing as i was watching this😭