Home Maintenance Musts for AZ MOMs

It’s so important for our AZ MOMs to keep an eye on these maintenance items regularly. Even renters should be aware!

Have the pest control company that regularly treats your home keep an eye out for signs of termites.  If you see a skinny tube hanging from the ceiling, that could be a termite tube.  They do tend to appear frequently on the stem wall and walls of the garage.

Change your AC filters per the manufacturers suggestions and get the AC unit serviced every spring and the heater serviced every fall.  Watch for signs of draining from the overflow drain pipe, that could mean there is a clog and a large leak could develop.

Keep an eye on the grading around the perimeter of the home.  Ask a landscaper to properly grade the ground around the home periodically.  This ensures the water runs away from the house vs pooling at the foundation.

Cut back trees from overhanging the house.  The debris from the trees could cause water pooling on the roof which could cause leaks and other damage to the roof.  Keep the roof and gutters clean of all landscaping debris.

If there’s a bathroom or other plumbing fixture (like a bar sink) that isn’t used often, run the water for a few seconds every week or so to keep water in the trap and to keep sewer gases and insects from coming into the house through dried up traps/pipes.

Check insulation levels in the attic and add or level as needed.  Check every few years and especially after having work done in the attic.  Be sure that insulation is replaced if disturbed.  This will help with energy efficiency.

Have roof checked every 3 years or so and especially if there appears to be an issue or a leak develops.

Sweep any active chimneys to minimize debris that could potentially cause a fire.  This should be done yearly.

Clean the lint trap on the clothes dryer between each use and clean (vacuum) the dryer vent / hose at least yearly.

Be sure to have anti-siphon devices on exterior hose bibs to keep the water from being disbursed back into the home water system after use.

Some homes do not have the anti-tip device installed at the kitchen stove and that could be very dangerous for a small child.  If you are unsure if yours is installed, pull your stove straight out and look in one of the corners closest to the wall.  The device will be installed at the base of the wall and secured to the floor.  One leg of your stove should slide into it and it will prevent the stove from tipping forward if there is weight put on the open door (like a child standing on the open door).

Check your windows periodically, if there is fog or “sweat” between the panes, there may be a broken seal and the energy efficiency of the window may be compromised.

Have your garage door and opener checked often.  Garage doors and openers can be very dangerous if they aren’t adjusted properly and if the reverse mechanism does not operate.

The access door between the house and the garage should be a fire rated self-closing door.  If it does not close on its own, it’s very important to have it adjusted so it operates appropriately.

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