 |  |
HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS |
 |
 |
Miscellaneous
BLINDS
Before you raise Venetian blinds, always be sure that the slata are in the open position, if not, it could cause permanent damage to the blinds.
To keep your blinds from deteriorating, it is important to keep your blinds clean. The slats can be cleaned using a soft cloth or blind-cleaning tool. Occasionally the blinds need to be taken down and washed thoroughly.
FOUNDATIONS
The weight of your home rests upon the foundation. The foundation consists of the footing, a large mass of concrete that is poured into a trench, and the foundation walls, which rest on the footing. Foundation walls are made of poured concrete. If you have a basement, the foundation walls also serve as the basement walls.
Foundation walls are subject to a wide variety of stresses and strains. Since the base of the wall is in the ground, the temperature remains fairly constant. However, since the top portion extends out of the ground, it may be exposed to drastic seasonal temperature changes. These changes in temperature can cause concrete and masonry to expand and contract.
Since the foundation is subject to stresses and temperature changes, this may cause the foundation/basement walls to crack. The strength of the structure will not be affected by these cracks. They may be easily repaired if desired.
One of the most alarming problems that can happen in your new home is condensation. When this occurs, it may look as if moisture is seeping through the basement walls or slab, pipes are leaking, or that water is coming through the windows. Condensation can take place when warm, moist air inside the home comes in contact with a colder surface, such as a window, basement wall, or an exposed pipe. Actually, a perfectly dry basement may experience wet walls when the moisture in the air condenses on the cold basement walls during the summer months. It is recommended that you keep windows closed during the damp, humid weather and open them during clear, dry weather.
SECURITY SYSTEMS
It is important that you check regularly that the alarm and circuits are in good working order. Inspect the sensors one by one. Consult your instruction manual for directions on how to properly inspect the sensors. Please check any primary and back-up batteries at least once a month, and replace them once a year.
SMOKE DETECTORS
Your new home is equipped with multiple smoke detectors. These detectors are tied in with the electrical system plus have a battery back-up in case of a power failure. Check the manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to turn the detector off if it is accidentally triggered. It is important to change out the batteries at least twice a year (the recommendation is to change the batteries when the time changes; Spring and Fall).