Fall Home Appliances Checklist
Unbeknownst to many homeowners, appliances often require annual or seasonal maintenance. Many don’t know that a hot water tank is recommended to be flushed at least every 6 months at min and ideally every 3 months, and believe it or not more if water is extremely hard. The furnace, too, can have both significant energy savings and increased longevity simply by annual maintenance. Here’s a full list of home appliance maintenance if you want them to last as long as possible:
Hot Water Heater
Flushing the sediment
Check for leaks
Furnace
Annual Maintenance
Change Filter
Check for air leaks
Air Conditioner
Switch the thermostat from air to heating
Remove Leaves & Debris on exterior portion
Clean & Cover exterior portion
Duct System
Duct Cleaning (every 3-5 years, or more if sensitive to dust dander microbes etc)
Duct Sanitization
Water Softener
Resin cleaner / rust cleaner application
Check for bridging (where salt becomes solid block underneath the top salt)
Check for leaks especially around the shutoff valves
Heat Pump
Filter Change- cleaning/vacuum on inside unit
Check for debris removal on outside condenser unit
Clothes Dryer
check for vent blockage
washing the lint screen – removal and wash under hot water where applicable
check back connections to the vent hose exhaust
Washing machine
Service the gunk clean out reservoir
General tub cleaner – special for clothes washing machine to clean out old soap and lint etc.
Refrigerator
vacuum back of fridge
de-ice venting inside (see manual that came with machine)
Dishwasher
de-gunk/scaling cleaner (some people use vinegar or specified product made for dishwashers)
Central Vac
Check bag
Gas fireplace
check igniters
clean cobwebs
replace backup fan batteries in both the stove and the remote where applicable
Defrosting Chest Freezer
Built up ice can compromise the seal and be problematic
Bathroom vent cleaning
Other things to Consider
Smoke Detectors / Co2 Detectors
change batteries
test operation
Automatic door lock
check batteries for corrosion
Lawnmower
clean out all debris, grass and dirt from underside of deck
have a service sharpen the blades
if a metal lawnmower deck – does it need to be painted/rust proofed?
Storing the Barbecue
Clean grills
Clean burners & covers
Wipe down outside
Find a Good Cover
Safe Place for tank storage
Cleaning chimney
Calling the chimney sweep company earlier (ie August) is recommended to book appointments before the snow flies.
Caulking windows
Some caulking may have dried out or cracked and need to be replaced
Window sealing kit for drafty windows where it is not an escape route
Gutter cleaning
Have a service remove debris and leaves
Check downspouts to ensure they are not clogged
Check for leaks in the eaves troughs after a rain
Is water is pouring over the eaves troughs during heavy rain? If so, determine cause, sometimes it is clogs other reasons can be the roof pitch, and additional eaves trough basins are needed, especially where the roof is v-shaped.
Turning off outside water mains that connect to the outside water taps (not the mains for the dwelling)
The greater fall home appliance checklist you can manage consistently every year, the longer your appliances will generally last, with potentially great savings in the long term. Canaduct Cleaning can take care of some of the items on your list that would be hard to do on your own for example: duct cleaning, furnace maintenance, dryer and fan ducts. You can call us directly at: 416-410-3777 or through the contact form on the right side of this page.
Comments