July Home Maintenance Checklist
By Owen Whetzel
For many people July is one of their favorite months of the year. Although July starts on the same day of the week as the month of April, for most people the weather is usually more pleasant. July is a popular month for that well-earned vacation. Unfortunately, home maintenance doesn't take a vacation in July, so here are a few suggestions for what needs to be accomplished.
Check exterior walls for cracks, peeling paint or other damage. If there are any damaged areas on one wall, it's always a good idea to paint the entire wall. Spot painting, particularly if a few years have passed since the last coat of paint was applied, produces -- you guessed it -- more spots. Painting an entire wall usually blends in well with adjoining paint.
Carefully climb on the roof (provided the roofing materials can be walked on) and inspect it or have a licensed, qualified roofing contractor do it for you. Look for any apparent damage to shakes, shingles or tiles. Inspect anything that protrudes through the roof for rust, open seams or other damage. Warning: The roof surface may be quite hot!
You will find simple roof repairs covered in a number of home repair and maintenance "encyclopedias, such as "Home Book: The Ultimate Guide to Repairs, Improvements & Maintenance (Creative Homeowner, available in the book section at OSH stores).
Problems, that appear to be more than you can handle, should be addressed by a licensed, qualified roofing contractor, who routinely works on the type of roofing material you have. Some even give discounts for work in July, which can be a slower month for a roofing contractor, so shop around carefully.
Check operation of attic fans and turbine vents. If attic space is accessible, make certain that attic insulation is not blocking airflow through vents. While in the attic, check for worn electrical wiring, water damage, loose ducts, etc.
Many roofing contractors will calculate attic space and tell you what ventilation that space should have. You may have adequate ventilation or more ventilation may be needed.
Check the operation of all electrical circuit breakers by turning each off and on. Do the same with ground fault circuit interrupters, usually found in bathroom, kitchen, garage and outdoor outlets. Replace those that don't work properly.
Measure incoming water pressure using a water pressure gauge. (The range of normal residential water pressure is from 30 to 80 psi. Ideally, the pressure should be between 45 and 60 psi in most residential plumbing systems.) High residential water pressure can result in the need to change faucet and other washers more frequently. If your water supply enters at high pressure, consider installing a water pressure regulator.
Remove accumulated mineral deposits from showerheads, by soaking or scrubbing them with white vinegar using a stiff, natural-bristle brush. Do not use a metal brush or a brush that will damage the showerhead. Wear eye protection and carefully, because you will likely be working at eye level, place a plastic bag over the showerhead and immerse the showerhead in white vinegar. Tie the bag to the shower arm using a bag tie, garden twist tie or something similar. Let the showerhead soak in the white vinegar for 10- to 12- hours. Again wear eye protection and carefully untie the tie and remove the plastic bag filled with white vinegar. Scrub the end of the showerhead where water comes out using a stiff, natural-bristle brush. Turn on the cold water and allow it to flow for about 30 seconds. If the water flow is improved, but not to your satisfaction, repeat the cleaning process.
If you have had a problem with water flow and cleaning the showerhead doesn't solve the problem, you may have a low-flow showerhead, that produces a lower flow or volume of water than what you want. If that is the case, you will need to replace the showerhead with one that produces greater water flow.
There are other causes for reduced water flow. You may also want to read "Water Flow Slow? It Probably Isn't The Pressure" on our Web site.
You don't need to be a professional carpenter, builder or contractor to sense when something in your house isn't quite right. Follow through on your hunches by bringing in professionals early. Little problems can become big problems. Relatively small costs can escalate into large ones.
Owen Whetzel has earned an outstanding reputation as an expert among both professionals and do-it-yourselfers, in his writing and lecturing about building, remodeling, home improvement, woodworking and do-it-yourself projects.
Owen has collaborated on books and magazine articles, was a regular guest on The Discovery Channel's highly successful home repair show, "Fix-It Line," and from 1991- 2000 he hosted "Wednesday How-To Night" on San Jose's PBS-TV affiliate, KTEH. Throughout the year he gives informative and entertaining home repair seminars at various home and garden shows.
For the past 12 years he has written columns on home repair for the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News. In 1990, he was honored to have contributed to the newspaper winning the Pulitzer Prize (General News Reporting), for its detailed coverage of the October 17, 1989 Bay Area earthquake and its aftermath.