Home Maintenance Tips for Summer

Protect Your Home — and Your Investment!

Check windows for damage to caulking or the wood finish.

If you're like most Canadians, your home is probably your most important investment. A regular schedule of maintenance and repairs can help you protect that investment — and keep your family healthy and safe and sound — for years to come.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a checklist of simple inspections and repairs that can help you put a stop to the most common and costly problems before they occur, often in as little as a few minutes a week, including:

• Check and clean your range hood filters on a monthly basis.
• Use a dehumidifier if necessary to keep the relative humidity level in your basement at or below 60 per cent.
• Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping, and take corrective action if needed.
• Refill the basement floor drain if the trap doesn't have enough water in it.
• Run water briefly in fixtures that aren't used frequently, such as the laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower.
• Deep clean carpets and rugs, and vacuum the bathroom fan grille.
• Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer and vacuum lint from the duct, the areas surrounding the dryer and the vent hood outside.
• Check all windows, door hinges and garage door opener hardware for smooth operation, and lubricate as required.
• Replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house.
• Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter the house, and make sure no water is leaking into your home along the electrical conduit.
• Check the exterior wood siding and clean, replace or refinish it as needed.
• Seal off any holes in the exterior cladding that could become entry points for pests.
• Check your roof for sagging or damaged shingles, and examine all roof flashings at chimney and roof joints for signs of cracks or leaks.
• Inspect and sweep chimneys connected to any woodburning appliance or fireplace.
• Repair the driveway and walkways if needed, and repair any damaged steps, guardrails or handrails that could pose a safety problem.

For more information or a free copy of the "About Your House" fact sheet Home Maintenance Schedule and other fact sheets on owning, maintaining or renovating your home, ask CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca. For over 60 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency, and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.