Duce Property Maintenance Management assures property owners that every detail of their home is properly assessed and functioning. Here are some helpful tips from them on how to maintain a perfectly operating home.
Most of our readers’ primary homes are either a condo, loft and or co-op, what advice would you give to them regarding maintaining for a healthy NYC home?
Good question! There’s a lot that can be done to maintain a healthy home. Some basics would include replacing HVAC filters regularly, inspecting/cleaning your duct work annually, ensuring that your smoke, heat and Carbon Dioxide detectors are in working condition, (Wet areas) check for mildew & mold and inspect all the caulk and grout.
There are a litany of additional items that we recommend maintaining.
At Duce PMM, we recognize that these tasks can become overwhelming and cumbersome to track. We recently opened our maintenance plan up to the public. It is a turnkey plan that was previously offered only to our existing clients. The Plan is a great solution to both a healthy and beautiful home.
Is it best to have seasonal check points for our home’s maintenance? If so could you share with our city dwellers, what they would be?
While a 4 season checklist would be ideal, we find that it is difficult to get owners to do any preventative maintenance. Therefore we recommend thoroughly checking the home between heating and cooling seasons – 2 times per year. Our plan includes in depth, detailed inspection the entire home, inside and out.
Here are some of the basics:
Indoor Tasks
- Inspect electrical cords and plugs for wear or damage.
- Clean kitchen appliances inside and out, vacuum refrigerator coils. Remove and clean range exhaust filter.
- Inspect plumbing piping for overall condition and visible leaks, check water flow rates & drain rates. Check water temperature and mechanical; equipment if applicable i.e. water heaters, boilers, humidifiers etc….
- Inspect all plumbing fixtures i.e toilets, faucets, temperature control valves, diverters, shower heads etc. clean all aerators. Low use wet areas, check all P-traps, flush toilets, run faucets, tubs and showers.
- Inspect funnel drains (if applicable)
- Vacuum ducts, grills and registers.
- Inspect weather stripping around doors.
- Check for moisture on and around your exterior doors and window trim.
- Check faucets for leaks, clean aerators, and replace washers if necessary.
- Check thermostat and humidity levels to ensure proper setting. Note: High and low humidity levels severely affect interior finishes.
- Check to see that your window weep holes are open. Clean out dirt and dust to avoid water pooling and finding its way into your home.
Outdoor
- Schedule landscape work and maintenance..
- Check irrigation system for leaks and obstructions; check frost free faucets and adjust water schedule for summer or winter temperatures.
- Check outdoor lighting; replace bulbs and resolve any issues.
- Ensure gutters and downspouts are free of obstacles; inspect for leaks. This work poses potential safety hazards and should be done by a professional.
