04.20.2001 :: Real Estate News
Why You Should Perform Normal Maintenance
by Dennis Polyniak

Home protection plans or warranties, as they are more commonly referred to, are put in place to cover the mechanical systems of the home. Plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning and most appliances. A warranty covers failures which occur from normal usage or a system just reaching the end of it's useful life.

Maintenance on these systems is often over looked or deferred due to a home owners lack of understanding of the system. For instance when was the last time you drained your water heater? If you are like most of us the answer is probably never. After all who thinks of draining a water heater if there is no noise coming from the unit or there is no lack of hot water. Nevertheless you should drain the sediment out of the unit at least once a year. This will make the unit last longer and it also keeps you and your clothes cleaner because most of the small particulate matter is removed from your hot water supply.

The most common cause of furnace malfunction is a dirty filter. If the furnace can't breathe properly it can overheat the combustion chamber and put a heavy amount of particulate matter in the air you breathe, not good. Many furnace filters are reusable and inexpensive, they are ease to change and should be cleaned once a month, even in the summer time, and especially if you have air conditioning.

Speaking of air conditioning the outdoor part of the system, called the compressor should be cleaned at least once a month in the summer and once every other month in winter. Usually a good spray with a garden hose is sufficient. but be careful not to spray to hard so the cooling ribs are not damaged. During the winter months it is a good idea to run your air conditioner for a few minutes at least once a month. This will keep it lubricated properly and prevent air bubbles in the lines.

The plumbing systems in the home require little maintenance, other than keeping the components of the system clean there is little more to do except remove the aerators from the faucets and cleaning sediment from them and replacing the faucet washers once a year to prevent drips. However I recommend that you invest in stainless steel water supply lines for all fixtures and especially the washing machine and dishwasher. A broken supply line while you are away can flood a house in no time at all and cause thousands of dollars in damage.

The electrical system is the easiest, receptacles last for years, just make sure they are tight. Switches are another matter, they do wear out and require replacement but not very often, and the new quite switches are a great improvement over the old style.

All of the systems I have talked about here today are covered by a warranty in one way or another. If they fail all you need do is make a call for service, but remember, normal maintenance is not covered by home warranties and is necessary for smooth operation of your home.

More next month. Until then remember, using a Realtor doesn't cost, it pays.

Dennis Polyniak sells home warranties for Old Republic Home Protection. You can e-mail Dennis at dennisp@orhp.com with any topics you would like to see discussed or call him at 1.800.445.6999 x178.