Home Maintenance Tasks You’re Missing

apartment, architecture, cabinetsThese may seem like daunting tasks, but they could save you money and extend the life span of expensive appliances. Do you complete these tasks?

1. Clean the fridge drip pan

You may not know it, but your fridge has a drip pan. It should be cleaned every once in a while because it can cause mold growth. Remove the panel from the bottom of the fridge and follow the defrost drain line to the pan it empties out into. Gently pull the pan out, dump any excess liquid in the sink, and clean with an all-purpose cleaner.

2. Flush the water heater

You should be flushing your water heater because you can have sediment build up, which leads to corrosion, reduces efficiency, and shortens the heaters life span.

You’ll want to turn off the electricity or gas to the heater first. Then, open the bathroom hot water tab and let it run to lower the temperature in the heater. Shut off the cold-water valve, then put a bucket under the water heater. Open the valve and drain until the water is running clear without any sandy stuff. Once it’s clear, you can return everything back to normal.

3. Reseal grout

Whether its your floor tile, the bathroom tile, or countertops, you should be resealing every year. Most grout is made with sand and cement which absorbs water, bacteria, and stains.

Apply grout sealant and wipe off any excess. Wait 15 minutes before you apply a second layer. Clean off any more excess from the tiles. Let it cure for 24-48 hours, then test it with water (which should bead).

4. Test for water leaks

Testing for leaks can save you money on your water bill and eliminate the possibility of damage behind the walls or in hard-to-see places. Take the water meter reading, then avoid using water for a few hours. After 2 hours, if the reading changes, you might have a leak.

5. Reseal stone countertops

If you have granite or marble countertops, you should be sealing them every year unless you have pre-sealed counters. To test whether they are pre-sealed, or to test if the sealant is wearing off, put water on the countertop. The quicker is absorbs, the more porous it is, which means the more frequently you need to seal it.

To seal, wash the counter tops with a mild soap and water, wipe it dry, then apply the stone sealer. Let it sit for 15 minutes and wipe away any extra.

6. Wash the dryer lint screen

You may not know, but your dryer lint screen can get clogged with residue from dryer sheets and fabric softener. This can block the air flow and lead to less functioning dryers or fires. Soak it in water and dish soap meant to remove grease and oil. Gently scrub it with a soft brush, rinse, and let it air dry.

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