If you own a home and / or swimming pool, you know that maintenance is very important. As the old saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and that’s true of your home and swimming pool as well. We offer this 12-month checklist of DIY items for pool- and homeowners.
- January – Have your furnace serviced and change the filters
- February — Take time to clean the refrigerator from top to bottom. Get rid of any holiday left over ingredients or those items that you won’t use again. Clean underneath the refrigerator and vacuum the coils.
- March – Grab a ladder, or hire a professional, and have your gutters and downspouts cleaned. Now that winter is past and a wet spring is around the corner you want to make sure there are no drainage issues. Hire a professional, if you’re not a DIY-er to drain the flush the water heater; this can improve its lifespan.
- April – Call your pool contractor and get on the schedule for a swimming pool opening. You don’t want to have to wait for an opening, especially if spring and summer come early!
- May – Clean and have your air conditioner inspected. Change the filters in the air conditioner as well. Flip your mattress as well! Pull out the bed and dressers and give them a good cleaning!
- June – Clean the bathroom top to bottom. Clean and dust the ceiling fans. Clean the ducts in the kitchen exhaust and bathroom exhaust fans.
- July – Change the furnace filters and make sure you have new batteries in the carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.
- August – Make sure the weather stripping on your doors and windows are intact – this helps preserve the cooled air in the summer and the warmed air in the winter.
- September – Clean your oven; don’t leave this task until the holidays roll around and you’re baking up a storm! Change water filters in your faucets. Call your pool contractor and talk with him about when he thinks you should close the swimming pool for the season.
- October – If the haven’t winterized your pool, now is probably the time. Ask your pool contractor to give it a thorough inspection so you can plan for any necessary repairs before next pool season. Downspouts and gutters should also be cleaned again to remove fallen leaves and keep them running clear for winter.
- November – Have an inspection completed on your roof. Get the yard ready for the winter months. Pack away any summer equipment. Check for leaks around the basement walls and foundation of the home.
- December – Pay a visit to your backyard pool at least once a month to clear away any fallen debris from the cover and to make certain the cover is still secure. Have the washing machine and dryer inspected and cleaned and have any plumbing inspected and repaired if necessary.
Use this checklist as a way to keep up with ongoing household and swimming pool tasks.
