Most homeowners know the basic home maintenance tasks: gutter cleaning, lawn care, paint touch-up, and floor waxing, to name a few. But, chances are, you’re forgetting a few important home maintenance chores that are necessary to keeping your home in top shape.

As you search for Novi, Plymouth, Livonia, and Northville houses for sale, explore these tips on how to keep your new home in its best shape!

1. Drain the water heater

The water sitting in your water heater may contain sediment, which can cause corrosion, reduce efficiency, and shorten the overall lifespan of your water heater.

The Fix: To start, turn off the electricity or gas to the water heater. Run hot water from the tap in the kitchen or bathroom for a few minutes in order to lower the temperature of the water in the heater. Next, shut off the cold water valve at the top of the water heater tank. Put a bucket under the drain valve, then open the valve and drain the water. Once the water runs clear and free of any sand or sediment, close the valve. Be careful during this fix – the water can come out very hot!

2. Reseal stone countertops

If you have presealed countertop, you’re off the hook! Otherwise, homeowners with granite or marble countertops should be resealing their countertops at least every year.

The Fix: Clean the countertops first, using a mild soap and water, then wipe dry. Then, apply a stone sealer and let it sit for 15 minutes. Wipe the extra sealant away, and you’re done!

3. Dust and clean your refrigerator

Keeping the inside of a refrigerator clean is easy enough, but when was the last time you looked underneath or behind your refrigerator? A dirty drain pan is a breeding ground for mold, and dusty refrigerator coils can affect the performance and shorten your refrigerator’s life.

The Fix: To start, clean the refrigerator’s drip pan. Do this by removing the kick panel at the bottom of the fridge. Then, follow the defrost drain line to locate the drain pan. The pain will be full of water, so remove it carefully to avoid a mess. Dump out any liquid and clean it with an all-purpose cleaner.

Now it’s time for the back of the refrigerator. Get a hand pulling the refrigerator out from the wall, so that you can access the back of it. Carefully dust off the coils and push the fridge back in place.

4. Reseal your grout

When tile is installed, the grout is sealed in order to protect it. Unfortunately, the sealant only lasts about a year. After that time, it  loses it waterproofing and can start to absorb water, bacteria, and stains.

The Fix: Apply grout sealant, being careful to wipe off any excess that gets on the tile. After 15 minutes, apply a second coat, again cleaning off the tiles. The sealant should cure in 24-48 hours. You’ll know it’s cured when water beads on top of the grout, instead of being absorbed.

5. Unclog your window’s drain holes

Many windows have a row of small holes, called weep holes, along the outside bottom of the frame. The holes are designed to help water drain, but they often also hold insects, dust, debris, and excess water. Beyond being dirty, if left unclean, water collecting inside the window can make its way into your home.

The Fix: Use a small piece of wire to pull out dirt and dust. To check that everything is cleaned out, spray the outside of the window with the hose. If the debris has been removed, the water will seep out. If no water comes out, try to remove more dirt.

The Patti Mullen Group

Leading real estate experts by reputation and results! The Patti Mullen Group consists of three full-time Realtors. Their services areas of expertise include homes for sale in Northville and Novi, and the surrounding communities of Plymouth, Canton, Livonia, Brighton, Milford, Commerce, Farmington Hills, and South Lyon.

Search for homes for sale in Northville, Novi, and other local communities. Call The Patti Mullen Group to learn more, and to book a tour of your dream home!