>> Evrod: THERE’S A LOT TO DO AS
A HOME OWNER, CHANGING THE
FURNACE FILTER, MAINTAIN THE
DRAINS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO
MAINTAIN.
>> Rhonda: AND MANY DON’T
REALIZE IT AND DON’T DO IT
NEARLY AS MUCH AS YOU SHOULD.
SO, IS THERE A HOME MAINTENANCE
CHECKLIST?
LET’S GO TO NICK MONACELLI.
HE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE EXPERTS.
>> WE’LL CHECK THE FILTER.
>> Nick: HE IS FROM HEARTH &
HOME SERVICES AND THE KIND OF
HANDY MAN YOU CALL FOR ANYTHING.
HE HAS THE RIGHT TOOL ON HIS
TRUCK FOR ANY JOB.
HE SAID MANY JOBS YOU DON’T NEED
HIM FOR.
THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR FURNACE OR
AIR CONDITIONER.
>> IF THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH A
FURNACE OR AIR-CONDITIONING,
CHECK THE FILTER, THAT’S THE
VERY FIRST THING BECAUSE MOST OF
THE TIME IT’S CLOGGED.
>> Nick: AND IT SHOULD BE
CHANGED TWICE A YEAR, SUMMER AND
WINTER.
>> AND IT TELLS YOU WHAT SIZE
FILTER YOU NEED.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO THE STORE, YOU
LOOK ON YOUR EXISTING FILTER.
YOU NEED 20 BY 25 AND 4 INCHES
THICK.
>> Nick: CLEAN GUTTERS AT LEAST
ONCE A YEAR.
>> YOU WANT THE WATER TO FLOW
OUT RATHER THAN FREEZING BECAUSE
IT WILL BUILD UP AND GET SUPER
HEAVY, AND IT STARTS TO PULL THE
NAILS OUT OF THE WOOD.
>> Nick: WHILE OUTSIDE, CHECK
THE SEALS AROUND THE FLASHING ON
YOUR ROOF.
>> DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THIS IS
SEALED UP BECAUSE WATER WILL RUN
FROM THE BRICKS RIGHT BEHIND IT
IF IT’S NOT.
>> Nick: BACK INSIDE, IN THE
BATHROOM, HE POINTS OUT THE
GROUT OR LACK THEREOF AROUND THE
TUB.
>> I HAVE SOME GROUT SITUATION
HERE, WHICH IS COMMON AROUND THE
BATHTUB AND HERE IN THE BACK,
TOO, SO THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
CAULKED PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE
THAT’S A PLACE THAT WATER CAN
INFILTRATE BACK THERE.
>> Nick: AND THE KITCHEN?
>> PULL THIS OUT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE NEGLECT THIS.
>> Nick: BRINGS THE MOST
SURPRISES.
DID YOU KNOW THERE’S A FILTER IN
YOUR DISHWASHER THAT NEEDS
CLEANING?
>> WE’LL PULL THIS OUT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT’S NOT BAD,
IT’S GOT A LITTLE BUILD-UP BUT
IT CATCHES EVERYTHING.
CLEAN IT UP, A LOT OF TIMES YOU
MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A BRUSH TO
IT, AN OLD TOOTHBRUSH OR
SOMETHING.
IT JUST NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OUT
AND WILL ACTUALLY FLOW THE WATER
A LOT BETTER AND IT MIGHT HELP
CLEAN THE DISHES BETTER.
>> Nick: SOMETHING ELSE IN THE
KITCHEN IS CLEANING YOUR
REFRIGERATOR, NOT THE ENDS OF IT
BUT THE OUTSIDE OF IT.
PULL IT OFF OF THE WALL AND
VACUUM DUST AND DEBRIS ON THE
CONDENSER, THE BACK AND THE
FRONT WHERE YOUR FEET ARE.
AND FOR A MICROWAVE ABOVE YOUR
STOVE, THERE’S A FILTER UNDER
THERE.
>> WHAT WE HAVE UNDER HERE ARE
THE GREASE TRAPS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT
THESE.
THIS IS NOT TOO BAD AT ALL.
BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD BE
TOSSED IN THE DISHWASHER
>>Nick: IN THE BASEMENT, HE
POINTS TO YOUR DRYER VENT AS A
FIRE HAZARD AND THE LINT GETS
TRAPPED INSIDE.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT IT
FROM THE BACK AND RUN A LONG
VACUUM TUBE TO GET THE LINT OUT.
>> Nick: IT SEEMS OVERWHELMING,
BUT THE OWNER OF HEARTH & HOME
SERVICES SAID DO-IT-YOURSELF
MAINTENANCE LIKE SWAPPING A
FURNACE FILTER IS CHEAPER THAN
IT BREAKING.
>> THE FURNACE THAT IS $4,000
THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GET YOU
THROUGH 15 YEARS, GETS YOU
THROUGH 10.
AND IT’S ABOUT $2 AT THE
HARDWARE STORE.
IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF
YOUR INVESTMENT.
>> Nick: I’M NICK MONACELLI,
"LOCAL 4 NEWS TODAY."
>> Evrod: I’M GONNA CHANGE THE
AIR FILTER, BUT THE REST OF THAT
STUFF, I GUARANTEE YOU I AIN’T