June maintenance for a very cold climate
Long, hard winters: pipes, heating equipment and roof snow load drive the plan.
5 tasks this month. The median typical first freeze across the region’s counties is Sep 25 and the last is May 17; your county can differ by weeks.
June5 tasks
- This monthPress the test button on every smoke and CO alarm.
An alarm you have not heard in months may have a dead battery or sensor. NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month.
How
Hold the test button until it sounds. Anything silent or chirping: replace the battery, or the whole alarm if it is past its date.
- This monthInspect the washing-machine supply hoses for bulges and cracks.
A burst washer hose can release hundreds of gallons an hour while you are out. Rubber hoses age even when they look fine from the front.
How
Pull the washer out and check both hoses near the fittings. Replace bulging or cracked rubber hoses with braided ones.
- WatchDegrease the range-hood filter.
Grease-clogged hood filters stop pulling smoke and grease out of the kitchen and can feed a stovetop fire.
How
Pop the metal filter out and soak it in hot water with dish soap and baking soda, or run it through the dishwasher if the maker allows.
- WatchClear leaves, weeds and debris from around the outdoor AC or heat-pump unit.
The outdoor coil needs open airflow; blocked fins make it run hotter and longer.
How
Turn off power at the outdoor disconnect, clear 2 feet around it, and gently hose the fins from inside out if the maker allows.
- WatchCheck the foundation, steps and posts for frost heave after the thaw.
Deep frost lifts footings, posts and steps unevenly, and damage shows once the ground thaws.
How
Look for new gaps at steps and decks, doors that bind and cracks in the foundation; photograph and date them.