Homecare Tips & Information

Information About Your Home

Water Shutoffs

Your home has two shutoffs to the outdoor hose bibs, a shut off above your water heater, as well as a main water shutoff. They are all located in the utility closet on your first floor.

To turn the water off: turn the valve to be perpendicular to the pipe.
To turn the water on: turn the valve to be parallel to the pipe.

The picture below shows all valves in the "on" position.

Gas Shutoffs

You have several shutoffs in your home. The two you should be most aware of are your main gas shutoff and your emergency furnace shutoff.

Your Main Gas Shutoff

The gas pipes in your home are the black metal ones and the gas shutoff is likely in front of your furnace. Turn the valve to be perpendicular to the pipe to shut the gas off, and turn it parallel to the pipe to turn the gas back on.

For reference, the gas is on in the picture below.

Your Emergency Furnace Shutoff

Your emergency furnace shutoff is located in your mechanical closet, looks like the picture below, and works like a light switch. Simply turn it to "off" to turn the furnace off in an emergency.

Electrical Panel

Your home's electrical panel is located in the garage. All breakers are labeled, and the main shutoff for the entire home is at the bottom.

Pictured below is a breaker from a one car garage home. Your breaker layout may vary. Before doing any electrical work, it's best to double check that power is shut off at the breaker, but that it's shut off where you intend to work. Kits like this one are invaluable in testing circuits before work, ensuring your safety.

Home Care Tips

Monthly

Check Your Smoke Detectors

Your home has a wired smoke alarm system with battery backup. Test your smoke alarms by pressing and holding the test button for a few seconds. All alarms should sound.

Smoke alarms should be replaced about every 10 years to make sure they stay effective.

If you are getting false alarms, it could be because of dust or a small insect in the alarm. Twist the cover off, and use some canned air to blow out the alarm. If this does not resolve the false alarm issue, it may be time to replace your alarm.

Quarterly

Change your Furnace Filter

Changing your furnace filter helps keep the air flowing easily through your furnace and prevents:

premature wear on the blower motor
your indoor condenser coil from freezing up
issues where your furnace can't light due to poor airflow

It's always good to double-check, but most builder-installed furnaces in our community take 16" x 25" x 1". One of the best filters you can get that maximizes airflow and filtration, while keeping static pressure lower than many cheaper filters is the Filtrete MPR 1900. High static pressure can cause premature wear on your system and also make it run less efficiently, running up your electric and gas bills.

Vacuum the Condenser Coil of your Refrigerator

Vacuuming the condenser coil of your refrigerator is an easy way to help it last longer and work more efficiently. The condenser coil is usually accessed by removing the plate at the bottom front of the refrigerator. Here is a link to a generic instruction video from Whirlpool. Please consult your owners manual for information and instructions specific to your refrigerator.

Check Your Garage Door Sensors

This only pertains to homes with an electric garage door opener.

Avoid issues with your garage door not closing by checking the two sensors at the bottom of the door track to make sure their lenses are clean, the path between the lenses is clear of obstructions, and that they are aligned to be pointing directly at each other.

Semiannually

Rinse the Dirt Out of Your Air Conditioner's Condenser Coils

Rinse the condenser coils of your air conditioner with the low-pressure shower setting on your hose sprayer. It is best to rinse from the top-down and from the inside-out, if possible. Rinse until the water runs clean and goes through the coil. This will keep your A/C running at peak performance and prevent any premature wear to the indoor condenser coil.

Clean Your Gutters and Have Your Roof Inspected

If you live in a house near trees, you should get your gutters cleaned and your roof inspected (most gutter cleaning companies will let you know if there's damage on your roof) at least annually, for homes where trees overhang, every 6 months (once after the Maple seedpods fall in the spring, and once in late November after the leaves have all fallen). Clogged gutters can not only damage your home by pulling off the front fascia, they can cause ice damming in the winter, which is when water freezes on the roof because it couldn't drain down the gutters and then causes leaks.

Annually

Drain Your Water Heater to Reduce Sediment & Check its Sacrificial Anode Rod

Draining your water heater annually will help reduce sediment build up in the bottom of the heater. Sediment can cake up on the heating elements making them have to work harder to heat the water, ultimately wasting energy and shortening the life of your water heater.

The sacrificial anode rode is used in your water heater to prevent the components within your water heater from corroding (by instead corroding itself). It should be checked when you drain your water heater to make sure it hasn't corroded. If you notice a sulfur-like smell in your hot water, it could mean that you need to drain your water heater to remove the sediment and replace the sacrificial anode rod.

Please follow the manufacturer instructions for how to drain your water heater and/or replace the sacrificial anode rod.

Turn Off the Water to Your Hoses Before the First Freeze

Prevent damage to your pipes by turning off the water to your hose bibs before the first freeze of the year. Your home has two hose shutoffs, as well as a main water shutoff. They are all located in the utility closet on your first floor. You will need a pair of plyers.

To Turn the Water Off:
- Remove all hoses from outdoor hose bibs
- Turn hose bib in the on position
- Use the plyers to turn the bleeder valve cap counter clockwise to remove the cap. Place it somewhere safe where you will be able to find it in the spring.
  - There is one for each valve; check the picture below to see the location (circled in red)
- Turn the shutoff valve to be perpendicular to the pipe.
- Once the water is off and done making a gurgling noise, turn the outside water off at the hose bib.
To Turn the Water On:
- Turn hose bib in the on position
- Place the bleeder cap on the bleeder port of the pipe, just above the shut off. Use the plyers to turn the bleeder valve cap clockwise to tighten. Do not over-tighten. There is one for each valve; check the picture below to see the location (circled in red)
- Once the bleeder cap is secure, turn on the water by turning the shutoff valve to be parallel to the pipe.
- Check for leaks. If there are no leaks, go outside and turn the hose bib off.
- Come back inside and check for leaks once more. If it is leaking from the bleeder cap, gently tighten until it no longer leaks.

The picture below shows all valves in the "on" position.

Less Often

Every 5 Years:

Replace your Backflow Preventers and Pressure Regulator

There are two backflow preventers located in your mechanical closet, just below the water shutoffs. One is for the main house water and the other is for the sprinkler system. These prevent water from flowing back into the main water supply, as well as prevent the very old and stagnant water in your sprinkler system from flowing back into your drinking supply.

The pressure regulator prevents the indoor water pressure from spiking too high. You can use it to adjust your water pressure if it is too low.

Every 5 to 7 Years:

Replace your combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors

The carbon monoxide sensors lose sensitivity over time. Generally speaking, the life expectancy for carbon monoxide and combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors is 5 to 7 years, depending on the manufacturer and model.

Every 10 Years:

Replace your smoke detectors

Smoke detectors lose sensitivity over time and will fail. You should replace your smoke detectors every 10 years, or when they fail a test, whichever comes first.

Home Improvement Resources

Hiring a contractor to get work done around your house can seem daunting. Here are some resources to make things a little easier.

Guide to Home Improvements (Montgomery County, MD Government)

Places to Find Contractors:

Please note that contractors found using the links below are not vetted or endorsed by the Seneca Hill HOA. The links below are posted only for your convenience; you should still do your due diligence before hiring a contractor to work on your home.

Don't forget to file an Architectural Modification Form if the change you are making involves the outside of your home, including but not limited to:

Repainting to another color (or you don't know the original color and are trying to get it close)
Replacing your tree(s)
Adding a deck or patio
Changing the size/shape of your flower bed

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