Home Maintenance

Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! For whatever reasons you might have purchased your new home, two basic reasons, SHELTER and FINANCIAL SECURITY were probably high on the list. Every Dean Johnson home is protected by the 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Program, purchased for you when you buy a Dean Johnson home. Refer to your warranty document for specific coverages, specific terms, and limitations.

There are some basic guidelines you must follow to protect and maintain your home. The following, found at www.2-10.com, will provide you with some of those guidelines.

Let's start on the outside.

Roof:

• Do not walk on the roof, but rather inspect it from the edges. If you must walk on the roof, do so very carefully.
• Snow, ice and high winds can damage a roof. Every spring and after a heavy storm, you should check for water stains under the overhang and in the attic. Loose or damaged shingles should be replaced.
• Check for water stains in the attic, and also under the overhang after heavy storms and each spring.
• Check the flashing around the chimney, in the roof valleys and against any walls to see that it's secure and watertight.

Now, let's go inside the house.

Floors:

• Wood floors should be mopped or vacuumed. Use a paste wax (if recommended by the flooring manufacturer) on hardwood floors, and if excessively soiled, clean with mineral spirits or a commercial cleaner. Check with a flooring company to find out if your hardwood floors should be professionally cleaned and resealed after a certain period of time.
• Linoleum, asphalt, vinyl, vinyl-asbestos and rubber floors should be swept, mopped or vacuumed regularly. You can clean these floors with diluted detergent or a recommended floor cleaner and then wax if required.
• Slate or clay tile should be sealed to protect and prevent staining. Use a diluted detergent or tile cleaner to clean.
• Carpeting should be vacuumed regularly and shampooed when needed. Avoid excessive wetting when shampooing.

Windows:

• For lightly soiled windows, use a solution of one cup of vinegar to one gallon of warm water.
• For heavily soiled windows, use a solution of one tablespoon of household ammonia and three tablespoons of denatured alcohol or vinegar to one quart of warm water.

Doors:

• If you have a door that sticks, check to see if the hinges are aligned and tightly screwed to the frame and door. If they still stick, wrap a piece of sandpaper around a block of wood and sand those edges that stick. Seal or repaint the sanded area. This will prevent moisture, which can cause warping from being absorbed by the wood. Tops and bottoms of doors should be sealed or painted.
• Inspect all exterior doors each spring and fall. Check for wear and to see that weatherstripping is tight and free from defects.

Drains:

• Never pour grease down your drains. Keep hair and food out of the drain. Do not use any kind of lye if you have a plastic pipe system.
• Every month or so you should:
  o Run hot water down the drain.
  o Add three tablespoons of baking soda.
  o Add a little hot water and let stand for 15 minutes, and
  o Flush with hot water.

Garbage Disposal:

• Always use only cold water when the disposal is operating.
• Occasionally grind some ice cubes and lemon peels to clean and freshen the disposal.
• Always read the manufacturer's maintenance manual.

Cabinets:

• Do not clean with abrasive cleaners, use a "soft-scrub" type cleaner.
• Wood cabinets should be cleaned and waxed just like fine furniture.
• Plastic coated cabinets may be cleaned with a detergent solution.

Counter Tops:

• Counter tops should be cleaned with a "soft-scrub" cleaner.
• Although most counter tops are heat and stain resistant, you should not place hot objects directly on the counter top.
• Formica tops can be cut easily, so a chopping block should be used.

Bathroom:

Regular cleaning of fixtures prevents a soap scum build-up. Never use a harsh cleaner, but rather:

• Use a glass cleaner for chrome or brass.
• Use a "soft-scrub" cleaner for marble and cultured marble.
• Use a stiff brush to clean grout. For a heavy stain, use a commercial grout cleaner. Regrout if necessary to prevent water from seeping behind the tile and into the walls.

Having taken care of the outside and inside of your home, the following additional guidelines are suggested:

Heating and Cooling Systems:

Today's energy costs are high enough, so by following the guidelines listed below, you can help keep the costs down:

• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer and at 68 degrees in the winter. Constant changing of the thermostat wastes energy.
• Close registers and doors in rooms not normally used.
• Hot air rises and cold air falls. With this in mind, in the summer you should close some downstairs registers and open some upstairs registers, reverse the process in the winter.
• Keep registers and cold-air returns free from obstacles, such as drapes, furniture and other items.
• Check the filter in your heating system at least twice a year, it should be cleaned or changed. The filter should be checked more often if there is a lot of traffic in and out of the house.