Home maintenance and repairs

The jobs a home needs on a schedule, and the words on the filter box and the furnace.

A

AFCI breakerA circuit breaker that senses dangerous electrical arcing from damaged or worn wiring and shuts the power off before a fire can start.

Anode rodA metal rod inside a tank water heater that corrodes on purpose, so the steel tank doesn't. Makers suggest checking it yearly or every few years.

Appliance lifespanHow many years a home appliance usually lasts before it needs replacing, from about 6 years for a compactor to 15 for a gas range in Consumer Reports' 2009 figures.

AsbestosA group of natural mineral fibers once common in building materials. Left undamaged it's no risk, but disturbed fibers can cause lung disease and cancer.

Attic ventilationThe flow of outside air through an attic, in at vents under the eaves and out near the peak, that carries moisture out and keeps the attic cold in winter.

B

Building permitWritten approval from your city or county to build, repair or tear down part of a building, followed by inspections to check the work meets local codes.

C

Carbon monoxide detectorAn alarm that sounds when carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, builds up to a dangerous level in the air of a home.

CaulkingSealing cracks and gaps between parts of a house that don't move, such as around window and door frames, with a flexible filler called caulk.

Chimney sweepA professional who inspects and cleans chimneys, fireplaces and vents. NFPA 211 calls for an inspection at least once a year, with cleaning as needed.

Clogged drainA drain blocked by debris built up inside the pipe, so water drains slowly or stops draining altogether.

D

Deck stainingBrushing a penetrating stain or water repellent onto a wood deck to protect it from water and sun, and recoating it as the finish wears.

DethatchingRemoving the layer of dead and living stems and roots that builds up between grass blades and the soil, once it grows thicker than about one-half inch.

DownspoutThe vertical pipe that carries rainwater from a roof gutter down to the ground, ideally ending several feet away from the house's foundation.

Drain snakeA long, flexible cable you feed into a drain and turn so its tip breaks up or pulls out a clog that a plunger can't reach.

Drywall patchA repair that fills a dent, crack or hole in drywall with spackling or joint compound, often over a mesh patch, then sands, primes and repaints it.

E

Emergency kitA packed set of water, food, light, first aid and other basics that lets a household get through several days on its own after a disaster.

F

Faucet aeratorThe small screened cap on the tip of a faucet spout that shapes the stream and limits how much water flows through.

Fire escape planA household's agreed way out in a fire: two exits from every room, an outside meeting place, and a drill practiced at least twice a year.

Fire extinguisherA handheld tank that sprays an agent to put out a small fire, labeled with the classes of fire (such as A, B and C) it is approved for.

Fridge water filterThe replaceable cartridge that filters water for a refrigerator's dispenser and ice maker, usually changed about every six months.

Frozen pipesWater pipes in which the water has turned to ice, blocking the flow and building pressure that can split the pipe and flood the house once it thaws.

Furnace maintenanceThe routine care a furnace needs: a monthly filter check, a yearly professional cleaning and inspection before heating season, and a working carbon monoxide alarm.

G

Generator maintenanceThe routine care that keeps a home generator ready for an outage: oil changes, filter and spark plug checks, test runs and safe storage.

GFCI outletAn outlet with Test and Reset buttons that shuts off power in a fraction of a second when current leaks where it shouldn't, to protect people from shock.

Grout vs caulkGrout fills the joints between tiles on one flat surface; caulk, a flexible sealant, goes where surfaces meet at an angle or can move, like a tub edge.

Gutter cleaningClearing leaves, needles and debris out of roof gutters and downspouts so rain drains away. CSU Extension advises spring and fall at a minimum.

Gutter guardsCovers, screens or inserts fitted to a roof gutter to keep leaves and debris out while letting rain through, so the gutter needs clearing less often.

H

Heat pumpAn electric system that heats and cools a home by moving heat: from the outdoor air into the house in winter, and out of the house in summer.

HOA feesRegular dues a homeowners or condo association charges owners to run and maintain the community, paid on top of the mortgage, taxes and insurance.

Home inspectionA professional look at a home's condition, usually before buying, that reports which systems and parts need repair or may need replacing soon.

Home inventoryA room-by-room record of what you own, with photos, values and receipts, kept to prove a loss to your insurer after a fire, theft or storm.

Home warrantyA service contract, bought for a set term, that pays toward repairing or replacing covered home appliances and systems, usually with a fee for each service call.

Homeowners insurance claimA request to your homeowners insurer to pay for damage or loss the policy covers, backed by photos, a list of what was lost and your receipts.

Hose bibAn outdoor faucet on the outside wall of a house, threaded so a garden hose can screw onto it. Also called a spigot or outdoor faucet.

Hurricane prepGetting a home and household ready for a hurricane: knowing your evacuation zone, stocking supplies, protecting windows and acting on watches and warnings.

HVAC filterThe removable filter in a furnace, central air conditioner or heat pump that traps dust from the air; ENERGY STAR says check it monthly and change it at least every 3 months.

HVAC tune-upA service visit where a qualified contractor checks, cleans and adjusts a heating or cooling system; ENERGY STAR advises one for cooling each spring and heating each fall.

I

Indoor humidity levelHow much moisture the air inside a home holds, given as relative humidity. EPA advises keeping it below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%.

Insulation R-valueA number that rates how well insulation resists heat flowing through it. The higher the R-value, the better it insulates.

Insurance deductibleThe part of a covered loss you pay yourself before your home, renters or auto insurance pays the rest, set as a dollar amount or a percentage.

L

Lawn aerationPulling small plugs of soil out of a lawn with a core aerator, so air, water and roots can get through compacted soil and thatch.

Lawn care scheduleA year-round plan that puts each lawn job, from mowing height to seeding and fertilizing, in the season that suits your type of grass.

Leaky faucetA faucet that keeps dripping from the spout or leaking at the handle after it's turned off, usually because a cartridge, washer or seal has worn out.

Licensed contractorA contractor who holds the license your state or local government requires for the kind of work being done, which you can check before you hire.

Low water pressureWater that comes out of taps and showers weaker than it should, from a clog at one fixture or a valve, regulator, leak or supply problem affecting the whole house.

M

MERV ratingMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value: a number showing how well an air filter traps particles 0.3 to 10 microns in size, where a higher number catches more small ones.

MulchingSpreading a layer of material such as wood chips, bark or leaves over the soil around plants to hold moisture, keep roots cooler and hold back weeds.

O

OverseedingSpreading grass seed over an existing lawn, without tearing it out, to thicken thin turf or, on bermudagrass, to add ryegrass for winter.

P

P-trapThe curved section of drainpipe under a sink or tub that holds a little water to seal sewer gas out of the house.

Paint sheenHow shiny a paint dries, from flat and matte through eggshell, satin and semi-gloss to high-gloss. More shine usually means easier cleaning.

Pest controlKeeping insects, rodents and other pests out of a home, best done by removing their food, water and shelter first and using pesticides only as the label directs.

Pipe insulationFoam or fiberglass sleeves and wraps fitted around water pipes to cut heat loss from hot water lines and help keep exposed pipes from freezing.

Power washing vs pressure washingBoth spray water at high pressure. In the stricter usage, a power washer also heats the water, while a pressure washer uses cold or lukewarm water.

Pressure washingCleaning outdoor surfaces such as siding, decks and driveways with a machine that sprays water at high pressure to lift dirt, mildew and grime.

Property taxA yearly tax your local government charges on real estate you own, worked out from the property's assessed value and the local tax rate.

PruningCutting away branches or stems to keep a tree or shrub healthy, safe and in shape, timed to the plant so you don't cut off next season's flowers.

Punch listA list of the small unfinished or faulty items left at the end of a building or remodeling job that the contractor must fix before the work counts as done.

R

Radon testA measurement of the radon gas in a home's air, read in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or more.

Range hood filterThe screen in a kitchen range hood that traps grease, and in ductless hoods a charcoal filter too. Grease filters get washed; charcoal filters get replaced.

Renters insuranceA policy for tenants that pays to repair or replace their belongings, covers liability for harm they cause others, and pays extra living costs after a covered loss.

Roof inspectionA look over a roof and the attic beneath it for damaged shingles, wear and leaks. FEMA advises checking the roof surface at least once a year.

S

Seasonal home maintenanceHome upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.

Smoke detector testingPressing a smoke alarm's test button once a month to make sure it sounds, and replacing the alarm 10 years after the date it was made.

Squeaky door hingeA door hinge that creaks or squeals as the door swings. The usual fix is to take out the hinge pin, clean it, lubricate it and put it back.

Squeaky floorA floor that creaks underfoot, often where the subfloor has pulled away from a joist. Most squeaks can be quieted by fastening the floor down.

Storm shuttersCovers fixed over windows and glass doors before a storm so wind pressure and flying debris can't break the glass and let wind and rain inside.

Sump pumpA pump set in a pit in a basement floor that switches on as groundwater collects there and sends it through a pipe away from the house.

T

Tankless water heaterA water heater with no storage tank that heats water as it flows through, only when a hot tap is on. Also called a demand-type or instantaneous water heater.

Termite inspectionA check of a home's foundation, crawl space and woodwork for termite signs like mud tubes and shed wings. Extension experts advise at least once a year.

Tripped breakerA circuit breaker that has switched itself off to cut power to one circuit, most often because too much was running on it at once.

W

Water filter replacementSwapping a home water filter's cartridge on the maker's schedule or at its rated capacity, so it keeps reducing what it's certified to reduce.

Water heater flushDraining a water heater and running water through it to wash out the sediment and minerals that settle inside, usually about once a year.

Water softenerA home system that removes the calcium and magnesium that make water hard, usually by trading them for sodium in a tank of resin beads.

WeatherstrippingStrips of material fitted around doors and windows that open and close, sealing the gaps where air leaks in and out.

Window condensationWater droplets that form on the inside of window glass when moist indoor air meets the cold pane, which EPA treats as a sign of high humidity.

Winterizing sprinklersDraining and blowing the water out of an in-ground sprinkler system before freezing weather, so ice can't crack its pipes, valves and heads.