Month-by-Month To-do List

January

• Dig out warranties and product manuals from under that stack of restaurant-delivery menus and check on recommended maintenance for furnaces, equipment, appliances and tools. Mark your calendar to track scheduled upkeep and service.

• Make a room-by-room inventory of everything in your house. This will be important, in case of fire, flood or any of the 10 Plagues covered by your insurance policy, in filing an insurance claim. It’s also a good excuse to use the new camera you got for Christmas.

• Don’t close vents to crawl spaces. If you live where pipes can freeze and the floors become very cold, you should either move to San Diego or insulate pipes under the floor. Double-check insulation around exterior pipes that are exposed to freezing weather to be sure water can’t seep under the insulation.

February

• Remove drain traps under sinks and clean them thoroughly. Inspect grout and caulk around tubs, sinks and showers. Chip out cracked grout and replace. Stained, discolored and mildewed caulk should be cleaned with household cleaner.

• Musty closet odors can be reduced or eliminated by removing the closet’s contents and washing walls with a diluted solution of chlorine bleach.

• To keep valves from sticking and to check for leaks, turn all water valves off and on. That includes outdoor faucets and valves to toilets, bathroom and kitchen sinks, laundry, bar, etc.

March

• After heavy rain, inspect your basement walls for signs of moisture or, worse, swimming sharks. If you detect wetness, first try running a portable dehumidifier. Check the downspouts and the grading around the foundation.

• Check to make sure your sump pump works properly by pouring water into the pump silo to raise the float and activate the motor.

• Test the pressure and temperature relief valve on your water heater by opening it and allowing some water to flow out. Bad valves can cause explosions. Remember that office building in The Matrix Reloaded?

April

• Replace batteries in smoke detectors. Battery: $2. Your life: priceless.

• Inspect screens for tears and bent frames. Check outdoor structures for deterioration — especially signs of rot. Also inspect the crawl space or basement after rain for water accumulation or excessive moisture. Look for signs of water damage on the sub floor and joists beneath bathrooms, the kitchen and laundry.

• Check fire extinguishers to make sure they’re not outdated, have lost pressure or are damaged.

• Check all weather-stripping around doors and windows for wear, damage or loss of flexibility.

May

• Clean gutters. Make sure downspouts or splash backs direct water at least 6 feet from the foundation.

• Have central air-conditioning unit checked. Replace the filter in the forced-air system. Clean debris from condenser or heat pump outside.

• Remove mineral deposits from faucet aerators and shower heads by soaking parts in white vinegar and scrubbing with an old toothbrush.

• Have swimming pool cleaned. Inspect and service pool liners and filters.

June

• Clean and seal decks, using ultraviolet-resistant sealer.

• Hire a certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean chimneys and watch Mary Poppins with the kids.

• Clean lint from the entire clothes dryer vent system, from the dryer to the exterior vent cap.

July

• Check all exterior walls for peeling or cracked paint. Carefully inspect brick or masonry siding for cracks or missing mortar.

• Inspect roofing material for cracks and loose or missing shingles and repair as necessary.

• Prune trees and shrubs so branches do not come in contact with exterior siding.

• Clean and repair cracks in concrete driveways using epoxy patching material. Repair asphalt driveways using asphalt patching material. Seal asphalt driveways every other year.

• Inspect foundation walls for signs of termites — tunnels or dirt bridges.

August

• Use a vacuum with a narrow nozzle to clean condenser coils on the back or underneath your refrigerator — for the first time in your life.

• Check faucets for leaks and replace washers or repair the faucet as necessary.

• Clean underneath range hood. Remove and clean or replace range hood filters. Yes, they can be changed.

September

• Paint interior rooms while it’s still warm enough to leave windows open.

• Check heating system, including filters, pilot lights and burners, and have the system serviced by a qualified professional. Read: This is dangerous.

• Survey the outside of your house to make sure soil around the foundation is properly graded. Soil should slope 3 to 6 inches for a distance of 3 feet out from the foundation walls.

October

• Detach hoses in case of freezing temperatures. Ask yourself why you didn’t move to San Diego.

• Inspect weather-stripping around doors and windows and repair or replace if necessary.

• Clean gutters after leaves have fallen. Make sure downspouts are in good condition.

• Change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Check gauges on home fire extinguishers to ensure a full charge.

November

• Inspect automatic garage-door opener and lubricate according to the manufacturer’s directions.

• Check for leaks around washing machine. Prime suspects for leaks are the water supply hose washers.

December

• Check the operation of all circuit interrupters in your ground outlets by pushing the “test” button. The “reset” button should pop out, indicating the receptacle is operating properly. Press in the reset button.

• Check inside bathroom vanities and kitchen-sink cabinets for moisture and other signs of leaks. Carefully inspect pipes for condensation or slow drips.

Now you can gloat.

Your home’s value is rising faster than your neighbor’s.