Everything you need to know

The importance of preventive maintenance

Not everyone is a born DIYer, and hiring a professional tradesman for preventative maintenance and repair work is often easier.

And hey, at least you can sleep soundly at night without having to worry about causing even more damage than if we had called someone who knew what they were doing in the first place!

However, like all bad phone calls, “there’s a problem with the property” calls usually come outside of business hours. If the roof leaks in the middle of the night, chances are you won’t be able to get hold of a repairman.

As intimidating as they may seem, we need to prepare for the worst and learn the basics. If you’re in the rental or property management business, it gets more difficult because the condition and appearance of your assets is your brand as a landlord or property manager.

In addition, landlords have a legal obligation to maintain health and safety standards in their properties – also known as the implied warranty of habitability. One of the obligations is to ensure that all major systems are functioning properly.

The positive side is that regular maintenance allows you to meet these obligations and build relationships with reliable contractors. These contacts can be useful in emergencies.

General checklist for preventive maintenance of rental properties

In most cases, the preventative maintenance required will vary depending on the type and location of the rental property. However, in general, a typical preventative maintenance checklist should include many of the following items.

Sanitary Part I: The kitchen drain

What you can’t see can’t hurt you, right?

Well, not quite. Faucets, fittings and the rest of the plumbing terminology are enough to give you a headache and pretend that pipes don’t exist and water magically appears when you turn on the faucet.

The most common pipe problem? Clogging.

This can happen for many reasons, the main one being grease and oils getting into the drains. If you follow this advice and still accidentally spill grease or oil, quickly turn on the faucet and run hot water, and pour in dish soap. The combination of heat and grease-dissolving detergent will help dissolve the grease and oils enough to flow out of the section of pipe in your home.

Since this preventative maintenance depends on tenant behavior, make sure your lease includes a clause requiring tenants to occasionally flush the kitchen drain with hot water and detergent!

Plumbing Part II: The shower drain

In the bathroom, the shower drain is most often clogged by hair.

Hair strainers are the perfect solution to this problem. They allow tenants to remove all the hair that falls out while showering.

Of course, this also means a lease clause that requires your tenants to keep the hair trap clean! Consider a lease clause that requires them to empty the hair trap weekly.

While we’re on the subject of bathrooms, the shower head is also prone to problems. Check it for cracks and damage at least once a week to prolong its life. If it’s leaking, try using thread tape. Simply unscrew the shower head, wrap the tape clockwise and reattach the head. If it’s clogged, place it in a bowl of warm water and vinegar for an hour and then clean it with a small brush.

Aside from the obvious leaks and blockages, neglecting your property’s plumbing can have some unusual consequences. One tenant discovered that what he thought was a typical blockage problem was actually caused by snakes.

And not the plumber’s snake contraption either. Nearly twenty live snakes slithered out of the ceiling because of a small crack in the pipe! Yuck! The crack was big enough for a small snake to fit inside.

Tenants regularly terminate their leases due to lower costs. Keep your property’s plumbing in optimal condition with simple lease clauses and regular inspections!

Paint

If your house hasn’t been repainted in the last decade, it’s high time you did. Aside from the risk of health problems if old lead paint isn’t painted over frequently, newer paints that have come onto the market in recent years are much more environmentally friendly than even those made a decade ago.

If you have a change in your rental unit, try just touching up the walls. Write down the exact name and number of the paint and ideally use it for each and every one of your rental units. This way you always know what paint to use and have some on hand.

And if you always use the same color, you usually only need one coat!

Painting over walls with nicotine stains is more difficult. Before you begin, you may need to apply a stain blocker. DO NOT apply stain blocker to nicotine stains just for the sake of cost. The paint will not spread evenly and will cause unsightly bubbles that will ruin the wall surface.

Speaking of color, if you’re planning to rent an apartment to students, consider beige tones. Stains, splashes and scratches won’t be as noticeable on darker wall colors!

Air conditioning

The air conditioning system is probably the most neglected appliance in most rental properties.

Many people just turn on the air conditioner and look inside when a problem occurs or they need to replace it. Regular checks should be done because an unmaintained air conditioner can have serious health effects. The last thing you want is for your tenants to get sick from the bacteria stored inside.

When is the best time to service your air conditioning condensers? April and May.

The worst time? A 40 degree day in July.

Send a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician to service your air conditioning condenser to avoid expensive emergency repairs later!

Here are some simple steps you can follow:

Another good rule of thumb is to require tenants to change air filters every three months. Again, this should be a clause in your lease!

Carelessness can lead to serious accidents. When the exhaust valve burst, a heating and ventilation installer from New York suffered frostbite on his hand.

Seasonal maintenance for your rental property

Colder and warmer seasons bring special challenges and also mean different requirements for the preventive maintenance of your properties.

While not entirely preventable, landlords and property managers can be proactive in reducing unexpected problems during different seasons.

Property maintenance for warmer seasons

• Pipe inspection – Check all pipes for damage caused by winter weather. Look for cracks or leaks and seal the joints adequately.

• Replace air filter – Change HVAC air filters to improve air quality and system performance. Dirty filters can strain the system and also shorten its lifespan.

• Cellar ventilation check – Ensure that the basement is adequately ventilated to prevent mold growth. Consider using a dehumidifier if the area is damp.

• Inspection of window and door seals – Check weather stripping and seals around windows and doors. Replace if necessary to prevent air leaks and improve energy efficiency.

• Checking the emergency alarm – Test all smoke detectors. Use the “test” button on each device, including those in common areas of apartment buildings. Replace batteries if necessary.

• Ceiling fan maintenance – Clean the ceiling fan blades and check that the fans are securely mounted. Always make sure they rotate anti-clockwise for optimal cooling during the summer months.

• Attic inspection – Inspect the attic for beam damage, roof leaks, mold, and possible entry points for pests or snakes.

• Thermostat maintenance – As part of HVAC maintenance, check the thermostat for accurate readings to achieve better energy efficiency.

Property maintenance for colder seasons

• Pipe protection – Insulate pipes and educate your tenants about freeze protection measures to avoid costly plumbing disasters.

• Fan direction adjustment – Reverse the direction of rotation of the ceiling fan clockwise to improve heat distribution and potentially reduce heating costs.

• Heating check – Schedule professional HVAC inspections before winter to ensure better performance and avoid unexpected breakdowns.

• Humidity control – Inspect vulnerable areas for water intrusion and correct problems promptly to prevent mold growth.

• Pest prevention – Seal external entrances and advise tenants on proper waste disposal to prevent pest infestation during the cold season.

• Gutter maintenance – Clear debris from gutters and downspouts to prevent ice dams and water damage to the building’s foundation.

• Renewal of the seal – Replace worn seals on doors and windows to improve insulation and reduce energy costs.

• Chimney inspection – For buildings with chimneys, conduct annual chimney inspections and cleanings to prevent fire hazards.

Preventive maintenance saves time and money

As a landlord, your business depends on the condition of your assets. The good news is that a little preventative maintenance can save you thousands of dollars later on your plumbing, painting and heating!

This article originally appeared on SparkRental.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.