Tips/Advice for Maintaining a Home in Brooklyn

We are new homeowners. What tips/advice/words of wisdom do you seasoned homeowners have for us? In particular, we are looking for the do’s and don’ts for maintaining a house, e.g. flush the hot water heater and check anode annually, clean the dryer vent, etc. Act like you’re writing “Maintaining a Brooklyn House for Dummies”. We want to hear it all. Even if you think it’s common knowledge, we probably don’t know it, as we’ve only been renters and have never taken care of a house before. Feel free to include maintenance tips for a rental unit too, as we’ll be living in 2 floors of the house and renting out the top floor. It’s a 3 story plus basement, has steam heating, attached on both sides, wood frame, with a backyard. Thanks!

ps158

in General Discussion 10 years and 1 month ago

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brooklynite66 | 10 years and 1 month ago

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I recommend heating cables for the gutter, the long ones that extend down the pipe. They are inexpensive and they keep the gutter and pipe from freezing, keeping water out of your house. I second the dehumidifier advice.

cmu | 10 years and 1 month ago

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Of all the odd things, checking the anode has to be the rarest…yes your w/h will last longer if you change it every few years, but it’s well-nigh impossible to get one out. Unless you call a plumber and then it will be more than a new w/h ;). And I;ve never heard of cleaning the sewer pipe regularly. You have steam heat..if it is troublesome, get an expert or read up a lot as they’re finicky when not right. The word is balancing to get heat right in all rooms, and you can do much by changing the steam vent sizes. Never partially shut the water valve. You’re supposed to skim off water every week, but I do it once a year. Don’t sweat lead- and asbestos-related issues unless you’re forced to for permitting reasons, there’s no danger if you don’t disturb things (or lick the walls.) The forum archive is a wealth of information (and some dis-).

ps158 | 10 years and 1 month ago

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These are all great everyone. Thank you so much!

catboot | 10 years and 1 month ago

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If you have a cellar with stone walls, get a dehumidifier. It will prevent that icky old house smell.

williamsburgguys | 10 years and 1 month ago

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If you have a flat (gently sloped) roof with an access hatch and ladder inside, once a year go up and check all the seams and overall condition of the roofing material as well as clean out the roof drain and such.

snowman2 | 10 years and 1 month ago

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As a followup to sewer cleaning advice, when you schedule it as maintenance it is much cheaper than having it done after a backup, even though their work is the same. Ask your neighbors for recommendations for trades but check out their references (the actual work in most cases) in person before you hire them.

Rick | 10 years and 1 month ago

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Clean your gutters often. Be sure to check the gas lines in your basement. Many of our houses once had gaslight. Those lines to your fixtures should be removed if they are still there.

Putnamdenizen | 10 years and 1 month ago

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Check your bathroom fixtures to make sure they aren’t slowly leaking to the floor below.

est | 10 years and 1 month ago

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If you have a basement, English basement, or a backyard drain, I recommend having your sewer lines cleaned at least once a year and usually around now before the spring/summer rains happen. Have owned a house for about 3 years and got caught out with flooding in our English basement several times. At worst, if your home was previously renovated there can be small bits of debris that fall down there, or as happened with us a birdie from kids playing badminton. Also, good to do after the snow melts because backyard debris often finds its way down there. Good luck and congratulations on your home.