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Maintenance Quiz
It’s the weekend and you have a whole
list of household chores to do. Oh, we know you’d rather be golfing or
playing tennis or watching TV, but keeping your home in good shape is
important. Your home may be the biggest investment you will ever make.
Taking good care of it with regular maintenance is necessary to
maintain its value and ensure it will provide a comfortable, safe
shelter for you and your family for a long time.
Here is a home maintenance quiz that
will test your maintenance knowledge. While this quiz does not address
every home maintenance project, it does provide helpful tips and
reminders for chores you may have overlooked.
How often do forced-air furnace
filters need to be changed?
At least every three months during the heating season.
What part of the faucet usually
needs to be replaced when you have a water leak?
The washer.
Should you run hot or cold
water through your garbage disposal?
Cold water.
How often should the moving
parts of garage doors be oiled?
Every three months.
What tools can you use to
unclog your drains?
A plunger and a plumber’s snake.
What tool can be used to unclog
a toilet?
Coil spring-steel auger.
What faucet part needs to be
cleaned every three to four months?
Aerator—the screen inside the end of the faucet.
What helps keep unpainted
concrete floors easy to keep clean?
Concrete sealer.
What should you use to clean
unpainted concrete floors?
A solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of washing soda in a gallon of hot
water. Mix scouring powder to the solution for tough jobs.
When can you clean hardwood
floors with water?
When the floors have a polyurethane finish.
Do hardwood floors need to be
waxed?
Hardwood floors that do not have a polyurethane finish probably will
need to be waxed periodically. Use liquid or paste “spirit” wax.
What is the best polish for
vinyl floors?
Water emulsion wax.
Why should noisy water pipes be
fixed promptly?
The condition that causes noisy pipes may be accompanied by vibration
that can cause fittings to loosen and leak.
How often should your roof be
inspected?
A qualified roofer should inspect your roof every three years.
What should be regularly
checked on your security system?
The alarms and circuit breakers should be checked to make sure they
are in working order and the sensors should be inspected one by one.
To ensure your safety, what
household equipment uses batteries that must be checked regularly to
make sure they are operable?
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
What is the white powdery
substance that develops on masonry walls?
Efflorescence sometimes appears on masonry walls. It is crystallized
soluble salts that can be removed by scrubbing with water and a stiff
brush.
At what temperature should your
water heater be set?
120 degrees Fahrenheit
How often do skylights need to
be inspected?
Skylights should be inspected each time your roof is inspected so
leaks don’t develop from cracks and interruptions around its seals,
caulking and flashings.
What is a simple solution you
can use to wash extremely dirty exterior windows?
A solution of equal parts vinegar and water or 3 tablespoons of
denatured alcohol per quart of warm water. Use a piece of crumpled
newspaper to wash the glass to avoid lint left behind by papertowls.
What can you use to help a
window slide easily?
Rub the channel with a piece of paraffin.
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