Ep 12: The Home Maintenance Guide Nobody Told You About
If your home maintenance routine consists of "Wait until it makes a weird noise and then call a pro," this episode is for you. We are officially launching The Home Maintenance Guide Nobody Ever Told You About.
The "Kindling" In Your Walls
Did you know your dryer vent is one of the highest fire risks in your home? Most people use flexible, accordion-style ducting because it’s easy to install, but those ridges trap lint like crazy. We recommend rigid ducting and a yearly clean-out. Pro Tip: Use a leaf blower on the house-side of the vent to blow the lint out the exterior—just make sure your neighbor isn’t having a BBQ first!
The "Tissue Test" for Bathroom Fans
Exhaust fans aren't just for smells; they are for moisture. If moisture stays in your bathroom, mold follows. Hold a single square of toilet paper up to your fan; if it doesn't suck it up and hold it, your fan isn't doing its job.
The Water Heater Caveat
You should flush your water heater every year to remove sediment. However, if you have an 8-year-old water heater that has never been flushed, don't start now. Stirring up that much sediment in an old unit can actually clog the internal mechanisms and cause it to fail prematurely.
The "Winky Face" Outlet
Have you ever seen an outlet where one of the vertical slots has a horizontal "wing"? We call that the Winky Face. It signifies a 20-amp outlet meant for high-power appliances like deep freezers or stoves. Don't force a 20-amp plug into a 15-amp outlet—it’s a major fire hazard.
Habit Stack Your Way to a Healthy Home Maintenance doesn't have to happen all at once. Start with one task this month and add another in six months. By building these habits, you gain independence and protect your biggest investment.
Full Detailed Transcript
"Hi folks, welcome back! Welcome to the podcast where we help you not burn your house down. In today’s episode, we talk about our personal grievances and hot takes, our favorite podcasts and TV shows, and we start a series called 'The Home Maintenance Guide Nobody Ever Told You About'. This episode is dedicated to Sammy and Dean, our administrative services manager in Wisconsin, who is a strong, capable woman and is celebrating her four-year anniversary with us today.
Let's start with some random hot takes. For instance, people who make socks that don't stay up—nothing is worse than your shoe eating your sock. Or people who tailgate you when you are driving, only to end up at the same stoplight anyway. I once had to stop for a literal deer in the road, and the man in the truck behind me followed me all the way to my exit just to flip me off. Some people are just living on the edge, and we need to remember to protect our people and speak our truth.
For some pop culture recommendations, we have been watching the new episodes of Bridgerton. It’s an escape into a delightful world of side characters, even if Benedict is sometimes a bit much. We also love The Traitors, a reality show that is essentially a giant game of Mafia in a Scottish castle where 'Faithfuls' try to suss out 'Traitors'. If you need podcasts, we recommend Malice in the Mitten for Michigan crime, Singly Married for a great guy-perspective on life, and Marcy Talks Money for practical financial advice. We also love The Marvelous Middle Age, Tooth and Claw, and Morbid. True crime is validating for women because it reminds us that our instincts and fears are often there for an evolutionary reason.
Now, into the home maintenance guide. The highest priority safety issue is your dryer vent. It is a massive fire risk because lint is essentially kindling. You should use rigid ducting instead of flexible ducting because flexible ducting has ridges that collect lint. If you have a long vent run, you can use a leaf blower at the house-side of the pipe to blow it all out the exterior. You can also buy vent cleaning kits that snap together like tent poles to brush the lines out.
Next is the bathroom exhaust fan. Its job is moisture removal to prevent mold. You can do the 'Tissue Test'—hold a tissue up to the fan, and if it stays there, the fan is working. If not, it needs cleaning or replacement. Run your fan for 30 minutes after a shower to ensure all moisture is removed.
For water heaters, you are supposed to flush them yearly to remove sediment. However, if your heater is very old and has never been flushed, leave it alone. Flashing it now can stir up sediment that clogs the internal mechanisms. When you do flush it, turn it off first, let the water cool so you don't burn your grass, and use a hose to drain it into a sump pump or outside.
Regarding smoke detectors, you need a combination of smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors. There are two types: Ionization (for fast-flaming fires) and Photoelectric (for smoldering fires). Smoldering fires are more common at night, so you want to be protected from smoke before the flames ever reach you. Place them on every floor, in every bedroom, and outside sleeping areas.
Finally, GFCI outlets are those with the reset buttons. They are essential near water. If you have an ungrounded home with two-prong outlets, you can install GFCIs to provide safety even without a ground wire. Also, look for the 'Winky Face' outlet—that horizontal slot means it is a 20-amp outlet. Never put a 20-amp appliance on a 15-amp circuit.
Maintenance can be overwhelming, so try habit stacking. Start with your dryer vent this month, and add one more task to your routine every few months. Maintenance is the secret to a happy home and a happy bank account. Thanks for being part of The Village. See you next time!"
