A maintenance inspection is a routine assessment of your home. To check that all its structures and systems are in good physical and working order. The inspectors will thoroughly examine the functional components of your home, like HVAC, electrical, or plumbing systems, and test their functionality.

Maintenance testing identifies any issues, damages, or red flags that alarm any bigger problems. It’s like a prevention from getting into any dicey situation.

A typical home maintenance and testing checklist includes inspecting home structures like roofs, chimneys, and gutters for damage, leaks, and debris buildup. It also checks functional systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. The inspection covers every nook and cranny, from interior to exterior.

As a result, you can expect ultimate home safety and security. Helping you set a budget aside ahead of time to conduct maintenance inspections.

The BrickKicker is here to guide you through this. In this blog, we will talk about each aspect covered in a maintenance testing checklist. We’ll also talk about why maintenance inspection is important and when the right time to conduct one is.

So, getting started, let’s discuss

What’s Included in A Maintenance Inspection Checklist

When conducting thorough home maintenance inspections, you must check all aspects of your property. From the roof and foundation to the plumbing and electrical systems, you need to look into each element. Here are some of the elements checked during a home maintenance inspection.

Roof

During the home maintenance testing process, the inspectors will assess your roof for various aspects. For instance, they will examine the roofing materials for cracks, leaks, and damage. They will also check flashing around vents, ducts, and skylights.

The test is conducted to confirm there is no pooling water. And the roof has proper drainage. They’ll also look for sagging that could indicate structural issues.

Foundation

The maintenance inspectors would check the foundation of walls and floors for issues like cracks and shifting. They look for any signs of settlement, like cracks in drywall or sticking doors. And they’ll confirm there is no moisture in crawl spaces or basements as well.

Structures

The maintenance testing includes checking for cracks or shifting around doors, windows, and ceilings. The inspectors assess your home structure, like trim, shutters, and railings, for any damage. They’ll also look for sagging floors or separation around joints or seams.

Operational Systems

The maintenance inspections test your home’s operational system. For instance, the inspectors would test your HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and security systems to confirm they are working properly and are not outdated.

For HVAC, they will confirm proper airflow and test thermostats. They can also suggest changing filters if needed. After that, they’ll check plumbing systems, including piping, valves, and pumps, for leaks and pressure issues. They’ll test outlets, wiring, and backup power supplies for the electrical system.

While checking the security system, they would inspect detectors, alarms, sprinklers, and automated security features.

Basement and Crawl Spaces

While inspecting the basement and crawl spaces, the inspectors are focused on checking flooding, standing water, and excessive moisture. They ensure there’s proper grading and drainage around the foundation.

The inspectors also look for cracks or shifting in foundation walls. The process also includes checking signs of pests or termites.

Why Maintenance Testing Is Important

Regular maintenance testing and inspections on your home are very important – done on both systems and structure. It ensures your family’s safety and the home’s marketability. Let’s discuss some reasons or, say, the benefits to expect from a professional maintenance inspection.

Safety

Regular testing of your home’s safety equipment is extremely important for protecting your home and family. This may include smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. You must get these safety elements checked every now and then by professional home maintenance inspectors.

For instance, your smoke detector could fail. Due to any missing, dead, or disconnected batteries. During the maintenance testing, the inspectors would test your smoke alarms regularly. So you can replace the batteries beforehand.

Asset Reliability

When you conduct a home maintenance inspection, you can identify any repair needs early on. This way, you can prevent expensive asset failures or replacements.

The inspectors will check every little detail for potential issues, minor or major. This includes checking for the roof, gutters, exterior paint and finishes, pipes, and weather seals for wear, corrosion, leaks, and other damage. This way, you can address issues promptly before they expand.

Cost Savings

Bear in mind. These home maintenance inspections are actually a preventative step. Towards a more cost-effective living. They help you optimize the efficiency of your home’s systems, which means a cut rate on utility bills.

Take the example of HVAC and appliances. When you replace its elements, like air filters or cleaning coils, your unit will start running at peak efficiency, which lowers costs. But it is possible when you identify the replacement needs through inspections.

The same is the case for plumbing systems. The inspectors check for leaky faucets, pipes, and showerheads. And it significantly reduces your water usage and bills.

Operational Efficiency

Home maintenance testing also ensures your systems and equipment function as they are supposed to – without a hitch. For instance, garage doors, windows, appliances, AC systems, and sprinklers.

The inspectors assess if your home’s systems are working at maximum efficiency. For instance, they’ll verify if doors and windows are not stuck and bind as they hinder entrance. And can also allow energy loss.

Take another instance. Home appliances that aren’t optimally functioning, like refrigerators and sprinklers, waste energy and water. Inspecting them through maintenance inspections will help you maximize the functionality of your home’s assets.

Record Keeping

That’s the biggest benefit of any inspection, no matter if it’s a standard or maintenance one. The maintenance inspections will document your home’s condition with time. This documentation is useful for keeping records, which will help in the future for any insurance claims or resale value. Not only that. It also helps you predict any future repair or replacement needs for budgeting purposes.

What’s Next

There are a few things you must keep in mind. Whenever you are considering home maintenance, take a maintenance inspection on top of your checklist. And to expect a profitable return on your investment, you must conduct annual inspections. We suggest that when you notice any structural or functional issues, don’t hold up on getting maintenance inspections. Scroll through our blog section to learn more about inspections.

What Is Maintenance Testing And Inspections?