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Exterior Features
In order to prevent problems such as leaks, your
home’s exterior features require maintenance.
Care and maintenance
The following are tips for maintaining the
exterior features of your home.
Light fixtures
Turn off porch lights at night when you don’t
need them. The light at night will attract bugs
which will get inside when you open the door.
If you have yard lights, use yellow lightbulbs
which attract fewer insects.
Check weekly for burned out bulbs.
Use a mild soap detergent to clean light
fixtures. Turn off power to the fixtures before
cleaning them. It’s a good idea to turn OFF
the circuit breaker that controls them. After
the fixtures are clean and dry, flip the breaker
back ON.
Check for holes around light fixtures. If you find
any, fill them with elastomeric caulk.
CAUTION: Determine if brass fixtures are
made of brass or just finished in brass.
A product designed to clean brass may
damage a fixture that has a brass finish.
Visit the manufacturer’s website for more
information about exterior lighting.
Also, see Exterior Caulking (Page 45).
Dryer vent
Ensure nothing blocks the dryer vent.
After every load of laundry, remove lint from
the filter.
Once a year, clear accumulated lint from the
exhaust duct that connects the back of the
dryer to the dryer vent.
HOME TIP: Some dryer vents are on the
roof. If that’s where your dryer vent is, hire
a professional to clean it.
