Taking Care of Your Home: A Florida Checklist

The most expensive repairs usually start as small ones nobody noticed: a clogged air-conditioning drain line, a slow leak under a sink, a few loose shingles before a storm. A little routine upkeep catches them while they're still cheap.

Before hurricane season (June through November)

• 1
  Check the roof. Look for missing or damaged shingles and tiles, and have anything questionable looked at.
• 2
  Trim trees. Cut back branches over the roof and near power lines.
• 3
  Clean gutters and drains. Make sure water runs away from the house.
• 4
  Test shutters and openings. Know how your shutters go up before you need them.
• 5
  Gather your paperwork. Keep your insurance policy and any wind-mitigation report somewhere you can grab.

Year-round

• 1
  Air conditioning. Change filters regularly, keep the condensate drain line clear, and have the system serviced once a year.
• 2
  Water. Check under sinks and around toilets for leaks, flush the water heater yearly, and know where your main water shut-off is.
• 3
  Electrical. Know where your breaker panel is and label the circuits. If breakers trip often or lights flicker, call a licensed electrician.
• 4
  Doors and windows. Re-caulk and replace weather stripping where it's cracked, to keep water and heat out.
• 5
  Safety. Test smoke detectors and change their batteries every year.
• 6
  Pests. Keep up with pest control. In Florida, termites are a when, not an if.