Kolter Homeowner Guide

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.

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.

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.

HOME TIP: Some dryer vents are on the roof. If that’s where your dryer vent is, hire a professional to clean it.

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).

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