TL;DR
A home maintenance check for an aging parent's house covers eight systems most families never look at: heating, water, electrical, fire and CO, structure, entry, moisture, and long-term wear. The most common quiet failures are a water heater past 12 years, smoke detectors past 10 years, a lint-clogged dryer vent, and rainwater draining toward the foundation. Granddad's checks all 60 points across the Lower Mainland — $49 for your first visit, $199 after, or $129/month for a monthly check. The full checklist is below — use it yourself, free.
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Print the whole checklist — tick boxes, all 60 points, 6 pages. Free, no email required.
Each item has three fields: Check · Why it matters · DIY or call.
Section 1 of 8 · 7 checks
CheckCheck the manufacture date on the label.
Why it mattersFurnaces over ~18–20 years lose efficiency and risk cracked heat exchangers (a CO source).
DIY or callCall — a gas tech should inspect the heat exchanger.
CheckCheck if it's grey and clogged.
Why it mattersA blocked filter overworks the furnace and worsens air quality.
DIY or callDIY — replace every 1–3 months.
CheckConfirm the set temp actually triggers heat.
Why it mattersAn unreliable thermostat leaves a senior cold without them realizing why.
DIY or callDIY to replace a basic one; call for a heat-pump/smart integration.
CheckCheck none are blocked by furniture or rugs.
Why it mattersBlocked airflow creates cold rooms and strains the system.
DIY or callDIY.
CheckNote any rotten-egg odour.
Why it mattersPossible gas leak.
DIY or callCall immediately — leave and phone FortisBC's emergency line (per FortisBC guidance).
CheckCheck the outdoor unit is clear of debris and level.
Why it mattersBlocked units fail in summer heat — a real risk since the 2021 BC heat dome.
DIY or callDIY to clear; call for servicing.
CheckCheck nothing flammable sits within 30 cm.
Why it mattersCurtains and furniture against baseboards are a fire cause.
DIY or callDIY to clear.
Section 2 of 8 · 9 checks
CheckCheck the date label.
Why it mattersTanks over 12 years are on borrowed time; failure means a flood, often while no one's home.
DIY or callCall to replace.
CheckShould be ~49°C / 120°F.
Why it mattersHigher scalds; seniors' skin burns faster. (BC seniors'-safety guidance uses this threshold.)
DIY or callDIY — adjust the dial.
CheckConfirm the parent knows where it is and it turns.
Why it mattersIn a burst-pipe emergency, minutes of water = thousands in damage.
DIY or callDIY to locate/label.
CheckCheck cabinets under every sink for damp or staining.
Why it mattersSlow leaks rot cabinets and grow mould unseen.
DIY or callDIY to spot; call if the leak is at a joint.
CheckRun each sink and tub.
Why it mattersA slow drain is an early warning of a bigger blockage.
DIY or callDIY (plunge/snake); call if it's the main line.
CheckListen for a toilet that refills on its own.
Why it mattersWastes water and signals a worn flapper.
DIY or callDIY.
CheckLook for grey plastic supply piping (common in Lower Mainland homes built ~1978–1998).
Why it mattersPoly-B is prone to failure and can affect insurance.
DIY or callCall for assessment.
CheckCheck for drips and that they were drained before winter.
Why it mattersFreeze damage bursts pipes inside the wall.
DIY or callDIY to drain; call if already leaking.
CheckNote any sudden change.
Why it mattersA drop can signal a hidden leak or supply issue.
DIY or callCall if unexplained.
Section 3 of 8 · 7 checks
CheckIdentify the brand. Federal Pioneer/Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) and Zinsco panels have known failure/fire histories.
Why it mattersThese may not trip under fault.
DIY or callCall an electrician for assessment/replacement.
CheckCommon in pre-1950 heritage and older East Van homes.
Why it mattersFire risk and often an insurance problem.
DIY or callCall for an assessment.
CheckTest outlets near water in bathrooms and kitchen.
Why it mattersGFCIs prevent electrocution; older homes often lack them.
DIY or callCall to install.
CheckCheck the panel is labeled.
Why it mattersIn an emergency you need to kill the right circuit fast.
DIY or callDIY to label.
CheckNote any cord used as permanent wiring.
Why it mattersOverloaded cords overheat and start fires.
DIY or callCall to add outlets if it's chronic.
CheckLook for scorching, warmth, or loose fit.
Why it mattersSigns of a failing connection behind the wall.
DIY or callCall.
CheckConfirm weather covers are intact.
Why it mattersWater in an outdoor outlet is a shock hazard.
DIY or callDIY to replace a cover; call for wiring.
Section 4 of 8 · 7 checks
CheckCheck the manufacture date, not just the battery. Replace at 10 years (NFPA guidance).
Why it mattersSensors degrade; an old detector may not sound.
DIY or callDIY for standalone; call if hardwired/interconnected.
CheckOne near sleeping areas and near any gas appliance.
Why it mattersCO is odourless and deadly; gas heat makes this essential.
DIY or callDIY.
CheckCheck the exterior vent and the duct behind the dryer.
Why it mattersLint buildup is a leading house-fire cause.
DIY or callDIY-ish; call for a full duct clean.
CheckOne in the kitchen, charged, in date.
Why it mattersFirst 60 seconds of a stovetop fire matter most.
DIY or callDIY to buy/place.
CheckNote whether the range shuts off if left on.
Why it mattersLeft-on burners are a top senior fire risk.
DIY or callCall to add an auto-shutoff device.
CheckCheck any portable heater sits ≥1 m from anything flammable.
Why it mattersSpace heaters cause winter fires.
DIY or callDIY to reposition.
CheckConfirm bedrooms have a clear exit path.
Why it mattersMobility + clutter can trap someone.
DIY or callDIY to clear.
Section 5 of 8 · 8 checks
CheckNote curling, missing, or mossy shingles.
Why it mattersA failing roof leaks into the structure long before it's obvious inside.
DIY or callCall.
CheckCommon in our climate.
Why it mattersMoss holds moisture and shortens roof life.
DIY or callCall — walking a wet roof is a fall risk.
CheckCheck for debris, sagging, and overflow in rain.
Why it mattersOverflowing gutters dump water at the foundation.
DIY or callDIY single-storey with care; call for two-storey.
CheckConfirm water is carried away from the house, not pooling at the base.
Why it mattersFoundation moisture is the #1 basement/crawlspace problem here.
DIY or callDIY to add an extension.
CheckCheck the ground slopes away from the foundation.
Why it mattersGround sloping toward the house drives water in.
DIY or callCall for regrading.
CheckLook for lifted or uneven sections.
Why it mattersThis is a literal trip-and-fall.
DIY or callCall to level.
CheckPush on railings; check for rot and wobble.
Why it mattersA railing that gives way is a serious fall.
DIY or callCall.
CheckNote any new or widening cracks.
Why it mattersSome are cosmetic, some structural.
DIY or callCall to assess if wider than a coin's edge.
Section 6 of 8 · 6 checks
CheckConfirm each exterior door has a working one.
Why it mattersBasic security.
DIY or callDIY-ish / locksmith.
CheckNote doors that jam.
Why it mattersA jammed door is an obstacle in an emergency and a daily frustration.
DIY or callDIY to plane.
CheckCheck for drafts around doors and windows.
Why it mattersDrafts mean cold rooms and higher bills.
DIY or callDIY.
CheckConfirm entries and paths are lit.
Why it mattersPoor lighting causes after-dark falls.
DIY or callDIY-ish; call for new wiring.
CheckConfirm it's readable from the street.
Why it mattersParamedics need to find the house fast.
DIY or callDIY.
CheckConfirm at least one sturdy rail at every set of steps.
Why it mattersThe entry is a top fall location.
DIY or callCall to install securely.
Section 7 of 8 · 7 checks
CheckCheck for standing water, musty smell, or efflorescence.
Why it mattersChronic damp means rot and mould.
DIY or callCall to diagnose the source.
CheckTest it works.
Why it mattersA dead sump pump means a flooded basement in our rainy season.
DIY or callDIY to test; call to replace.
CheckConfirm fans vent outside, not into the attic.
Why it mattersVenting into the attic rots the roof structure.
DIY or callCall to reroute.
CheckConfirm it moves air.
Why it mattersGrease and moisture buildup otherwise.
DIY or callDIY to clean the filter.
CheckNote persistent interior fogging.
Why it mattersSignals humidity/ventilation problems or failed seals.
DIY or callCall if between panes.
CheckCheck bathrooms, window frames, closets.
Why it mattersHealth risk, especially for older lungs.
DIY or callDIY small patches; call for anything larger than ~1 sq ft.
CheckConfirm vents aren't blocked.
Why it mattersPoor attic airflow drives moisture and ice damming.
DIY or callCall.
Section 8 of 8 · 9 checks
CheckPlan the replacement before it fails, not after.
DIY or callCall.
CheckBudget ahead of the leak.
DIY or callCall for a lifespan estimate.
CheckCheck windows and trim.
Why it mattersGaps let water into the wall.
DIY or callDIY.
CheckCommon in pre-1970s homes; may be abandoned underground.
Why it mattersA leaking tank is a major environmental liability.
DIY or callCall for detection.
CheckOlder clay laterals in mature Lower Mainland neighbourhoods invite root intrusion.
Why it mattersBackups are expensive and messy.
DIY or callCall for a camera scope if drains are slow.
CheckNote fridge, washer, dishwasher ages.
Why it mattersOld appliances leak and fail; washer hoses burst.
DIY or callDIY to swap washer hoses to braided steel.
CheckCheck south and west faces.
Why it mattersExposed wood rots in our rain.
DIY or callCall.
CheckWatch for widening.
Why it mattersFreeze-thaw turns small cracks into trip hazards.
DIY or callDIY to fill small ones.
CheckCheck for ivy, branches on the roof, shrubs against siding.
Why it mattersVegetation traps moisture and damages surfaces.
DIY or callDIY-ish; call for large limbs.
This is the same 60-point check Granddad's runs across the Lower Mainland — $49 for your first visit. If you'd rather someone did it — and told you plainly what to fix yourself and what to leave alone — that's the whole job.