Maintaining your home is essential to avoid costly repairs and breakdowns. Like cars, homes require regular maintenance to prevent frustrating and expensive surprises that can drain your time and finances. With scheduled property preventive maintenance, and implementing a comprehensive home maintenance checklist you can develop your handyperson skills and keep your home in excellent shape.
To make things easier, create a checklist that you can follow as the seasons change. Here’s what we recommend:
Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist
Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist Certain items in your home require more attention than others, especially those that contribute to your family’s safety. Check these items every month to ensure they’re functioning correctly:
- Test your alarms and detectors, such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and ensure you have replacement batteries on hand. Inspect your fire extinguishers to make sure they’re working.
- Check and replace filters in your furnace, oven, and vents every month to prevent debris from obstructing their function. Keep replacement filters on hand.
- Check your kitchen sink, bathroom drains, and garbage disposal for clogs. Run hot water for 30 seconds and use natural drain cleaning products to remove any blockages.
- Clean your air vents by turning off your HVAC system, brushing the walls to loosen grime, and using your vacuum to clean them.
- Test your sump pump regularly to prevent basement floods.
- Inspect your faucets for leaks or cracks that can waste water and increase your utility bills. Check grout and caulk for any necessary touch-ups to prevent water damage.
Bi-Annual Home Maintenance Checklist
Perform these maintenance tasks twice a year:
- Inspect your attic and basement for cracks in walls, deteriorating insulation, leaks, or pests.
- Clear your gutters and downspouts of debris to prevent water backup and deterioration of your home’s structure.
- Clean the coils on the back and bottom of your refrigerator to enhance efficiency and save on your electric bill.
Annual Home Maintenance Checklist
To prevent small problems from turning into major ones, complete these maintenance tasks once a year:
- Clean your dryer vent and lint trap to avoid a fire hazard and boost performance.
- Flush your water heater to figure out its health status and prevent any issues. Call a professional if needed.
- Check your home for signs of wood damage and termites to avoid infestations. Call a professional if you’re unsure.
- Trim tree branches close to your roof to avoid storm damage.
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
In the spring, it’s important to give your house and its surroundings a thorough cleaning. Outside, start by raking up any remaining leaves and laying down a thin layer of mulch in your flowerbeds and beneath your hedges. Check your outside faucets for damage and renew your lawn care service contract if necessary. Have any trees on your property inspected by a certified arborist, and reseed your lawn to fill in any bald patches before the summer heat.
Inspect the outside of your home for cracks, loose or broken shingles, and signs of wear on the chimney, facade, and foundation. Clean your gutters at least twice a year, or hire a professional if necessary. Consider touching up or repainting your exterior if you notice signs of peeling or chipping paint. Give your house a good scrub with a siding cleaning kit, and clean your deck or patio with a cleaning solution and a broom.
Inside your home, schedule biannual checkups and servicing for your HVAC system, and drain your boiler if you have steam heat. Check your pipes for leaks and water stains, and make sure your sump pump is draining properly. Have your chimney inspected annually and cleaned periodically if necessary. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change the batteries once a year. Consider investing in smart detectors that give voice alerts throughout your home.
As winter comes to an end and flowers start to bloom, shift your focus to these additional maintenance items:
- Check and clean your window screens for damage and replace them if necessary.
- Reseal fences and decks to help your home’s woodwork defend against extra moisture from spring rain.
- Check your driveway and walkways for cracks and patch them as soon as possible.
- Inspect your air conditioning unit before summer to address any issues.
- Check your paint and siding for damage after winter to maintain curb appeal and prevent moisture damage.
Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
Before you relax in your hammock, complete these maintenance tasks:
- Check and clean your air conditioner filter twice a month to keep it running smoothly.
- Clean your grill grates and ensure it’s working correctly.
- Control bugs and mosquitoes to enjoy your time outside.
- Check and replace storm windows to keep your home insulated.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Prepare for colder weather by completing these tasks:
- Schedule heating system maintenance with a professional.
- Rake leaves to prevent mold growth and grass inhibition.
- Seal cracks in your windows and doors to keep the cold air out.
- Check your pipes
Check your insulated pipes to avoid a wet and cold basement disaster. If you suspect your pipes are frozen, turn off your water and thaw them carefully to prevent them from bursting. Drain and turn off sprinklers to avoid damage due to freezing.
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
Prevent damage caused by winter with these tips:
- Inspect your pipes to avoid a wet and cold basement disaster.
- Prepare for snow by getting your snow blower, shovels, and sidewalk salt ready.
- Prevent ice dams and protect your roof by getting it inspected and ensuring proper ventilation is installed.
- Protect your outdoor furniture from winter weather by moving it indoors.
Year-round Protection Built for You With these checklists, you now have the know-how to keep your home safe and in great condition all year long. In case of any unexpected issues, make sure your home is protected.
Resources
Filtrete AC Furnace Air Filter, MPR 2800, Healthy Living Ultrafine Particle Reduction
These filtrete AC filters are at the top of the line when it comes to filters. I use these in my own home.
———- MAINTENANCE TIP ———-
- Regularly check and clean your HVAC air filters. These filters help to improve indoor air quality by trapping dust, pollen, and other airborne particles, but they can become clogged over time, reducing their effectiveness and putting strain on your HVAC system. Replacing your filters is one of the easiest home maintenance tasks that you can do.
Resources
When it comes to organizing supplies, then you can’t beat the Container store. They have everything, including closet systems.
Chair Protectors will be a lifesaver for the hardwood floors in your dining area. I promise that you won’t notice them on the chairs and you will thank me later.
Floor protection is a must. Make sure that you take the time to protect your floor by purchasing a few floor protectors for your furniture. You will be upset when you realize that you have a scratch from a table that could have been prevented.
Final Thoughts On Home Maintenance
Being a homeowner is a rewarding aspect of life. Nonetheless, it does come with challenges as the responsibility of maintaining your home falls into your lap. There is no landlord or apt complex maintenance staff to call. My suggestion is that you use a maintenance checklist to ensure that you do not miss any critical maintenance items that should be addressed on a regular basis.
I make it a point to take a look at all my outside maintenance items on a weekly basis. Typically I opt for Wednesday as it is the day that I cut my lawn. Figure out what works best for you, just don’t allow issues to go unchecked as it may result in bigger issues down the road.
