Home Maintenance Guide
Buying a home is the biggest investment that most American families will make. Smart homeowners know that maintaining their home in good shape protects their investment and enhances the enjoyment of their home. In addition, the terms of the mortgage may require the homeowners to "adequately maintain the property."
Home maintenance, however, can cover a wide range of activities. They can be categorized into interior or exterior tasks or by home system, such as plumbing, heating & cooling, electrical, and landscaping/grounds maintenance. Certain maintenance tasks should be performed monthly, seasonally, or annually. How do we know what to do when? Here are some guidelines.
Important Basic Home Maintenance Activities
Once a Month
- Check the filters on your heating/cooling unit. If the property has humidifiers and electronic air cleaners, their filters should also be checked. Change or clean on the recommended schedule.
- Check faucets for drips and the rest of the plumbing for leaks. Repairing minor drips and leaks can prevent major water damage in the future. It also will help with conservation and keep down the water bill.
Semi-Annually or Seasonally
- Change the batteries in the smoke detector twice a year. Fire experts suggest changing the batteries when clocks are updated at the beginning and end of Daylight Savings Time. Or choose two family birthdays that are about six months apart.
- Draining a gallon or two of water from your hot water heater at least twice a year can extend its life expectancy.
- Clean out your roof gutters in the spring and fall. Don't let the gutters get clogged with leaves.
- Trim shrubs and trees so that they clear the foundation, exterior walls, and roof of the house. Shrubbery that's too close to the house can promote the growth of mildew, mold, and algae, particularly during warmer weather. Root growth can damage foundations. Limbs can scrape paint on siding and trim.
- Clean leaves and trash out from under decks and porches. Pull mulch away from foundation walls.
- Check and service lawn care equipment in the spring before it is needed.
Annually
- Have heating and cooling system(s) serviced.
- If there is a wood-burning fireplace or stove, check the chimney and have it cleaned if there is any creosote or soot build-up. Check the soundness of the mortar at the same time.
- Inspect, repair, and reseal tile grout in bathrooms, kitchens, and any other areas.
- Make a quick inspection of the exterior of the house. Check the foundation for cracking, blocked vents, and leaks. Check caulking around doors and windows. Check paint for peeling, cracking, fading, or blistering.
- Check the roof for leaks. One doesn’t have to get on the roof necessarily, but can inspect the underside of the roof in the attic for any signs of leaking. If any are spotted, it's probably time to call a professional.
General Activities
- If there isn’t currently a termite service, have a thorough termite inspection performed. Follow up on any treatment and repair recommendations. Keep termite protection current; it will save money in the long run.
- Know where the main cut-off valves or switches are for the home's plumbing system, electrical service, and gas service.
Home Maintenance Checklists Available Online
The Internet is full of home maintenance information. The article, Online Resources for Homeowners, will help explore some of the resources.
But if having a checklist helps focus, try one of the following checklists:
- Home Maintenance and Repair Checklist from www.checklists.com
- Checklist for Maintaining Your Home from the Mississippi State University Extension Service
