Where to Start With Maintaining Your Home
As a homeowner, there’s a lot to keep track of when it comes to routine maintenance. Your house likely contains many systems that help keep your family safe and live day-to-day life, from the water heater, furnace and ventilation system, to the smoke detectors. By inspecting and keeping these systems in good working order, you may be able to help avoid maintenance-related issues down the road. Read on to discover some basic maintenance tasks you may want to keep up with.
Routine Home Maintenance
It’s a good idea to read the owner’s manual for each system and appliance in your home, and take note of when they may need to be inspected, cleaned or replaced. If you don’t have the owner’s manual for any of your home’s parts, you may be able to request one from the manufacturer or online by noting the make and model.
No matter the age of your home, here are some maintenance tasks you may want to consider completing on a regular basis:
- Change your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system filter at least once every three months
- Drain your water heater at least once a year
- Test and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Inspect your home’s fire extinguishers
Additional Maintenance Tasks
There are some other larger maintenance tasks to keep in mind as well, from roof inspections to keeping up an underground sprinkler system. Don’t forget to plan routine checks for these and other key components of your home to help ensure they’re in good working condition.
Lastly, keep in mind that some home maintenance tasks may be tied to the seasons. For example, you may want to consider cleaning your gutters before winter, or inspect your air-conditioning system and foundation before spring arrives.
Remember, if you’re not sure how to perform any home maintenance tasks, or are uncomfortable using a ladder or other tools, be sure to hire a professional for help. Need suggestions on other areas to maintain around your home? Check out these additional articles for some helpful tips as you create a home maintenance plan:
- Clean Your Washing Machine
- Maintain Your Generator
- Test Your Home for Radon
- HVAC Tune-Up
- Change Your Pool Pump Filter
- Inspect Your Sump Pump
- Maintain Your Smoke Alarms
- Trim Your Trees
- Basement Maintenance
- Garage Door Upkeep
Originally published on January 2, 2017.