Having your own home is a great thing. You can call it your own safe place or nest. But along with the right and benefits of being a homeowner comes the duty to take care of your home so that it keeps its value and keeps you from having to make repairs that aren’t necessary.
Owning a list of tasks and inspections planned throughout the year is one of the best ways to keep up with home maintenance. By keeping a regular maintenance plan, you can prepare your home for changing seasons and catch problems before they worsen.
Follow this home maintenance checklist regularly to reduce or eliminate service delays, protect your house’s value, and keep everyone comfortable.
Summer
Home maintenance should be the last thing on your mind when the temperatures increase. Use these quick summer home care tips to finish the hard work early in the season. Don’t worry if it’s already hot outdoors; most of these tasks focus on indoor home maintenance:
- To keep the refrigerator working efficiently, clean the area behind it and vacuum the rear coils.
- Clean kitchen exhaust fan filter.
- Check for leaks in the dishwasher.
- Look for leaks around kitchen and bathroom cupboards, as well as near toilets.
- Your garage door tracks need a little bit of oil to work correctly. Grease the track and any chains you come across.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors need new batteries. Please ensure they’re functioning by giving them a test run.
- Repair and repaint the home’s siding as necessary.
- Check window and door locks to ensure they lock correctly.
- If you’ve had drainage issues in the past, now is the time to think about installing a catch basin drainage system in your backyard.
- Walk around your yard and check for overhanging limbs, fractured branches, or dead trees. Trimming branches and eliminating sick trees in the summer might help avoid a tree limb from falling on your house or car during a future storm. It’s recommended to have a 10-foot space between the home and tree branches.
- A deep cleaning service provider can assist in automating these tasks
Fall
Fall may be a hectic season for household responsibilities. It is never too early to begin winterizing the house. This includes getting heating systems into working condition and preparing for the upcoming winter season. Before starting your seasonal home maintenance checklist, inspect your home’s interior and exterior. Most of these tasks may be accomplished without the assistance of a professional, but it’s always better to be careful and seek assistance if a task is beyond your ability.
Here are a few seasonal home improvement recommendations for the fall:
- Pour water into the sump pit until the pump turns on; this will test the sump pump.
- Check if gutters need to be cleaned of dirt and debris.
- To keep pipes from freezing, drain sprinklers and other outdoor water sources and cover them.
- Set up a service call to ensure your heating system is ready for the upcoming cold weather.
- If you live in a colder area, you should drain, clean, and cover your swimming pool.
- Check the fireplace for damage or potential danger, and ensure the chimney is clean.
- As the weather gets cold, make sure all your windows and doors are closed and sealed; this keeps drafts out.
Winter
The winter weather may be challenging for the house. Temperatures below freezing may cause various problems, such as frozen pipes and roof damage. Check the following tasks on your winter home maintenance checklist to reduce winter damage and the need to call a professional during a blizzard:
- Cover your air-conditioning unit.
- During the thaw, inspect the basement for leaks.
- It’s necessary to replace the air filters every 30 to 90 days, listen for unexpected noises or odors, maintain the outside unit clean, and check the base pan for blocked drains. If you don’t, you risk having inefficient heating, higher utility bills, and potential health risks from air pollution.
- Look for leaks and problems with the pressure on your water heater. To avoid expensive flooding damage, think about installing a leak detector.
Spring
Spring may be unpredictable due to the possibility of snow, floods, and severe winds. During these months, household activities are primarily about preparing for changes in the weather and repairing any damage caused by the winter.
- Clean out gutters again because, between snow melt and spring showers, there is the potential for a lot of water running through your downspouts. Make sure drainage systems are clear and working properly.
- Check your roof for any damage caused by a winter storm. Ensure your roof is examined in the spring and summer to check for damage from major storms or hail.
- To avoid electrical fires, inspect and replace extension cables that have become old or damaged.
- As part of a complete spring yard clean-up, you should also check on your furniture. If your chairs are rusty, your wooden benches are rough, your cushions have dry rot, or the paint on your porch swing is peeling, it might be hard to relax outside.
- It would be best if you also cleaned the grill before using it this spring.
Your Monthly Checklist
Organizing house maintenance duties by season is a wise way to go. Some chores are better done during a specific season, such as clearing the leaves out of your gutters in the autumn. However, you should check on a few essential items once a month. Here are the most critical items to include in a monthly checklist.
- Check your HVAC filter.
- Leak Patrol
- Clean or replace your range hood filter
- Keep an eye out for loose shingles, water gathering near the foundation, or if your heat pump sounds like it’s running rough. All of these things might be warning indicators of worse trouble to come.
You’ll develop the habit of taking care of your home’s maintenance if you do these things regularly. And if you lack the knowledge or time to do these tasks on your own, hiring a professional may help you remain on top of things.
