The One Checklist That Makes Home Maintenance Simple

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Ignoring regular maintenance of your home could cost you thousands of dollars later. Apart from the inevitable frustration of dealing with a future disaster, routine home maintenance provides multiple benefits. Check out this list of recommended monthly, quarterly, and annual maintenance items that can lead to a well-maintained and properly functioning home. As a bonus, the last page shows a summarized table of maintenance items.

MONTHLY

Change HVAC Filters
Replacing a dirty furnace filter helps maintain healthy air quality, extend the life of your furnace, and keeps energy costs down. Check and replace furnace filters at least every 90 days. If you have pets or are renovating, more frequent changes will be necessary. Replacing your filters on a regular basis will help keep the air clean, allow your furnace to operate optimally, and help you avoid significant repair costs down the road.

Keep Garbage Disposal & Drains Fresh & Clean
Clean and maintain drains on a monthly basis to prevent clogs and drain flies. Grind lemon, orange, or grapefruit peels in your garbage disposal, or, if you like, you can make a homemade drain cleaning solution with commonly found items in the home, including baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar followed with boiling or hot water after 30 minutes should adequately clean the drains without damaging your plumbing, but if there is a lot of built-up grease in the drains, soap, and water may be better suited to clear the clog. You can purchase a garbage disposal and sink cleaner and deodorizer to keep it smelling fresh.

Clean & Dust
Regular household cleaning can prevent long-term issues like mold and pest infestation. Every month, deep-clean showers and baths, toilets, and sinks. Remove excess dust and allergens by dusting off furniture, ceiling fans, and other places it may collect. Pay particular attention to the tops of cabinets and bookcases as dust accumulates rapidly in these places creating allergens such as dust, mits, and pet dander.

Unclog Sink & Shower Drains
If you notice that your bathroom or kitchen sink takes longer than usual to drain, you may have a clog. The same observation applies to the shower/tub drain and any of your toilets. Shower drains tend to clog fast when people with longer hair live in the home, so monthly maintenance may be required.  Sinks and shower drains may require a drain snake to get past and through any curves in the plumbing to remove the clog. You may still need some industrial strength drain cleaner, but if all else fails, it may be time to call a professional plumber.

Test Smoke and/or Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors
Check that all of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are functional on a monthly basis – even those that are “hard-wired” into your home’s electrical system. Most detectors have a “test” button that should sound the alarm when held for about 5 seconds. This tells you that the wiring and/or battery are functioning correctly. Here’s a handy guide on testing your devices. Change batteries annually or as needed (even hard-wired ones), and replace the entire detector every 5-10 years, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

QUARTERLY or SEMI-ANNUALLY

Keep the Critters Out
Left unchecked, pests can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home. Inspect the exterior of your home for holes or gaps and make immediate repairs. Mice, rats, snakes, bats, and other animals look for these entry points and can use your home as a nesting place. To remedy this, fill small foundational or lower gaps with an expanding foam and repair larger holes as needed with the appropriate materials. Check attics, basements, and crawl spaces too! Learn more about pests and the mitigation tactics in this article from “This Old House.”

Depending on the area and size of your home, professional pest control can cost from a few hundred dollars per year to more than a thousand dollars. Always remember that a good pest control expert will check vents in your attic, look for points of entry from the outside (e.g., foundation, windows, and eaves), and will provide information about the pests’ habitats and how to keep them from returning to your home.

Check/Change Water Filters
If your refrigerator or home has a water filtration system, these filters should be replaced regularly. For your refrigerator, the type, size, and cost will vary depending on the make and model of your refrigerator. How often should you replace it? While most manufacturers of newer refrigerators will let you know, you should expect to replace a filter at least once every six months – especially if your home is on well water or has a higher-than-average particulate count.

If you have a whole-house water filter system and it includes a water softener or iron removal system, you should look for a local distributor/service contractor until you’re familiar with the setup. Otherwise, it’s best to document what brand and model of water filter system you have to replace the filter or cartridge at least every six months. If your system includes a water softener or an iron removal system, you may need additional products or filters, such as iron removal pellets or fluoride removers.

Add Water Softener Salt
If you have a water softener system, it should be checked monthly regardless of its capacity. How much salt is needed and how often the reservoir needs to be filled will depend on the size and make of the water softener and the amount of water used in the home. This article may help you learn more about water softeners, so make sure there is enough salt in the reservoir and that the water softener is functioning as expected.

Clean Cupboards & Doors
You’ll want to get the dirt and grime off cupboard and cabinet doors, door handles, and baseboards regularly. For baseboards, run the broom along the edge of the floor first to get most of the dust off. Then, follow it up with a damp cloth along the top of the baseboard.

That same cloth will come in handy when wiping down cabinet doors and handles. The occasional grime may reqire a light type of spray cleaner suitable for wood or plastic.


Replace Kitchen Exhaust Fan
The filter in your kitchen’s exhaust fan often gets overlooked and can become a danger for a fire. Dirt, grease, and grime will collect and reduce airflow. Learn how to regularly clean the exhaust fan from WikiHow. 

Clean Dryer Vent
Did you know that clothes dryers are the leading cause of house fires? You can help prevent a fire in your home and improve its efficiency by clearing the lint trap after every cycle and cleaning the vent every quarter.

Descale & Unclog
Shower heads and faucet aerators can collect minerals over time and prevent the proper flow and pressure of water. They can be cleaned with CLR – a product that removes calcium, lime, and rust deposits.

Meanwhile, the condensate drain line for your furnace or air conditioner can get clogged and create a mess – especially in the South, where air conditioners run much more frequently and algae easily forms. Learn more about detecting a clogged line and cleaning it in this article by American Home Shield.

Clean the Oven
Give your oven and range a thorough cleaning every 3-6 months, depending on usage, using the proper cleaning products. This will reduce smoke during cooking, extend the life of your oven, and provide a more consistent temperature and cooking environment.

Maintain Lawn Regularly
Aside from mowing or raking leaves on a seasonal basis, routine lawn care can include seeding, fertilizing, and aerating your lawn. Costs will vary widely based on the size, geographic location, personal preferences, and the specific services you choose. You’ll also need to keep some lawn and garden tools on hand and in good shape. Don’t forget about pruning shrubs, trees, and bushes on a regular basis. And it never hurts to check for diseases since the alternative could cost you much more in new landscaping.

Power Wash Outside Areas
Keep your sidewalks, driveway, home exterior, or even vinyl fencing clean with a periodic pressure wash. Not only will a good cleaning clear away cobwebs and dirt, but it can also help prevent mold and algae from forming and extend the lifetime of your vinyl siding. Just be sure to know the correct PSI for each project by reading this article.

ANNUALLY

Clean Windows & Screens
Once a year, clean and inspect your windows and screens. Remove dirt, grime, and cobwebs from window frames and sills. Inspect the caulking or seals around your windows and look for obvious signs of water damage, such as buckling or discolored paint, as well as mold or moisture around the window sills. A word to the wise! Repair these problems quickly to prevent additional water damage to your walls and windows. When cleaning windows, always start by wiping loose dirt and grime with a cloth. Then, apply a cleaning solution such as warm, soapy water, a vinegar-and-water mixture, or a commercially available window cleaner. Give it a few seconds and wipe it off with a circular motion. Check for streaks on the glass and wipe it again if necessary. When cleaning the windows, check the edges where the glass meets the frame to make sure that they are properly sealed.

Cleaning the screens can be a little more involved since you may need to remove them from the window frames. Set them on the ground, preferably on a clean tarp or drop cloth, and first spray them down with the garden hose. Then apply warm soapy water and gently brush them down, taking care not to poke holes in the screen. Finish by wiping them off with a cloth or paper towel, again checking for gaps between the screen and the frame.

Inspect the Roof
Annual roof inspections can help catch any potential leaks or damage, and depending on the age of your house and/or roof, this is always something to keep an eye on. How can you tell that it may be time to have it checked? With asphalt shingles, you may see curling of asphalt shingles on the edge of your roof. You can also step back onto the street to spot any discolored areas. Pay special attention to where different roof lines meet as sometimes water and debris collect and wear out the roof over time. Obviously, if there are fresh dark spots on the ceilings inside your house, even if there’s an attic in between the ceiling and the roof, it’s time to check the attic and have the roof inspected as well. Sometimes, a roofing company will inspect yours for free and provide a quote. As always, check references and compare prices.

Clear the Gutters
In the winter, ice dams can occur if leaves and other debris are left unattended for months at a time. In the summer, they can easily cause backups and water damage along the edges of your roof and cause shingles to peel up from the roof edges. Remove leaves and debris from gutters & downspouts at least once a year to help drainage of rainwater and ice melt. Better yet, install a mesh guard over the top of your gutters to prevent items from accumulating in the first place!

Service Heating & Cooling Systems
Schedule professional inspections for your major HVAC systems at least once a year, ideally before the heating or cooling season starts. You should also have the contractors check and clean the ducts, vents, and registers during their scheduled maintenance while you regularly inspect and clean vents and registers inside the home throughout the year. Don’t forget to clean or replace air filters in your HVAC system as well as air purifiers and humidifiers per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Check the Hot Water Heater
This can help prevent leaks and improve efficiency. A professional can do this for you, but you can also learn how to drain your hot water heater here. Be careful not to turn the power back on for the hot water heater unless there is water in the tank. Otherwise, you could burn out the heating element in the water heater, leaving you with a big repair bill. With a gas hot water heater, it’s best to leave this to the professionals. Regardless of which type of gas your heater uses, the gas vendor may be able to provide this service or recommend someone in your area. Again, as with your HVAC system, always check references and compare prices.

Clean the Refrigerator Coils
Keep your refrigerator cool and running in tip-top shape by cleaning the refrigerator coils and condenser on the back of your refrigerator. Just be careful not to pull it out too far if it has a water/ice dispenser connected to a water line!

Have the Chimney Professionally Cleaned
Regular chimney cleaning is important for safety, even if your home doesn’t have a fireplace. It’s recommended that this be done every year. Chimneys come in all shapes and sizes for various kinds of uses. Regardless of its age, use, or how it was constructed, flammable oils and chemicals (creosote) can build up over time, creating a fire hazard in your home. Worse yet, this can also cause a poisonous buildup of carbon monoxide in your home. Here are some basic guidelines to follow in the use and maintenance of your chimney. 

Power Wash the Siding
This can help maintain the appearance and condition of your home’s exterior. Professional power washing can cost several hundred dollars depending on the size of your home, but it will also remove mold from your exterior siding, which is always a long-term benefit and a short-term plus if you plan on putting your house on the market. If you opt to do it yourself, make sure that you have a ladder standing by if needed and that the settings on your power washer are such that they don’t peel paint or cause damage to vinyl siding.

Check Window and Door Locks
Check the locks on all doors and windows regularly to make sure they function properly. Make sure you can easily open windows with locks on them. This is especially important in case of fire or other emergency. If you need to replace door locks, replacements in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and varieties can usually be found at home improvement stores. If you prefer to use the same key for more than one door lock, you’ll need to contact a locksmith to make sure that they work correctly.

AS NEEDED

Tighten Door Screws & Hinges
Screws in doors and cabinet doors can loosen over time – especially those with frequent usage. Take a few minutes every few months to inspect your kitchen and bathroom cupboards, along with interior and exterior door hinges, and tighten them as needed. If the screw hole is too large, here are a couple of tips to fix that problem.

Fix Leaky Faucets & Drains
A leaky pipe or faucet is often easily remedied with a little plumber’s tape and tightening. However, if you can’t find the leak or the plumbing requires a more extensive fix, you are better off calling a professional plumber.

SUMMARY

Setting aside money each year for unexpected repairs and maintenance is also essential. A common rule of thumb is to earmark 1% to 2% of the value of your home each year for maintenance and repairs. Keep in mind that older homes may require more maintenance. Regardless, keeping your home in good condition will allow you to enjoy your home more on a daily basis and will also be a good return on investment when it comes time to sell.

If you’d like a list of any contractors or service providers in your area who can perform these tasks, I would be happy to make recommendations! Meanwhile, the table below shows a summary of recommended maintenance items and frequency.

Home Maintenance Checklist

	Monthly	Quarterly	Annually	As Needed
STAY SAFE
Check Smoke & Monoxide Detectors	X
Clean Dryer Vent		X
Clean Chimney			X
Check Window & Door Locks			X
PREVENT PROBLEMS
Keep Critters Out		X
Regular Lawn Care		X
Roof Inspection			X
Service HVAC Systems			X
Check Hot Water Heater			X
Fix Leaky Faucets & Drains				X
Tighten Door Screws & Hinges				X
REPLACE AS RECOMMENDED
Change HVAC Filters	X
Check / Change Water Filters		X
Add Water Softener Salt		X
Kitchen Exhaust Fan		X
CLEAN REGULARLY
Clean Drains & Garbage Disposal	X
Deep clean bathrooms	X
Dust furniture & fans	X
Unclog Drains	X
Wash Cupboards, & Doors		X
Descale & Unclog		X
Power Wash Outside Areas		X
Clean Windows & Screens			X
Clear the Gutters			X
Power Wash Siding			X
Clean Refrigerator Coils			X