If you recently bought a home, you should be aware of the responsibilities that accompany it. Proper maintenance is essential when it comes to keeping your home free of issues. Here is a list of things you should be checking on to keep your home in working order.
Every Month
Every month you should be doing these home maintenance routines to keep your abode in tip-top shape:
Heating and Air Conditioning System
Take note of your HVAC system, as it is one of the most essential parts of the house. You need to check the filters, oil supply, and cleanliness of your HVAC system. If you don’t want to tinker with your system for fears of complicating the issue, you can hire professional cleaners to do the job. Make sure you choose someone knowledgeable of your boiler type.
Plumbing
You should check your plumbing at least once a month to be sure that you don’t have leaks that cause significant water damage later on. Go over your kitchen and bathroom plumbing and thoroughly check them. If there are leaking faucets, replace them. If you think that your pipes are clogged, you can call a professional plumber to address it. Find out the cause of the clogging, so you would know what to avoid during your regular use.
Kitchen Maintenance
Your kitchen sink disposal needs deep cleaning because it is something you use every day. You should also check your range hood filters, especially if you always cook greasy food items. Leaving them dirty with food debris can only attract rodents and pests to your home.
Quarterly
For quarterly home maintenance, include these items in your to-do list:
Electricals
One of the essential features of your house would be smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Check the batteries if you need to replace it immediately. Keep in mind that most fire incidents happen due to malfunctioning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Garage doors also need quarterly maintenance. Check all of its functions, see if it has enough lubricants, and examine if there are loose accessories to see if replacements are required. You should also check if your light switches do not have loose wires that may start a fire.
Fireplace and Chimney
Before the winter season comes, getting your fireplace and chimney ready helps ensure that you and your family will get sufficient heating. It will also be best to have it cleaned once winter is over so you can prevent soot build-up that can also become a source of the fire.
Unused Spaces
If you have areas in your home that you rarely use, it would also be wise to check them. Run water and flush the toilet to prevent grime build-up. Air the room to remove any foul smell from the rooms. Cover them with a blanket, so they don’t accumulate dust.
Biannually
Make it a part of your routine to do these types of home maintenance at least twice a year:
Home Exterior Improvements
According to Thiessen Law Firm, homeowners should also do regular checks of their exterior space to ensure that their property does not pose a personal injury risk to passersby. Trim trees as necessary to make sure that it won’t cause an accident on your neighbor’s house. You should also check if your curb is clean so that it doesn’t become an eyesore.
Deep Cleaning
Deep clean your home at least once every six months. This ensures that all nooks and crannies of your home will not have any mold or dust build-up, particularly in high-traffic areas, such as the kitchen, dining, and bathrooms. Deep cleaning involves having your carpet cleaned, your appliances thoroughly washed, and your basement cleaned. Keeping a clean house can ensure that it remains in great shape over the years.
Annually
These major home maintenance activities must be done at least once a year:
Roof and Gutters
Check your roofing and gutters at least once a year. Check to see if there are drain clogs that you need to fix. Ideally, you should do this during spring so that you can remove most of the debris brought by fall and prepare your roof and gutters before the winter season.
Locks and Security
Go around your house and check if all the locks and deadbolts for your doors and windows are still working. If you have a home security system, you can also check if they need to be updated.
Keep this checklist handy, so you would know what maintenance checks you should do for your home.
