As a homeowner, there’s a lot to keep track of with respect to periodic maintenance. Safeguarding against risks and assessing trouble spots can help save time and money in the long term, and it may give you peace of mind about helping to keep your family safe.
Your home isn’t just a building. It most likely contains all the systems that help your family with your day-to-day life, from the water heater to the ventilation system to the smoke detectors. By keeping these systems in good working order, you may help avoid or minimize any disruptions to your family’s life.
A newly constructed home outfitted with a new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, hot water heater and carbon monoxide alarm typically won’t need much maintenance in the first year. However, this is the time to read the owner’s manual for these systems and appliances, taking note of when they may need inspection, cleaning or maintenance. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, contact the manufacturer to request one, or sometimes you can find the manual posted on the manufacturer’s website.
No matter the age of your home, you’ll likely need to do the following tasks:
- Change your HVAC filter.
- Drain your water heater once a year.
- Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors every six months.
- Inspect the fire extinguishers.
After that first year, there are other maintenance tasks to keep in mind, from roof inspections to the underground sprinkler systems.
Some home maintenance tasks are tied to the seasons. For example, you may want to consider cleaning your gutters before winter sets in or to inspect your air-conditioning system before the heat of the summer.
It’s a good idea to know the manufacturers’ suggestions for these various tasks and to hire a professional to do so regularly.
Not sure where to begin on your home maintenance plan? These articles have some helpful tips:
- Check Your Fire Extinguisher
- Clean Your Gutters
- Test Your Smoke Alarms
- Clean Your Washing Machine
- Maintain Your Generator
- Test Your Home for Radon
- Change Your Home Air Filter
- HVAC Tune-Up
- Inspect Your Roof
- Maintain Your Underground Sprinkler System
- Change Your Pool Pump Filter
- Inspect Your Sump Pump
- Test Your Carbon Monoxide Alarm
- Trim Your Trees
- Maintain Your Water Heater