Originally published 9/5/2018
For virtually all of us, our home is the most expensive item we will purchase. Naturally, we want to keep our homes in good working order. Here is a list of (mostly) simple tasks to maintain your home, keep things running smoothly, and avoid an expensive service call.
Things you should check every month
Change your air filter.
The HVAC system is usually one of the most expensive things in your home. A dirty filter can stress your inside unit. If you don’t already know what size you need, simply open the filter cover and you should see the dimensions on the side of the current filter.
You can find replacement filters at any hardware store, at many grocery stores, or online. Simply tilt the old filter out and tilt the new one in. Important – on the outside edge of the filter, you should see an arrow indicating the air flow direction. Make sure you install the new filter with this arrow pointing in, away from the room. Otherwise, the filter might collapse.
When shopping for a filter, you will see a wide range of prices. The HVAC companies that we have worked with recommend getting the cheapest filter you can, and replacing it every month.
Test smoke alarms and GFCI outlets.
Most smoke alarms have a button you can press to test operation. If not sure, consult your smoke alarm instructions. A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) is a special outlet that is usually found installed near a sink or water source for increased safety. They are designed to stop the electricity flow right there at the outlet if water splashes on it. In the center of the GFCI outlet, you should see a test button and a reset button.
Using a hair dryer or a small light, press the test button. The dryer or light shouldn’t work. Then, press the reset button. The dryer or light should work normally.
Clean the garbage disposal.
One recommended method is to grind ice cubes in the disposal, and then flush with hot water and baking soda.
Clean the dishwasher.
In addition to normal cleaning, there is a product called Glisten that does a good job of cleaning the internals as well as the inside surface of your dishwasher. Glisten, and similar products, can be found in most grocery stores.
Things you should check quarterly
Flush hot water heater.
Sediment build up can shorten the life of your water heater. At the breaker box, turn off the power to your water heater. Turn off the cold-water supply valve bringing water into the heater.
Connect a garden house to the drain valve at the bottom of your water heater. Open up one or two hot water faucet handles close to the heater. Now, open the drain valve and allow water to flow out of the bottom of the heater until it runs clear.
Close the drain valve and turn on the water supply valve. You may hear a loud blowing or hissing sound coming from the faucets you left open. Once all the air is flushed out of the line, close the hot water handles and turn the power back on. If you are in an area with lots of hard water build up, you may wish to do this monthly.
Inspect fire extinguishers.
If you have a fire extinguisher, check the gauge to make sure it is still charged and ready to go. Consult the instructions to find out how often the extinguisher should be replaced.
Test garage door auto reverse.
Start to lower your garage door. Wave a hand or foot in front of the sensor. The door should stop and raise back up.
Clean your gutters.
Gutters are a great way to keep water from running off your roof and splashing up onto the side of your house, but they don’t work if they’re clogged. Yes, it’s a dirty job. Get up on that ladder and do it. Depending on what stage of life you are in, you could have your slave labor teenager do it.
Clean your dryer and vent.
Most hardware stores have a slender, narrow brush that you can use to remove lint from inside your dryer. Remove the lint trap and use the brush to pull up as much lint as you can from inside. (You are cleaning off the lint trap each time you run your dryer, right?)
Remove the exhaust hose from the rear of the dryer and repeat the process there. Check the exhaust hose itself and make sure it is clean. If not, brush it out also, or replace it.
If the dryer exhaust vent tube in your house is longer than just going through the wall, you should clean that as well. You can find a specially designed brush kit at most hardware stores that you can connect to a handheld drill to clean out the house exhaust tube.
Finally, make sure the external dryer vent cover has its protective grill in place to keep pests out.
Clean kitchen exhaust fan filter
If you have a vent hood over your cook top, remove the metal filters and wash them. If it’s been a while, you may need to get a degreasing product from the hardware or auto parts store to get all the gunk off.
Vacuum the coils on your refrigerator.
Dust builds up on the condenser coils and reduces the efficiency of your refrigerator. Most refrigerators have a small snap on grill on the bottom front that you can pull away to access the coils. Or, you may need to carefully roll your refrigerator away from the wall to access the coils on the back. Either way, carefully vacuum and brush as much dust build up as you can from the coils.
Clean tub and sink drains.
Using a zip-it or similar product, carefully push the end down into the drain as far as you can. Then pull the zip strip out. It should pull out several blobs of congealed soap and hair. Pull off the blobs and put them in the trash or flush them down the toilet. (You may wish to wear gloves when doing this.) Depending on how many people you have in your household, you may wish to do this more often.
Ewwwwww!
Inspect the caulk around your tub and sinks. If there are any gaps or excessive mildew, scrape the existing caulk off with a painter’s tool and re-caulk.
Things to check once or twice a year.
Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. A common recommendation is to do this when the time changes.
Finally, if you have wood burning fireplace, clean the flue in your chimney. Most hardware stores will have a flue brush if you want to do this yourself. Be advised working on a roof is very dangerous! If you have a steep roof, or if you have more than one floor, consider hiring a professional.
Here are some links to some great web articles for further reading:
https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/advice/home-maintenance-checklist/
https://www.lowes.com/cd_Home+Maintenance+Schedule+and+Checklist_1297357358_%20