The Average Homeowner’s Checklist of Home Maintenance Items

Your home is most likely one of the biggest investments you’ve ever made. If you’re a new homeowner, you’re probably looking at a long future in your humble abode. This major investment, however, is one that needs its fair share of maintenance. Giving your home the attention it needs will ensure that it will serve you for a lifetime.

With the variety of home maintenance needs that come to mind, there is a suitable time for each to be addressed. While you can carry out certain chores on a seasonal basis, others are best taken care of more regularly.

Winter

Just because it’s winter, it doesn’t mean you can snooze on some important tasks. While the warmer seasons provide suitable conditions for a variety of outdoor fixes and touch-ups, winter brings its own list of maintenance and repair items to check off.

Keep an Eye Out for Leaks

The rainy season often calls for special attention to possible leaks, especially in the lower parts of your house such as the basement. Carry out a thorough inspection and take immediate measures when necessary in order to avoid water damage. One of the ways you can discover leaks is by assessing your usage; if you’re a family of two and your bill registers over 8,000 gallons in one month, then something is off. If you’re just not sure, consider calling a plumber.

Check the Roof and Siding

If you live in colder regions, you might notice a buildup of frost in your house. Grab your ladder and have a look at your roof as well as the siding for any icicles and ice puddles. Use warm water to melt them down before any damage is done.

Check for After-Storm Damage

When it rains cats and dogs, there’s bound to be a few claw marks left behind. After a storm passes, check the exterior for damage to the roof, from trees, and to above-ground components and carry out repairs if needed.

Clean Out Your Basement

As you’re inspecting your basement for leakage, why not take the opportunity to clean it out? Basements are typically used as storage areas and it’s easy to neglect them for extended periods of time. Giving them a proper cleanup at least once a year is essential for a healthy household.

Keep the Snow at Bay

The frosty season will most likely bring a good deal of snow. For the sake of convenience and safety, have a shovel ready to keep the snow out of your way across all outdoor pathways.

Essential Maintenance Tasks for the Winter

Mind the Interior

Use the cold weather as an opportunity to carry out miscellaneous interior fixes. Inspect all the gears that keep day-to-day usage of your home running — from knobs to handles, cabinet hinges, lightbulbs, electrical outlets, and locks. Tighten any loose screws and bolts, and replace anything that doesn’t seem to work right. Moving on to the bathroom, it may also be a good idea to remove any sediments from the showerhead by cleaning it with white vinegar; doing this will open up its pores and restore the water pressure.

Inspect the Caulking

Carefully inspect the caulking around window frames, glass curtains, shower cabinets, and bathtubs. Recaulk any faded parts if necessary to prevent leakage of water or warmth.

Spring

Spring cleaning isn’t the phenomenon it is for no reason; this is the season for house maintenance. The long winter that your house has endured may call for damage control. In addition, you may need to take some measures to get your house ready for the summer. Such measures typically include HVAC inspections, deck treatment, and mold control.

Rescan the Exterior for Damage

Check the roof and siding for any signs of wear and tear from heavy winds and hail. Also, check for chipped paint and other cracks along the way. Touch-ups with paint can solve some of the more minor issues.

Empty the Gutters

After a long winter, your gutters are probably filled with all kinds of debris. Giving it a good washdown will leave it in tip-top shape and help avoid gutter damage.

Inspect your HVAC

Check your home AC for any issues like blockages caused by a buildup of dirt. Making sure your HVAC is in good condition will not only guarantee your comfort but also save you a great deal of money along the way.

Check for Buildup of Mold

Places in your house that are exposed to high levels of humidity tend to be a haven for mold. Clean away any buildups in the shower cabinet, beneath the sink, and elsewhere with a solution of white vinegar and baking soda. Alternatively, you could buy mold removal products.

Check for Asbestos

If you suspect you might have asbestos anywhere in your houses such as roofing, insulation, drywall, or roofing, you will have to take immediate action. However, do not try to take the matter into your own hands as dealing with asbestos strictly warrants a professional. Your home might be prone to asbestos if it was built before 1980, has corrugated roofs, consists of vermiculite insulation or the walls are made of cement sheets.

Wash and Treat Your Deck

As you’re getting your house prepared for the warmer months, you may want to consider revamping your deck. Wash away the dirt and debris and follow it up by staining or sealing the deck boards to give them a good shine.

Freshen Up Your Lawn

Get rid of dead plants and trim dead branches off trees and shrubs. If you have a garden, this is the time to revitalize it with new plant life.

Maintenance Tasks That Keep Your Backyard in Good Shape

Summer

Home maintenance during the summer season involves exterior fixes as well as general precautionary measures. Another major cleanup could also be in the cards.

Run Pest Control

With the heat comes a host of unwanted insects. Block up their entryways, install netting where possible, and spray repellent where you think you would find them most. For the most effective measures, consider bringing in Best Control for some heavy-duty spraying.

Clean Your Garage

Make a summer habit out of cleaning your garage. Just like the basement, the garage is usually neglected from the occasional cleanup. Having a clean and tidy garage will not only make for an ideal shelter for your car but also a formidable workspace for your DIY projects.

Repaint Exterior Woodwork

Now that the weather is fully dry, check any wooden fences, window frames, doors, and even your home’s exterior to see if a fresh coat of paint is needed. You may even come across a couple of repair needs as you go.

Check All Vents

Have a professional inspect all your vents inside and out. You may also want to check dryer and exhaust vents for any blockages or lint, carrying out cleanups where you’d need to.

Cleaning Your Vents is a Crucial Part of Summer Maintenance

Oil Up Hinges

Creaking doors can get somewhat annoying after a while. Apply oil to door hinges, garage doors, as well as garage openers and chains.

Wash Your Rugs 

You’ll most probably be packing your rugs away for the summer, so why not make use of the dry season to lay them out in your backyard and give them a good rinse-off before their send-off?

Autumn

Fall maintenance mainly involves getting your house prepped for the winter. You may also want to finalize some quick repairs and cleanups before the frost kicks in.

Clean Your Chimney

If you have a chimney, it’s most likely filled with a lot of debris over the past couple of seasons. Since you will be spending the cold days ahead huddled in front of the fire, you may want to clean the chimney and have it ready to go. Have a professional inspect the fireplace as well for possible hazards such as a buildup of creosote (a byproduct of gasses emitted during combustion).

Prep Your Heating System

Cover the external unit of your air conditioner with a tarp to protect it from elements such as snow. Taking this measure will also prolong the life of your appliance. If you have other heating systems, getting them inspected will ensure they are in good condition for the winter and can prevent any issues that may arise.

Rake your Backyard

Rake away dead leaves that will inevitably pile up this season. If you have a backyard pool or a pond, scoop up any leaves that have made their way in; decaying leaves can degrade the water quality.

Common Backyard Cleaning Tasks for the Fall Season

Shut Off Sprinkler Systems

As the freezing temperatures approach, you may need to shut off and drain the sprinkler system; doing so will prevent the system from being damaged by the frost.

Examine the Radiator 

Consider calling in a plumber to check if the valves on the radiator are functioning properly. As for the boiler, emptying the tank will get rid of any sediments that have built up inside; just make sure to fill it back up before reactivating it. 

Quarterly 

While you can take on most home maintenance tasks on a seasonal basis, others can't wait for another year. Such tasks are best taken care of every three months. 

Run a Smoke Test

Test out the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to see if they're working as smoothly as they should. When in doubt, replace batteries with fresh ones just to be on the safe side.

Important Inspections to Carry Out on a Regular Basis

Examine Boiler Pressure 

Test your water heater for adequate pressure. The process involves cutting off the electricity supply from the boiler, draining the water, and refilling it while increasing the pressure in small increments. You may want to have a bucket ready in case the valve bursts. To be extra sure, you could call in a plumber to do the testing.

Check Up on Your Garden 

No matter the season, it's always a good idea to keep an eye out for your garden. Plants have a mind of their own, and you never know when you might have to do some quick gardening to keep them alive and thriving.

Test GFCI Outlets

Make sure all ground fault circuit interrupters are perfectly functional by trying them all out. These electrical units are essentially security systems and need to be repaired if necessary.

Do a Quick Run-Down

Go through your house to see if anything needs to be looked at or repaired. It may help to make a checklist of any potential chores that come to mind and don't hesitate to hire maintenance services when an issue calls for it.