According to a study conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance, 80% of American homeowners don’t have a plan or budget for home maintenance schedule. The study found that one in three Americans had no money saved, and 48% had less than $1,000 for home maintenance and repairs.
Planning and setting aside a budget can significantly reduce costs and the time it takes to look after your home. Keep reading to find out what should be on your home maintenance schedule and how often you need to do home maintenance tasks.
Monthly House Maintenance Checklist
On top of the regular weekly cleaning, you need to find time to do monthly checks on your home. These monthly checks can help to keep expensive repairs at bay and often can be performed with the help of household tools.
Test all the smoke alarms, overheat protectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. You should also schedule in twice-yearly battery changes, to ensure that they work year-round.
Inspect your toilets and sinks to see if there are any leaks or signs of water that shouldn’t be there. Have a look at your grout and caulking. If you notice any cracks or voids, you need to fill these in immediately to avoid water damage.
Clean or replace your HVAC system filters. Filters last between a month and several months, but you’ll need to clean or replace them at some point. Inspect your kitchen vent hood filter. This might need to be cleaned or changed monthly, depending on how much you use the oven.
Don’t forget to observe the outer part of your home. Outside house maintenance checks should include looking for any problems with the foundation, gutters, drainpipes, vents, or roof.
Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist
Alongside regular monthly checks, it’s also useful to conduct seasonal checks. Some of these home maintenance schedule tasks can be completed once or monthly throughout the season, depending on personal preference and need.
Spring Checks
Spring is a great time to seek out any maintenance repairs actively you need to make. After fall and winter, it’s also the ideal time to clean out your gutters. Gutters often get coated in falling leaves and grime, which can clog them up.
Take a good look at the outside of your home. Check for chipping paint, roof damage, any damage caused by wintery conditions, and holes in your brickwork. Make sure you repair any damage you can see as soon as possible.
Call in a professional to service your air conditioning system. In preparation for the summer months, you must find a reliable AC servicer, such as Service First AC Repair & Plumbing center who offer 24-hour emergency repairs in the San Antonio area. Professional AC repair companies will be able to check and fix any system problems.
Summer Checks
Summer is the season to be outside, which is why it’s the ideal time to get cleaning and repairing your patio or garden. You may also want to clean out your garage, so you can correctly store all your tools and equipment.
Another common summerly chore is to take care of any insect infestations. Ants, spiders, flies, and moths will come in swarms into your home, and it’s better to keep on top of them.
Hot summer days require effective cooling systems, so make sure you check these regularly during summer. Clean your air conditioning filters at least once a month during summer (or more if you’re using it a lot). Another pro tip to keep cool is to reverse the setting of your ceiling fan so that the air pushes down, creating a breeze.
Fall Checks
If you live in an area where it gets particularly cold over winter, now is the best time to check that your heating system is ok. Check for leaks and ensure that your vents aren’t covered or blocked. As part of a fall annual check, you should also have your furnace serviced.
Houses with chimneys should think about cleaning out the soot and grime from their chimneys. This is an annual task which can either be done in fall or spring, whichever you prefer.
After the warm summer months, it’s essential to turn off and flush your outdoor water faucets. During winter, your pipes and hoses can freeze, so it’s essential that you turn them off and store them properly.
Winter Checks
In winter, it’s a good idea to check for drafts. Drafts can increase the energy you use and increase the cost of your heating bills. Fill in any drafts with some caulk.
Another typical winter check is to test your sump pump. Houses with basement sump pumps should be tested in winter, as many basements experience leaks in spring thaws. Turn the sump pump on, and pour some water into the crock to check that it starts.
Check for icicles and ice dams. Icicles and ice dams can be dangerous for the safety of the people you live with and also to your home as they can cause water damage when they melt.
Make Time for Your Home Maintenance Schedule
Creating a home maintenance schedule and completing the chores can seem like a lot of effort. But ensuring you stick to regular house maintenance checks is the best way to ensure you save money and sort out any small problems before they become big. So remember to take the time to look after your home.
If you enjoyed reading this article, check out some of our other articles about practical home tips and improvements.
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