As a homeowner, maintaining your home is an important responsibility. Timely maintenance, repairs and improvements help protect your home, provide your family with greater comfort and even enhance your home's value. Maintaining your home can also help you avoid costly problems later on.
Once you move in, it's a good idea to set aside part of your monthly budget toward savings that could go to your home maintenance needs or expenses. Many home maintenance tasks you can accomplish yourself. However, you may need to consider hiring professional help if you run into any large issues.
The following monthly and seasonal checklists can help you organize the process.
Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist
Clean your furnace filter to remove dust buildup.
Check the water softener and replenish salt if needed.
Clean faucet aerators and showerheads to remove mineral deposits.
Inspect and unclog your tub and sink drains.
Test smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and all ground-fault circuit interrupters.
Inspect all of your electrical cords for any wear and tear.
Vacuum all heat registers and heat vents.
Make sure indoor and outdoor air vents are not blocked.
Flush out hot water from the water heater to remove accumulated sediment.