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Home Maintenance Tasks First-Time Homeowners Forget
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items Owning a home comes with a whole list of maintenance tasks no one really tells you about. These are the easy-to-forget things that can help keep your home running smoothly, prevent bigger problems, and save you money later. Consider this your “wait, ...
One of the easiest home maintenance tasks to forget. Check your filter regularly and replace it based on the filter type, your HVAC system, pets, allergies, and how quickly it gets dirty. Many common filters need changing every 1–3 months.
Change Your HVAC Filter
And not just the lint trap! Lint can build up in the dryer duct and exterior vent over time, reducing efficiency and creating a fire hazard. Periodically check and clean the full vent line.
Clean Your Dryer Vent
Press the test button regularly and keep track of when batteries and the detectors themselves need replacing. This is an easy one to put on a recurring calendar reminder.
Test Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Sediment can accumulate inside tank-style water heaters over time. Your manufacturer's maintenance instructions may recommend periodically draining or flushing the tank to help maintain performance.
Flush Your Water Heater
Leaves and debris can prevent water from draining properly and potentially cause damage around your roof, siding, or foundation. Check them especially after leaves fall or major storms.
Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning the gutters isn't enough if the water has nowhere to go. Make sure downspouts aren't clogged and are directing water away from your home's foundation.
Check Your Downspouts
Open those cabinets every once in a while and actually look. Check around pipes, supply lines, and the bottom of the cabinet for moisture, staining, warping, or musty smells.
Check Under Your Sinks for Leaks
Don't wait until water is pouring somewhere it shouldn't be to figure this out. Find your main water shutoff, learn how it operates, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
Yes, your dishwasher may have a filter that needs cleaning. Check your specific model's manual to find out where it is and how often the manufacturer recommends cleaning it.
Clean Your Dishwasher Filter
Detergent residue, moisture, and grime can build up over time. Run the manufacturer's recommended cleaning cycle and don't forget areas like the detergent dispenser and, on front-loaders, the door gasket.
Clean Your Washing Machine
That dusty little vent on the ceiling has a job. Cleaning the cover and checking that the fan is actually exhausting properly helps it remove moisture from your bathroom.
Clean Your Bathroom Exhaust Fans
Look around tubs, showers, sinks, backsplashes, windows, and other sealed areas for cracking, peeling, or gaps. Recaulking when needed can help keep water out of places it shouldn't be.
Check Your Caulk
Keep an eye out for cracks, missing grout, or areas that stay damp, particularly in showers and other wet areas. Small issues are much easier to deal with before water gets where it shouldn't.
Inspect Your Grout
Garage doors have safety features that should be tested periodically. Follow your opener manufacturer's instructions for checking the photo-eye sensors and auto-reverse function.
Check Your Garage Door Auto-Reverse
Take a walk around your house every few months. Look for cracks, deteriorating sealant, gaps around penetrations, damaged siding, signs of pests, or anywhere water might be getting in.
Inspect Your Exterior for Gaps & Cracks