Routine Maintenance of Home

[jnw]

Routine Maintenance of Home

Monthly
• Change HVAC filter
• Check smoke alarm and carbon monoxide sensors
• Clean dishwashing machine filter
• Run some vinegar through empty load on dishwashing machine

Quarterly
• Check all faucets to make sure there are no drips, this includes outdoor faucets.
• Vacuum all HVAC vents to avoid dust build up which mold likes
• Clean out impeller in dishwashing machine.
• Clean out washing machine filter if it has one  (thanks GilesMM)

Semi-Annually
• Check that dryer vent line is clear

Yearly
• Clean out fins on air conditioner condenser unit outside.
• Drain sediment from water heater
• Inspect home trim for any rot
• Free pest control checkup visit -- to check for termites etc.
• Check for toilet leaks and fix immediately (thanks Zamboni)
• Clean rain gutters (thanks GilesMM)
• Remove dust from fridge coils with vacuum cleaner & attachment  (thanks GilesMM)
• Service Furnace -- set details in reply below  (thanks GilesMM)
• Trim trees & bushes if needed (thanks GilesMM)
• Inspect "invisible" plumbing for leaks if possible -- e.g. under the house etc. (thanks Zamboni)
• Sump pump / septic (thanks GilesMM)
• Fireplace / Chimney maintenance  (thanks Zamboni)
• Pool/Jacuzzi maintenance  (thanks GilesMM)

Anything else I missed? I just wrote in what came to mind. I'll update this post with suggestions from any replies to this thread.  Figured I'd ask so I make sure to check everything on regular basis, to save money :)

[Zamboni]

Check toilets for leaks annually. If you hear any sign of a toilet "running" when not in use, fix it.

If you have a wood burning fireplace, cresote log every 60 or so fires. And hire a chimney sweep periodically to check things! (In case you can't tell, I'm dealing with this now on a new home where they didn't do any of that, unfortunately, and the fireplace has become unusable.)

Also, if you have a way to get under the home, I think it's good to have that "invisible" plumbing checked overall for small leaks periodically (annually?) Multiple friends have had major damage from a teeny leak that turned into a tiny leak that eventually rotted out the subfloor and became a massively expensive problem.

[GilesMM]

It depends on the house and systems in use.  You could include all sorts of things. I use a monthly spreadsheet to keep track of it all.


- yard, trees, gutters, fertilizing, weed control
- roof, gutters, drainage
- patio, deck, driveway, sidewalk cleaning or power washing
- sump pump, septic, water well, pool, sauna, jacuzzi
- fireplace(s), chimney(s)
- refrigerator coils, clothes washer filter, furnace service
- winterization
- spring cleaning - move all furniture, empty all cabinets, windows


The list goes on and on...

[jnw]

- refrigerator coils, clothes washer filter, furnace service

Regarding furnace service?  What should be done regularly?  We just got a new HVAC system and already plan to regularly clean condenser.   I want to know if there is anything we should do for the furnace.  My BF is handy and can do most repairs/maintenance.   Just not sure what could be done for it.

I didn't know clothes washers had filters. I think our top loading old Whirpool doesn't have a filter?

What can I do for my fridge coils? How often should I clean?  Never done that.. they are like 9 1/2 years old now.

[GilesMM]

Periodic (recommended annually) furnace service includes vacuuming out the insides, checking the wiring and voltage, check and clean the burner and igniter, clear the condensate line, lubricate the blower motor if needed, etc.  You can skip it and wait for a problem but your furnace will live longer if it is serviced.


Newer washers have a filter on the front near the floor.


Your fridge efficiency will be much greater if you use a brush attachment to vacuum the dust off the coils once per year.  If they are in the back you need to roll it out.

[CatamaranSailor]

When you drain and flush the hot water heater, check the anode. Replace as needed. The time frame will depend on the water in your area.

(The anode dissolves rather than the tank. If it isn't replaced the tank itself begin to corrode, leading to leaks and replacement). Again..this depends on how hard your water is.

Once a year, walk your roof and look for any damaged shingles or flashing.

Recaulk around doors and windows (as needed)

If you have a security system, a lot of them have battery backups.

You'll never lack for things to check. :)

[Sibley]

Once a year, walk your roof and look for any damaged shingles or flashing.

Walking your roof should NOT be attempted if you are not able to safely do so. If your roof is very high, very steep, or you are not physically safe for any reason, stay off your roof. Look at it from the ground as best you can.

Source: someone with a very high, very steep roof who is not safe on ladders after about 4 ft up. Its not ideal, but I'd rather the roof leak then break my neck.

[Metalcat]

Ahhh, the luxury of living in a condo.

Other than cleaning the mini-split filter once a month, there's virtually nothing to maintain here. No washing machine, no dish washer, no HVAC. There's just nothing in this concrete box that needs monitoring, other than making sure the toilet is running properly as others have mentioned, but that's just a day-to-day paying attention kind of thing.

[nouseforausername]

When you drain and flush the hot water heater, check the anode. Replace as needed. The time frame will depend on the water in your area.

Thanks for that. This is one of those things that is always overlooked, but you spend $40 on a decent anode rod, and it saves $1100(?) on a new tank.

Side note -- I had a friend's realtor be in up in arms over not being able to find a hot water tank in a house, and wanting a sales K to provide for one being installed.

House had a boiler. ;)

[jnw]

Thanks for the note about the anode rod. I didnt' know anything about this previously.  Been watching some youtube videos how to replace it.  Cheap part at $40.

I got a brand new water heater installed in 2013.  I wonder how bad the anode rode is now.

[Shuchong]

I'm on well and septic. 

As others have said, septic should be pumped periodically (some people do annually, every two years seems enough for me since my house has only one person in it for most of the year). 

Due to the well, I have a whole-house rope filter.  That should be changed every 4-6 months.  If it isn't changed then a) water pressure in the house slowly lessens and b) iron and other fun minerals start discoloring the water in my taps. 

[jnw]

We cleaned our fridge & chest freezer coils.  Wow they were loaded with dust after 10 years of use!  We'll make sure to clean out every year from now on.   Maybe we'll see a lower electric bill next month!  Still need to tackle the anode rod in the 10 year old water heater.

[jeromedawg]

May want to add to check the garage door condition and checking to make sure the emergency latch/manual open are functioning on it. After moving in, we learned that one of the torsion springs was busted - the home inspector failed to find this. I had engaged the emergency latch and could not lift the garage door for the life of me. Looked up and realize the spring was busted :( - good to do a visual inspection of the garage door, springs, hinges, etc either way but also to test the emergency release too to make sure it's all good. If not, and if the spring busts while you're on vacation, and you don't realize it when you get back and there's an emergency/fire later, you don't want the garage door to be stuck shut.

[Trying2bFrugal]

Dryer vent cleaning can be every time and monthly using attachment.
Neighbor checked their roof every year or after storm/heavy rain9 its old house)
yearly once, Check for any spaces around house and seal - for mice, critters entry.