The Home Maintenance Checklist Every New Homeowner Should Have on Hand

Your home represents a significant financial investment, and to maintain your property’s value and keep your home safe and comfortable year-round, you must perform annual maintenance. The average cost of annual home maintenance was $1,105 as of 2020, but you may have higher costs if you own an older home.

Investing in routine maintenance now can save you from the cost of emergency repairs tomorrow. Use this checklist to ensure you develop a thorough maintenance routine that will keep all the essential systems and features of your home in great shape for years to come.

Essential Systems Check

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Turn to trusted HVAC technicians and cleaning specialists, such as Direct AC, for annual air conditioner maintenance service. Your air conditioning system should be inspected every spring to ensure it runs smoothly during the hot summer months. The air filter should be changed regularly throughout the year, and the coils and ducts should be cleaned regularly to ensure your air conditioning system isn’t spreading dust and allergens throughout your home.

 for leaks and look for signs of water damage, mold, or damaged floorboards in your home. All of these issues can indicate issues with your plumbing. Plumbing problems can generate expensive repair and clean-up costs. The plumbing experts with Advanced Plumbing Technology offer a free consultation. APT will thoroughly assess your pipes, and their team can produce a comprehensive replacement plan if your pipes are corroding. Lead pipes should also be removed to prevent health issues, such as kidney damage.

Check to ensure your sump pump is draining properly in the spring and fall. This will ensure your sump pump operates effectively during spring rains and when it snows.

Have your furnace inspected each fall. Replace the air filter to ensure the furnace can heat your home effectively. Allergens or pollen can build up in the filter, and if the furnace is blowing air through a dirty filter, it will send the allergens and pollen throughout your home. An annual furnace inspection can also ensure your furnace properly operates all winter.

Yard Maintenance

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Yard maintenance is an essential part of your annual home maintenance plan. Every spring, you should check the lawn and reseed if there are bald spots. Remove any leaves or debris from your yard and plant flowers to improve your home’s curb appeal.

A certified arborist is qualified to inspect your trees to ensure they’re healthy. A tree inspection is an effective way of determining if there are signs of disease. Trees weakened by disease can be blown down in a wind storm or lose limbs, and ones that are close to your home could fall on the house. Trim long branches that are close to your roof or siding to prevent damage to your home.

Safety Check

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Choose an annual date to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector. Smoke detectors are activated when they detect smoke in the air. Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to detect carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless. Carbon monoxide is produced by several household items, such as dryers, gas stoves, water heaters, furnaces, wood stoves, and generators. Ingesting carbon monoxide can be fatal, so this checkup is extremely crucial. Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector are working correctly and replace the batteries once a year.

Also, whether you use your fireplace regularly or not, your chimney still needs to be inspected and maintained. The chimney allows harmful gases to leave your home. If the chimney is blocked or dirty, it can compromise the air quality inside your home. If you use the fireplace regularly, creosote will build up inside the chimney. Creosote is flammable and can cause chimney fires. An annual inspection and regular chimney cleaning will help ensure the safety of your home.

Exterior Features

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Inspect the exterior of your home every spring. Power wash the exterior to remove grime to prevent mold from growing on your siding.

Check the gutters every spring and fall to ensure they’re clear. Gutters remove water from your roof. If the gutters are blocked, the water may penetrate your roof and damage your home’s interior.

Spring is a good time to repaint your home’s exterior and stain the deck. You should also check your deck for loose or damaged boards or loose nails to prevent people from tripping or cutting themselves.

If you own a pool, you will want to ensure the valves and filters are in good condition and have the equipment inspected before using your pool.