Homeowner’s Basic Home Maintenance Checklist By Month
Home Maintenance Checklist By Month
You’re reading this article because you’re either a current homeowner or going to be one soon. Either way, congrats! Owning a home is the American dream. There’s such pride and wonder in homeownership. With a home comes great excitement, as well as great responsibility.
For the majority of us, owning a home is life’s largest investment, so naturally, we want to take care of it to the best of our ability. We’ve put together a really great resource for you to do just that - your very own homeowner’s home maintenance checklist by month! It’s a resource to help you get started or to build more confidence in your homeownership journey. There is so much to do throughout the year to care for a home, so we’ve broken down annual tasks by month to make things more manageable and avoid overwhelm. If you’re the type of person who would rather complete tasks by season or quarter, that’s super feasible with our step-by-step guide.
We recommend creating a calendar reminder on your phone every month to complete your checklist. It will help you stay on top of the routine maintenance items all year long. Life gets busy and it’s easy to let things slip through the cracks. Schedule the reminder to reoccur annually so you can set it and forget it.
January
Change the furnace filter - changing your furnace filter regularly is a good rule of thumb to help keep your furnace running efficiently. HVAC professionals recommend changing your filter every 1 - 3 months depending on usage.
Inspect windows - if you live in a cold climate like us, winters can be pretty crazy. Temps can drop as low as -50 with windchill! When it gets that cold, there is no window in the world that will repel frost and condensation. Keep tabs on your windows. If you notice build up of moisture around your windows, you’ll want to remove it. Ignoring this can cause the wood around your windows to rot. If you notice moisture level issues being a problem year after year, you may want to invest in a home humidifier.
Clear furnace exhaust vent - winter can be brutal if living in a snowy region. When it snows pay attention to your exterior exhaust vent to ensure they remain clear. If blocked by heavy snow and/or debris, the furnace will shut off and possibly damage components within the furnace. Not to mention it would be really cold in your home and pipes may freeze!
February
Remove excessive ice from gutters - icicles may be pretty to look at, but they are sure hefty in weight. The heaviness can cause your gutters to droop or even completely fall off your house, so be sure to carefully remove icicles when you see them. Removing them when they are small is safer and more manageable.
Check detectors - the start of the year is a great time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors ensuring they have fresh batteries. When running a fireplace or other heating unit, you are risking starting a fire and trapping carbon monoxide in your home. Be sure these are working properly!
Repair interior walls - repair any interior wall damage with some drywall putty and touchup paint. This will keep your walls looking maintained and prevent further damage.
March
Deep clean - this is a great time of year to deep clean your home since you’re mostly indoors anyway. Clean things you normally don’t think about in a routine cleaning, such as ceiling fans/light fixtures, kitchen appliances, launder window treatments, vacuum underneath furniture, and inside of drawers/cabinets, to name a few.
Check caulk and grout - caulk and grout around your sinks, showers, and tubs is super important for keeping pesky moisture from seeping into cracks and crevices. Moisture intrusion can be very damaging to the interior of your home if left unattended for a long period of time. Be sure to repair these areas, as needed.
Prep lawn care - decide if you are going to hire a lawn care service or DIY your lawn care. Either way, lawn maintenance is extremely important for the quality of life in your home, as well as maintaining resale value when and if you move someday. Get this lined up now because spring is the time to begin yard work.
April
Gutter cleaning - cleaning out your gutters from a long winter is really imperative. If gutters get clogged, there could be major implications for how water is removed from your home and roof. Heavy spring rains could cause major issues. If you don’t feel safe cleaning yourself, be sure to hire a qualified professional who can help.
Deep clean disposal - cleaning your garbage disposal is a great way to help it last its lifespan. Run it for about a minute while dropping in ice cubes. Then do the same with a little bit of baking soda and lemon peels for a fresh clean scent!
Vacuum furnace vents/air returns - keeping your furnace vents/air returns dust free will help the warm air to circulate through your home most efficiently. Plus, you don’t want all of that dust floating around in the air.
May
Be fire smart - now that it’s almost grilling season, this is a good time to ensure that you have emergency equipment in your home, such as a working fire extinguisher and/or fire suppression blanket. Kitchen or grill grease fires happen unexpectedly, so you want to be prepared in the event of a fire so that you can act quickly to protect yourself, loved ones, and your home.
Inspect the roof - You could technically do this in April with the gutters, or you can do it as a separate task. Be sure to give the roof a good once over. Look for defects, such as popped nail heads and damaged shingles from winter wear and tear.
Prep the garden and/or landscaping - if you plan to plant a garden, trees, bushes, etc, now is the time!
June
Sprinkler/Irrigation system maintenance - if your home has a sprinkler system, be sure to get this serviced for optimal functionality. The heat of summers can get nasty and you don’t want your expensive sod, trees, and landscaping to die.
Wash exterior - this is a good time to pressure wash the exterior of your home, including siding, driveway, porch, deck/patio, etc. Giving all exterior elements a good cleaning will help prevent mold and mildew growth, plus it gets looks nice!
A/C maintenance - contact your local HVAC provider to schedule a routine maintenance check of your A/C unit. You don’t want the A/C to go kaput on the hottest day of the summer!
July
Get a full home inspection - we highly recommend that your home be inspected annually. There are so many things that can go undetected for years and years resulting in major problems which means you’re shoveling out big money. It’s always best to be proactive in home maintenance. A quality home inspector can tell you what things you should pay attention to in your home.
Plan out and complete the items the home inspector recommends!
Garage maintenance - declutter the garage and give the floor a good cleaning. A clean garage will help you check for mold growth and pests. If you notice anything out of the ordinary or possibly concerning, contact a specialist right away.
August
Vacuum heat registers and air vents - prep for cooler weather in the fall and winter by cleaning your vents and registers. When the heat kicks on, you don’t want all the summer build-up of dirt, dust, and debris circulating around your home. Yuck!
Yard work - bushes, shrubs, and other landscaping can be wild and out of control towards the end of summer. Trim everything back for a fresh and revived look heading into fall.
Seek community - invite neighbors over for a end of summer grill out so they can help celebrate the hard work you’ve done all season maintaining your home. A big purpose of a home is to share it with others, so we encourage you to seek connection.
September
Check the sump pump - make sure your sump pump is working properly before the fall rain and storms hit. You don’t want to end up with a flooded basement. Check out this video to know if your pump is in good working order.
Yard work - September is a good time to aerate and seed your lawn, if needed. Connect with a lawn care professional for guidance.
Deck maintenance - when the weather is still warm but a bit cooler, it’s the perfect time to re-stain or paint your deck. Make any needed repairs before the first snow flies.
October
Winterize - pack away your lawn mower, garden and equipment, patio furniture, grill, and any other outdoor items you want safely stored away for the winter. Be sure to prep the snow blower, locate shovels, and re-stock all winter gear.
Change the furnace filter - if you haven’t been keeping up with this task all year, now is the time. The furnace will run a lot, so take care of it.
Deep clean carpet - fall is the perfect time to deep clean your carpet as you settle in before winter. Call a professional carpet cleaning company who knows what to do. Ruining your carpets by DIYing this one won’t be pretty on the pocketbook. Cleaning carpet at least once a year is not only sanitary, it is also great for extending the life of your carpet (especially if you have pets!)
November
Replace water filters - most likely you have a water filter in your refrigerator. Most manufacturers recommend replacement every 6 - 12 months depending on use. If you have a whole house water filtration system, replace those filters, too.
Check plumbing - check for plumbing leaks at the pipes, around utilities, near toilets, and under sinks. If you notice any water pooling or dripping, contact a licensed plumber immediately.
Miscellaneous tasks - winter is when you spend most of your time indoors, so it’s a great opportunity to do those pesky indoor tasks that accumulated over the year. Some tasks could include changing burned out lightbulbs, greasing squeaky doors/hinges, repairing a broken lock, paint touch-ups on walls and trim, and more.
December
Relax and enjoy your home - December is a busy time of year with the holidays anyway, so it’s a good excuse to relax and enjoy all of your hard work maintaining your home throughout the year!
Remember, this home maintenance checklist by month is just a starting point. We’ve given you some basic tasks each month to complete to help maintain your home for years to come. We encourage you to do your own research because there is much more to learn about homeownership. It takes time, so don’t stress too much and enjoy the process!
Now What?
We are consistently told that we are the best Des Moines home inspector in town. We’re excited to serve you, so connect with us for your home inspection service by giving us a call or use our online form to schedule.
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