Home Maintenance Checklist

I received samples of some of these products in order to be able to review and test them.  All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.  I have been compensated by Filtrete.

Home maintenance is a tricky thing.  While it’s not fun to spend every waking minute caring for your home, it’s necessary in order to keep things in good working order.  More often than not, a few minutes of preparation and preventative care will ensure you can avoid costly repairs down the road.  Here are a few things you should take care of every few months (at least).

At Least a Few Times a Year:

Replace your air filters.  Clean air is important to your family’s health.  Replacing your air system’s filters is recommended every three months.  I like to order  a bunch at once and have them on hand.  Then, I just put it on my calendar to change the filter, no extra shopping required.  I usually order Filtrete’s Healthy Living 2200  as they take the most particulates out of the air possible (I have two dogs and asthma.)  This is something that can really effect your family’s health, especially during high allergy season and cold and flu season!  This is a very small thing you can do to reduce the dust, pollen, dander and allergens in your home.  It’s critical to good respiratory health, preventing illness and keeping your furnace and HVAC units working as efficiently as possible. If you want to know more about home health, follow Filtrete on Twitter or Facebook.

It’s also important to check and clean your range hood filter.  If you didn’t know this existed or haven’t done it before, get ready.  It’s easiest to clean with a strong degreasing agent in the sink.  Let it soak if necessary.

Inspecting your fire extinguishers is critical.  Most of us don’t think about them before we really need them.  They expire and lose effectiveness over time.  Some need to be replaced, others refilled.  And if you don’t have any at all, it’s time to purchase.

Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors at least every three months.  Some smoke detectors “chirp” when they are low on battery, but don’t rely on that feature.

In Spring

Check the Gutters for clogs, plans, etc.  It’s important that they get cleaned out before summer rains cause draining problems in your basement or cause rot on your home.

Check and replace window screens as necessary.  Screens with holes allow bugs and possibly other vernon into your home.  If you don’t want to replace the whole screen, just buy a patch kit.  They are inexpensive and really easy to apply.

Clean shower heads.  The residue you see not he outside is nothing compared to what’s usually built up inside.  Take the heads off and soak them in water and vinegar.  Sometimes you can leave them attached and use a bowl in the tub.  Either way, do this twice a year or as necessary.

In Fall/Winter

Check the locks on your doors and windows.  You might never know something is broken until you check.  This is something you can do really quickly and it gives you peace of mind.  Take a screw driver with you on your walk around the house.  It’s usually the quickest way to fix loose locks.

Have chimney cleaned.  The key is to get it cleaned BEFORE you want to use your fireplace!

Check gutters for ice damns.  Ice damning may seem harmless but it can lead to ruined roofs, wood rot and water problems.  Make sure you check for ice dams at least once a week in the cold winter months.

There are SO MANY other things you need and should do to maintain your home.  This is just a short checklist to get you thinking and make sure these things are on your radar.  Add them to your family’s calendar if that helps you remember them.  If you use service providers, see if they can put you on an automatic service schedule.

Your Turn-What home maintenance do you do every few months?  What will you tackle now that you’ve read this list?  Comment below and let us know!