Home Maintenance

I've put together a list of suggested maintenance items organized by how often each should be performed.  I'm sure you already do most of these (cough cough....) but it may help to have a list to help remember everything.  

NOTE: I highly recommend hiring qualified professionals to perform most of these tasks.  Don't risk your safety or the safety of others by trying to do work that you're not trained to do.   All AC, furnace, boiler & water heater maintenance should only be performed by a professional.   Maintenance is supposed to be preventative, not a source of new problems!  If you want to do something but haven't done it before, you might want to hire someone to show you how. 

Every use

• Clean dryer lint trap

• Clean front loading washer door gasket

Weekly

• Clean garbage disposal (grind 10 ice cubes)

Monthly

• Clean range burners

• Clean dishwashing tub (see Cleaners page for directions)

• Clean front-loading washing machine pump filter

• Clean range hood grease filter

• Check boiler pressure gauge

• Clean sink drain (see Cleaners page for directions)

Four times per year

• Change furnace filter

• Clean dishwasher filter

• Septic tank boost (flush 1 packet of yeast)

Twice per year

• Test sump pump

• Clean gutters

• Clean roof valleys

• Clean window wells

• Clean heat vents

• Clean condensate pump

• Replace batteries in smoke/CO detectors

• Test smoke/CO detectors

• Clean & reseal floor tile grout

• House water filter replacement

Once per year- Spring

• Clean AC condenser with hose

• Trim vegetation away from house and AC unit

• Check AC condenser fan

• Check insulation on AC condenser line

• Clean oven burner(s)

• Clean/degrease range hood duct

• Clean & reseal wall tile grout

• Inspect roof

• Prevent roof moss  (spray with water, vinegar & salt mixture)

• Trim trees away from power lines

• Well water quality testing

Once per year - Fall

• Clean dryer duct and outside vent

• Professional - Boiler/furnace tune-up

  • Inspect for leaks & rust

  • Test safety & TPR valves

  • Test emergency shutoff

  • Burner/manifold maintenance

• Professional - Water heater tune-up

  • Burner maintenance

  • Test TPR valve

  • Flush sediment (draw 3-5 gallons from bottom of tank)

• Test GFCI outlets (inside & outside)

• Clean & reseal stone countertops

• Clean refrigerator/freezer coil(s)

Every 4th year

• Professional - Replace water heater anode rod

• Professional - Septic tank service (pump out & inspection)