Owning a home comes with a great deal of responsibility.

There is a lot to consider when it comes to the upkeep and health of your home. A routine check of appliances, plumbing,  heating and cooling, as well as exterior and electrical systems may help prevent costly breakdowns or repairs in the future.

The list below may seem a little daunting, but not every item will be relevant to your home so you can pick and choose as needed. Then simply add a reminder to your calendar – most of these tasks won’t take long to complete.

Monthly

• Garbage disposal – take time to flush your system with baking soda and hot water.
• Fire extinguisher – it should be fully charged. If it isn’t, buy a new one (or recharge it, if possible).
• Water softener – check the salt drum and replenish it, if required.
• Drains – take time to clean debris from drain holes and sink or tub stoppers.
• Forced HVAC systems – you should change your filters every month if the user manual suggests using fiberglass filters.

Every 2 Months

• Range hood – if you have a range hood then you need to clean the grease filter.
• Wall furnace – if you have a wall furnace then you need to clean the grills.

Quarterly

• Grates – clean debris out of the grates in your floors and outdoor drains.
• Faucet – clean the aerator.
• Tub drain assembly – clean any debris, and inspect the rubber seals.

Bi-Annually

• Toilet – check for water run-on and leaks.
• Forced HVAC system – if your system uses HEPA filters then these should be changed twice a year.
• Smoke detector – test the batteries and replace them if required.
• Interior caulking – check around your sinks, tubs, and showers and replace any caulking that is deteriorating.
• Range hood – wash the housing and the fan blades.
• Garbage disposal – ensure the drain connections and fasteners are in place and tight.
• Clothes dryer – take time to vacuum lint out of the ducts, as well as the surrounding areas.
• Clothes washer – check the hoses and if they are leaking replace them, and clean water inlet filters.
• Wiring – check any wires and cords for fraying.
• Roof – inspect the surface, soffits, eaves, and flashing of the roof surface.
• Screens – clean all door and window screens, if there is damage or wear, replace or repair.
• Downspouts and gutters – clean out downspouts and gutters. Check weak areas and repair them if there are damages.
• Sills and thresholds – fill any edging or cracks in thresholds, windowsills or doorsills. Repaint if necessary.
• Siding – inspect your siding and clean and repair as required.
• Caulking – inspect all caulking and replace if necessary.
• Outdoor faucets – if you live in an area that freezes, close valves leading to outdoor faucets.
• Chimney – clean the flue, and repair cracks or loose mortar.
• Thermostat – clean contact points, heat sensors, and contacts.

Annually

• Once a year you should have professionals come in to check-up on a few things, including the clean-out drain, the HVAC system, water heater, and septic tank.