Your Home’s Maintenance Schedule

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  Today help me welcome Christine to the blog.  She has some great information to help us with our Home’s Maintenance Schedule.  Take it away, Christine!

You’re supposed to get a dental checkup every 6 months, have your blood pressure checked every few years, and your cholesterol checked at least every 5 years after age 40. These regular health checks give you the chance to prevent bigger problems down the road.

Have you ever thought about your house in the same way? Over time, various systems and appliances throughout your home can get worn down, and if we wait until something fails us, it will be much more expensive and taxing to repair.

Moreover, this is why investing in a home warranty plan is so important. Of course, no one likes to think too much about the possibility of their appliances and systems needing to be repaired, but a home warranty plan can reduce your repair costs. Consequently, if you would like to learn more about home warranty plans, then whether your property is based in Utah or almost any other state, you can see plenty of helpful resources on the First American Home Warranty website.

Here’s your guide to a home maintenance schedule that will prevent disaster and help your home run smoothly and conveniently for years to come:

Every 6 Months:

• Change filters in your air conditioning system, or clean them as needed
• Walk the exterior of your home with caulking gun, checking for holes around the foundation, windows, and doors
• Clean the overhead kitchen fan over the range
• Inspect fire extinguishers for expiration date and proper pressure
• Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Every Year:

• Have your HVAC system professionally checked
• Professional inspection and cleaning of chimney
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust vent to improve function and prevent fires
• Clean and re-grout tile in kitchen and bathrooms as needed

Every 2-3 Years:

• Have your plumbing checked with an in-line inspection for pipe damage and roots to prevent costly flooding
• Invite a professional pest control technician to your home to check for signs of termites and other pests
• Reseal deck and other outdoor structures (like wooden fences, etc.) to prevent damage
• Check sealing and weatherstripping on doors and windows; replace or add additional insulation in crawl spaces and attic

Long-Term Replacement and Repair:

There are a few things in your home that are expected to operate just fine for more than a few years. However, you need to factor in the costs of upgrading these systems or appliances every 5-10 years. For example, your home’s roofing won’t last forever. If your home is 10-20 years old, there may be many items that need to be refurbished or replaced. This link has a great guide to things that you’ll need to check right off the bat if your home is old.

Other items might not need to be replaced right away, but doing so could greatly increase your energy savings, as outdated appliances can consume over three times as much power as newer models. This link enumerates some of the biggest energy-drains which will give you the best ROI when you replace them.

Below is a list of the lifetime you can expect from some of the biggest investments in your home. Make sure that you factor in replacement and repairs in your maintenance budget. Of course, this is a general guide and each different product will have different maintenance needs and life expectancy.

Roof: 10-15 years

Paint Exterior: 5-10 years

Dishwasher: 9 years

Hot Water Heater: 10 years

Garage Door: 10 years

Refrigerator: 5-10 years

Stove Range: 5-10 years

Proactive Tips

This hodgepodge assortment of maintenance dates and scheduling expectations is so general, it’s difficult to rely on in your own home. After all, you might have granite instead of tile in the kitchen, which has its own maintenance calendar. Or, you might have a lifetime warranty on your home’s siding, depending on the preventive maintenance that you do according to the warranty. That’s why you need to keep documentation for your possessions organized. Have a place in your home designated just for warranties, manuals, and receipts, so that you can build your own personal maintenance schedule around that.

Once you have your manuals and maintenance guides arranged, create your own personalized calendar reminding you about routine checks on your HVAC system, bi-annual cleanings, and service dates. It’s highly recommended that you use a digital calendar or app that will send you reminders of upcoming dates of interest.

Lastly, if you’re a homeowner you need to set up regular habits of maintenance and budgeting to accommodate the natural progression of entropy. Have a list of to-dos that you follow through with every fall and spring in order to keep everything running in tip-top shape.

Thank you, Christine for such great information!

Click the links below for any posts you may have missed:

Tips for Mixing Metal Finishes in Interior Design

Remodeling a Condo

What to Look for in a Plumbing Company

Themed Birthday Party Ideas for All Ages

How Lighting Can Completely Change your Room’s Vibe

Favorites & Highlights – 2017 Top Posts

I’d love for you to join my email list!  You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts!  Simply enter your address below.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world!  Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!

Toodles,