Some sources say you should save 1% to 3% of your initial house price annually to pay for maintenance. If you want to be extra organized—and let’s be … Here are the most important things to do each spring to keep your house running smoothly. Fortunately, most of the issues are relatively inexpensive to handle and many are DIY-friendly. A chimney sweep will remove all the ash and soot and keep your home safe. It’s very affordable and worth the 30 minutes it takes to apply it. Click the image below to download the checklist as a PDF. They protect your roof, walls, and foundation from water damage. Sharp blades cut the grass cleanly, which allows it to recover quickly and makes your mower more efficient. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? It outlines every cleaning task, room-by-room, that you should complete on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Cleaning the hood filter is easy as well, soak it in hot water and soap then give it a good scrub. in: DIY Home Maintenance, Featured, Manly Skills, Jeremy Anderberg Inspect the dryer vent located outside. Water can erode a foundation, rot wood, and erode your home’s structure, and it can also lead to mold. In addition to inspecting, make sure you store your fire extinguishers in places that you can access quickly and are close to areas that are prone to fires such as your kitchen or furnace. Home Maintenance Checklist Printable Excel Spreadsheet. If you cook as much as I do, grease will build up quickly in your range hood and filter. 2. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Each fall, you need to get your sprinkler system winterized. We only recommend products we genuinely like, and purchases made through our links support our mission and the free content we publish here on AoM. Wait for the snow to melt to schedule the pumping. When you choose a home maintenance plan with John Moore, you can trust that you are getting the best service in Houston. If you’re not ready to download and print right now, I’ve outlined each item on the checklist below and included explanations, tips, and helpful resources to get you started. You … Learn more about the purposes of mulch in our recent article: What Is the Purpose of Mulch? Tip your barrels on their side, squirt some soap and give it a good blast with the hose. For windows, seal cracks between the trim and the siding with high-grade polyurethane caulking. On a $200,000 house, that’s $2,000 to $6,000 a year. The good news is that you can do the majority of it on your own without much experience. Inspect the exterior of your home and scrape off and chipping paint, sand it down and apply a new layer. This article gives a good overview of what to look for during the inspection. Unfortunately, it is time to clear out your gutters and downspouts yet again. Put each maintenance task into a planner or app. It’s very affordable and worth the 30 minutes it takes to apply it. The truth is, you should NOT cover your AC unit. Of course, I can’t just skip three months and do nothing. The checklist is available to download as a PDF or an Excel Spreadsheet that you can edit and customize to align it with the exact needs of your home. Most people think that you need to put a cover on your AC unit during the winter. Cold, snow, and rain can do a number to a home, so you don’t want to ignore winter preparation. In both cases, you’ll be racking up a more expensive water bill and not getting optimal results. Now that you got the hose connected and it’s warm and sunny out, it’s time to clean the trash barrels. Replacing a ceiling because a pipe burst is much more expensive than the few hundred dollars you’ll save by turning down the heat. It’s winter and, if you live in the north as we do, it’s freezing, and snow is starting to pile up. . In most cases, you can’t do this your self. Check the insulation in your attic and basement. I didn’t know this existed until a year ago, but you can buy a hot water tank jacket to insulate and prevent heat loss. each year in my downstairs and around the patio, doors, and windows outside. Make sure the rails are secure, and there are no loose bricks. Aeration allows air and water better access to the roots aiding in germination. It’s a long list — there’s no denying that. Creosote will build up inside your chimney over time, restricting the airflow and can become a fire hazard. Follow our home maintenance checklist to keep your property safe from the winter weather. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. The refrigerator coils are what cools the air inside your fridge. It’s essential to inspect your fire extinguishers regularly. If you walk into your bathroom and look up at the vent fan, you’ll likely see a dusty mess. All content on PrudentReviews.com is intended for informational purposes only. Most companies offer a specific set of plans from which you can choose, based on your requirements. (And Why the Difference Matters), 8 Personal Finance Lessons from Benjamin Franklin, Podcast #605: The Money Moves You Should Make Right Now, So You Want My Trade: Automotive Mechanic/Technician, Podcast #475: How to Lose Weight, and Keep It Off Forever, The Complete Library of Rocky Training Exercises. For best results, aerate and overseed at the same time. The annual premiums for a home service contract ranges between $200 – $ 600, for a home under 5,000 sq.ft. Click here to access that document. Inspect the dryer vent located outside. Giving your house a deep cleaning each month will prevent the build-up of nasty grime and filth that is not only disgusting but can lead to other issues like insects and rodents. Learn more about the purposes of mulch in our recent article: Always clean the lint filter before and after each time you use the dryer. Now that you understand the annual home maintenance tasks, let’s talk longer-term. Regular cleaning will make it much more manageable versus doing it once in a while. They don’t call it “Spring Cleaning” for nothing. Plus, I provide a comprehensive list detailing the average lifespan of every home appliance, system, and material. In the northeast, the fall is the best time to aerate and overseed your lawn. The big-ticket items so that you can plan Mop is the purpose of much goes well beyond its attractive.... Bring your mower more efficient responsibilities and are ready to go air water! Of much goes well beyond its attractive appearance the vent when the dryer is on, and biannually room-by-room., your wooden deck and fence take a good humidifier, like this best seller on Amazon, add... 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