Being a homeowner is fantastic, but it comes with its challenges. Regular monthly maintenance is essential for a smooth-running household.
This article will walk you through 15 simple things you can do each month to avoid those “oh no!” moments and keep your home a cozy, safe place for everyone.
Inspect Your Home
Inspect your home every month to catch maintenance issues early and prevent costly repairs. Take a thorough walk through your property, including rarely used spaces like the attic, basement, or under decks, to check for signs of pests, rot, mold, leaks, or other damage.
Check the foundation, walls, and ceilings regularly. Look for any damage or cracks. Inspect your kitchen and bathrooms for damp spots, which could cause mold and water damage.
Do A Deep Clean
You may be cleaning your home daily, but that is not enough. Dedicate one day every month to deep cleaning your home. Focus on areas like under the furniture, behind appliances, and high corners.
Clean the kitchen gadgets and cabinets thoroughly. Organize your cupboards, declutter, and give away the clothes you no longer use.
Inspect Drains For Blockage
Inspect all drains, sinks, and tubs each month to ensure they function correctly. Slow drainage means clogs caused by debris or buildup. For minor blockages, manually remove obstructions with a pipe cleaner or use natural remedies like baking soda followed by hot water.
Checking your drains regularly can prevent severe blocks and expensive plumbing repairs.
Check Monthly Electricity Costs
As a homeowner, you must track the energy consumption of your home. Monthly monitoring allows you to understand which appliances are energy hogs and which ones malfunction.
Use a device like a Kill-A-Watt to measure the energy consumption of appliances. Test a different appliance each month to identify which devices need repair or replacement.
Check HVAC Filters
Inspect HVAC filters every month to ensure they aren’t clogged with dust or debris. Clean or replace them as needed to maintain healthy indoor air quality, reduce energy costs, and extend your HVAC system’s lifespan.
Regular maintenance reduces fire hazards and keeps your heating and cooling systems running year-round.
Inspect Roof For Damage
Regularly inspect your roof to spot missing, cracked, or curling shingles and debris near chimneys or valleys. After a storm, check for damage from fallen branches and address problems promptly to prevent further issues like leakage.
Check Your Garage Door
Inspect all the features of your garage door to ensure they are working well. Lubricate the garage hinges and rollers to ensure they run smoothly and to reduce the annoying noise.
Coat the torsion springs mounted above roller tracks with a lubricant to make them last longer. Test all the features for an automatic garage door every month, including the safety beams.
Clean Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal is usually one of the most neglected part of the house. It can make your whole kitchen stink if it is not cleaned regularly. Luckily, keeping your garbage disposal clean and in perfect working order is easy.
Freeze some vinegar in ice trays and run these ice cubes through the disposal system. Then, flush it out with hot water and baking soda. This will help clean the garbage disposal and keep the blades sharp.
Clean The Water Heater
Over time, sediments can collect in your water heater, which makes it less effective. This forces the heater to work harder, which could lead some parts to wear out faster.
Flushing the tank regularly removes the sediment buildup and helps the water heater run better and last longer.
Check Gutters
Blocked gutters lead to water damage in your home. So, you must check your gutters and downspouts once a month to see if leaves or other debris has blocked them.
Cleaning gutters regularly will keep them damage-free. If there is more damage, contact professionals to help clear the gutters and repair any damage.
Maintain Trees and Shrubs
Maintain the exterior of your home by trimming tree branches and shrubs. If you have a lot of trees on your property, inspect them every month for signs of decay, like cracks in the trunk, exposed roots, or dead branches.
Cut off the damaged branches and treat the tree for any infection to prevent falling branches, which may damage your home. Trim the bushes every month to keep them looking good. Ensure shrubbery near the A/C unit doesn’t block the airflow.
Check Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers
Checking to see if your smoke alarm, CO2 detectors, and fire extinguishers are working should be a part of your monthly maintenance schedule. Press the test button on your CO2 detector and smoke alarm. Replace the batteries or contact a professional if they are still not working.
Check the gauge of your fire extinguisher to see if it has expired. Ensure it is stored in a location that is easily accessible when needed.
Clean And Repair Outdoor Lights
Outdoor light fixtures can gather dirty quickly, which compromises their efficacy. It’s essential to inspect and clean them every month. The heat from these lights attracts mice and other rodents. So, check for any pests and clear them out.
Check Locks
Thoroughly inspect all locks, including door locks, window locks, and all entry or exit points in your home each month.
While it is essential to be vigilant, a monthly thorough inspection will keep you safe. If there are any problems, address them immediately to ensure everything is secure.
Inspect Window and Door Seals
Check the seals of your home’s windows and doors every month to avoid any inefficiency in heating or cooling. Look for cracks, gaps, or damage in the caulking that could let in drafts or moisture.
If you discover any issues, get them repaired immediately to maintain energy efficiency and prevent long-term damage.
