Important Tips for Maintaining Your Home

A home maintenance schedule is a great way to have peace of mind that your house will be in good shape. It can also help you save money by catching small problems before they escalate into something more costly. Having an organized plan for when and how often different tasks need to happen gives everyone in the family or household responsibility, which makes it much easier to stay on top of things.

If you are looking for a good schedule, it’s typically recommended that every six months or so you clean out your gutters, inspect and replace gutter screens if needed; sweep chimneys (if applicable); wash down siding with water hose to remove dirt and grime; power-wash house exterior; power-wash garage floor and walls (if applicable); clean gutters.

Every year or so, you should: get chimney cleaned by a professional; replace smoke detectors for any that are older than their expiration date; check attic insulation to ensure it is at the recommended levels of R-value per inch if not already; inspect and replace flashing if needed; power-wash driveway or patio (if applicable) with water hose.

Every one to at least every three years, you should: have a professional come out to do an inspection for termites and other pests that might be hiding in the soil around your home’s foundation; get annual inspections of all appliances including heating systems, air conditioners, dishwasher, refrigerator and stove; have a professional come out to give your roof an inspection.

Every three years or so you should: remove screens from windows for at least one day in the springtime to allow fresh outdoor weather into the house (unless there are pet birds inside); inspect basement flooring for any cracks or holes; replace or repair any damaged items in the house such as worn-out linens, doorknobs and hinges.

Every three to five years or so you should: have a professional come out for an inspection of your home’s plumbing system including drainage lines, sump pump etc.; inspect basement walls and flooring for any cracks or holes; have a professional come out to give your roof an inspection.

Every five years, you should: replace all of the smoke detectors in your home with new ones that are up-to-date and compliant with today’s fire codes; replace old wiring if it is more than 30 years old (unless inspected by an electrician); have a professional come out to give your home’s plumbing system including drainage lines, sump pump etc.

Every six years or so you should: inspect basement walls for any cracks or holes; have a professional come out to give your roof an inspection and seal any roof penetrations.

Every ten years or so you should: replace all of the smoke detectors in your home with new ones that are up-to-date and compliant with today’s fire codes; have a professional come out to give your plumbing system including drainage lines, sump pump etc.

It’s not always easy to stay on top of home maintenance, but if you have a plan and accountability it can be much easier. The best thing is that by doing these tasks yourself or with the help of family members, friends or professionals, you will know for sure they are done right without any surprises down the line when something could have been easily prevented.

A home is one of the most valuable assets a person owns and needs to be cared for properly in order not to y escalate into something more costly. Having an organized plan for when and how often different tasks need to happen gives everyone in the family or household responsibility, which makes it much easier to stay on top. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Trident Inspection Group.