The Best Times for Home Maintenance

Caring for a home is similar to caring for your car: without regular oil changes and filter cleanings, your car wouldn’t run properly. A home is the same way; it can’t function efficiently without proper cleaning and maintenance. There’s no denying that with a busy schedule, it’s hard to set aside time to give your home the due maintenance it needs. With the right home maintenance calendar, however, you can easily find time to care for your home’s needs without compromising your current schedule. Here are the best times for different types of home maintenance throughout the year:

Monthly

• Inspect HVAC filters. While you don’t necessarily have to have your HVAC filters replaced every month, it’s important to inspect them to make sure they don’t need immediate changing. If you own multiple pets or have allergies, you may need to change your filters more often than an individual or small family without pets or allergies.
• Clean out the disposal. You put your garbage disposal in your sink through more work than you think. It’s constantly breaking down food and large objects, so it needs monthly care. An easy way to clean out your disposal while sharpening its blades simultaneously is to drop in ice cubes and vinegar. The ice will sharpen the blades and the vinegar will neutralize odors.
• Clean the range hood filters. Range hood filters, located over stove tops, are often neglected when it comes to kitchen maintenance. A degreaser mixed with hot water will do wonders for all the grease and smoke buildup the filter has collected.

Biannually

• Thoroughly clean the house. Two times out of the year, it’s good to give your home a deep cleaning. When we say deep cleaning we mean include the cleaning of things and places around the house you normally wouldn’t clean on a daily or weekly basis. This includes things such as appliances, windows, and even dusting hard to reach areas.
• Vacuum the refrigerator coils. Your refrigerator can use up a surprising amount of energy if its coils are dirty. In fact, it can use up to 15% of the home’s total power. To prevent sky-rocketing energy bills, vacuum the dust that your fridge accumulates at least twice a year.

Annually

• Have your air ducts and filters serviced.Your air ducts and filters need annual servicing and cleaning to ensure your central air system is running the most efficiently.
• Clean out the gutters.The buildup of leaves in your gutters can block rainfall from properly draining to the ground. Left unchecked, the water can pool and eventually cause damage to your roof, leading to leaks.
• Check plumbing for leaks.By catching leaks in your plumbing early, both big and small, you can prevent water damage from occurring in the home.
• Have your dryer vent serviced/cleaned. The lint buildup in your dryer’s hose and vent can limit your dryer’s drying abilities as well as pose a fire hazard if left unchecked.