6 Home Maintenance Tasks to Put on Your Yearly Checklist
A damp patch under the sink is easy to miss when it’s hidden behind a bag of dishwasher tablets. The same goes for the loose shingle on the back of the house or the downspout that sends rainwater straight into the flower bed beside the foundation. You can live with these problems for weeks before anything looks wrong from the rooms you use every day.
A yearly walk-through gives you a reason to look in those neglected spots. Some jobs, including roof checks and filter changes, come around more often. Start with these six, and let your home’s condition guide how often you revisit them.
Clean the Gutters and Check the Water Flow
The next time it rains steadily, watch the gutters from a sheltered spot. Water spilling over the edge or dripping through a seam tells you where to look once the weather clears. Follow the water all the way down. A gutter can look clear while the downspout below it is blocked, disconnected, or emptying too close to the foundation.
When everything is dry, look for sagging sections and leaves sticking up above the gutter. A gutter-cleaning tool designed for ground-level use can help with debris you can reach. If the job requires a ladder, hire an insured gutter service and ask them to check the downspouts too. If branches hang over the roof, check again after the trees drop their leaves.
Check the Roof from the Ground
Walk around the whole house, including the side you rarely see from the driveway. Use binoculars to scan an asphalt-shingle roof for missing, curled, or lifted shingles. Take a closer look at the areas around vents and chimneys. Those joints rely on flashing to direct water away from openings, and visible damage is worth showing to a roofer.
Check inside for fresh stains on ceilings and walls, particularly after heavy rain. A photo of the stain and any damage you can see outside gives a roofer a starting point. Put a roof check on your spring and fall calendars. GAF also recommends checking after major weather events.
Service the Heating and Cooling before the Weather Turns
If the upstairs feels stuffy on the first hot afternoon, you’ll be glad you already booked the air conditioner’s spring service. ENERGY STAR recommends having cooling equipment checked in spring and heating equipment checked in fall, before each system takes on its busiest stretch.
Ask what the visit includes. Depending on the equipment, a technician may inspect electrical connections, system controls, coils, and the drain that carries away condensation. That last item matters because a blocked drain can send water into the house. Between appointments, check the filter monthly and clean or replace it according to the equipment instructions. Set a reminder if the filter sits somewhere you rarely go.
Look for Leaks in the Places You Rarely Empty
Pull everything out from under the sink and shine a flashlight along the pipes and into the back corners. Look for droplets at connections, stains on the cabinet floor, or dampness near the base of a toilet. Check accessible appliance connections while you’re at it. A slow drip can collect behind a bottle or box long before it reaches the floor.
To test for a silent toilet leak, add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and wait 10 minutes without flushing. If color reaches the bowl, water is leaking from the tank. Flush afterward to avoid staining. If you suspect a leak elsewhere, compare water meter readings taken two hours apart while nobody uses water. A changed reading suggests a leak.
Inspect the Seals around Windows and Doors
Close the front door and look along the edges. A strip of daylight beneath it can explain why that part of the hallway feels cold. Check whether the weatherstripping has pulled loose or flattened where the door shuts. At each window, look for cracked caulk and see whether the sash closes and latches snugly.
Small, accessible gaps may need fresh caulk around the frame or new weatherstripping where the window or door moves. If a window keeps sticking or the sill gets wet every time it rains, have a professional trace the problem. The water may be getting in above the spot where it collects.
Walk the Exterior and Check the Siding
Take one slow lap around the house, checking corners, trim, and where different materials meet. Watch for cracks, loose panels, peeling finishes, and joints that have opened since your last check. Take photos if you spot a change, and have loose siding or recurring dampness looked at before the next stretch of rough weather.
If the siding needs a wash, check what its manufacturer recommends. James Hardie recommends a low-pressure hose and a nonmetal brush for its siding. Before you put the hose away, take one more look at where the downspouts empty. After the next rain, you’ll know which patch of ground to check for standing water.
