What annual home maintenance should you do?

Good habits for regular home maintenance

• Clean the interior and exterior of your wall-mounted air conditioner or heat pump before the warm weather arrives.
• Deep clean the windows and screens.
• Schedule a chimney sweep
• Deep clean the garage and shed.
• Plan a heat pump inspection and service if the unit is over five years old.
• Clean and maintain the air exchanger
• Check that the washer and dryer hoses are securely connected.

Annual outdoor maintenance for your property

• Look for damage on the roof, drip edges (or coping caps), eaves, fascia, and soffits.
• Clear debris from gutters and downspouts, then make sure water drains properly and far enough away from the foundation.
• Search for gaps or cracks in interior and exterior caulking around windows, then seal joints as needed.
• Spot signs of wear or damage on the exterior siding.
• Check for loose, broken, or weathered parts on the fence.
• Scan the foundation for cracks, white powdery deposits, leaks, or moisture, and make repairs as necessary.
• Clear out leaves, branches, and debris from window wells.
• Measure scum and sludge levels in the septic tank to determine if it needs pumping (generally needed every two years).

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Home maintenance tasks to do twice a year

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if necessary.
• Clean the backwater valve and verify its operation and seal.
• Wash the outdoor coil on the heat pump or air conditioner.

Tasks to do every 3 months

• Scrub and deep-clean all major household appliances: the oven, refrigerator, washer, dryer, and microwave.
• Dust, clean, or replace the filters for the following appliances, as needed:
  • Range hood
  • Bathroom exhaust fan
  • Heat pump
  • Air conditioner
  • Air exchanger
  • Furnace
  • Central vacuum
  • Other appliances with filters

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Good habits for regular home maintenance

• Go through your belongings and decide what to donate, sell, or keep.
• Move all the furniture and rugs to sweep or vacuum underneath.
• Wash:
  • The floors with soapy water and vinegar.
  • Dryer vent and surrounding area
  • Washing machine drain
  • The carpets using a carpet shampooer
  • Walls and baseboards
  • The inside and outside of the windows
  • Curtains and blinds
  • Light fixtures
  • Light switches, door handles, furniture and cabinet pulls, and radiators

👉🏻 For a more detailed list, please refer to our article Spring cleaning: to-do list

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