The Complete Home Maintenance Checklist

A clogged filter reduces efficiency by up to 15% and strains the motor. Standard 1" filters need changing every 1–3 months; thicker 4" media filters last 6–12 months.

Every 3 months · 10 min · $10–$30 · saves ~$150

Prevents mid-season breakdowns. Technician checks refrigerant, coils, and electrical.

Once a year · 2 hrs (pro) · $80–$150 · saves ~$1,200

Replace filter, test thermostat, check vents before first cold snap.

Once a year · 30 min · $10–$30 · saves ~$200

Grass clippings and dirt in the coils force the unit to run hot and long.

Once a year · 1 hr · $0–$150 · saves ~$500

A clogged drain line backs up and floods the pan — a top cause of ceiling stains.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$20 · saves ~$700

Dust buildup restricts airflow and recirculates allergens through the house.

Every 3 months · 30 min · $0–$15 · saves ~$120

Dead batteries and stale schedules quietly waste heating and cooling money.

Twice a year · 15 min · $0–$15 · saves ~$180

Leaky ducts lose 20–30% of conditioned air before it reaches your rooms.

Every 3–5 years · 3 hrs (pro) · $300–$700 · saves ~$900

Replace the pad and check the water line so winter air stays comfortable.

Once a year · 30 min · $10–$40 · saves ~$200

Sediment buildup cuts efficiency and shortens lifespan by years. Once a year is right for most homes; every 6 months if you have hard water.

Once a year · 1 hr · $0–$50 · saves ~$800

This valve is the tank's safety release. A stuck one is a genuine rupture risk.

Once a year · 15 min · $0–$20 · saves ~$1,500

This sacrificial rod rusts so your tank doesn't. Replacing it can double tank life.

Every 3–5 years · 1 hr · $20–$40 · saves ~$700

Lower temps cut standby losses and prevent scalding — without losing hot water.

Once a year · 10 min · $0–$0 · saves ~$130

An insulating blanket and pipe sleeves cut standby heat loss noticeably.

Every 5–10 years · 1 hr · $20–$60 · saves ~$160

In a burst-pipe emergency, knowing this valve works saves thousands in minutes.

Once a year · 15 min · $0–$50 · saves ~$2,000

Slow drips rot cabinets and feed mold long before you see a puddle.

Every 3 months · 20 min · $0–$40 · saves ~$1,200

A leaking flapper can waste 200 gallons a day with no sound at all.

Twice a year · 15 min · $0–$25 · saves ~$300

Pressure over 80 psi stresses every pipe, valve, and appliance in the house.

Once a year · 20 min · $10–$30 · saves ~$1,000

Cracked caulk lets water reach the subfloor — the start of expensive rot.

Once a year · 1-2 hrs · $10–$30 · saves ~$1,500

Water left in a hose bib freezes and splits the pipe inside your wall.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$20 · saves ~$1,500

Sleeve any pipes in crawlspaces, garages, or exterior walls before a hard freeze.

Once a year · 1-2 hrs · $15–$60 · saves ~$2,000

Pour a bucket of water in the pit — the pump must kick on and clear it.

Every 3 months · 15 min · $0–$15 · saves ~$3,000

Silt and gravel jam the float switch, so the pump never senses rising water.

Once a year · 1 hr · $0–$25 · saves ~$2,500

Storms cause the flooding and the power cut at the same time — backup is the whole point.

Twice a year · 30 min · $0–$150 · saves ~$4,000

If the outlet is frozen, crushed, or buried, the pump just recycles water into the pit.

Twice a year · 30 min · $0–$40 · saves ~$1,500

Run out of salt and hard water returns, scaling your heater and fixtures.

Every month · 15 min · $8–$25 · saves ~$200

Salt bridges and sludge stop regeneration even when the tank looks full.

Once a year · 1-2 hrs · $0–$30 · saves ~$400

Confirm the unit is actually softening and isn't wasting salt on the wrong setting.

Twice a year · 20 min · $10–$25 · saves ~$300

Resin beads wear out over years — a tech can rebuild the valve and restore capacity.

Every 3–5 years · 2 hrs (pro) · $150–$350 · saves ~$900

Blocked gutters cause foundation damage, roof rot, and ice dams.

Twice a year · 2-3 hrs · $0–$200 · saves ~$2,000

Look for missing shingles, flashing gaps, and moss growth after winter.

Twice a year · 1 hr · $0–$300 · saves ~$5,000

Spring blossoms, seeds, and grit clog downspouts just as heavy rain arrives.

Twice a year · 2-3 hrs · $0–$200 · saves ~$1,800

Water stains, daylight, or droppings in the attic are your earliest roof warning.

Twice a year · 30 min · $0–$150 · saves ~$2,500

Ice ridges at the eaves push meltwater backward under the shingles.

Every month · 20 min · $0–$150 · saves ~$2,500

Deep wet snow can overload a roof — use a roof rake from the ground, never a ladder.

Every month · 1 hr · $0–$300 · saves ~$4,000

A superheated attic bakes shingles from beneath and drives up cooling costs.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$200 · saves ~$800

Downspouts must carry water well away from the foundation, not pool beside it.

Once a year · 45 min · $0–$30 · saves ~$800

Clogged dryer vents are the #1 cause of home appliance fires.

Once a year · 1 hr · $0–$100 · saves ~$500

Lint slips past the screen into the cavity below, where it bakes against the heater.

Every 3 months · 15 min · $0–$15 · saves ~$150

Dusty coils make the compressor work harder — shortens fridge life.

Twice a year · 30 min · $0–$0 · saves ~$400

An exhausted filter restricts flow and strains the ice maker and water valve.

Twice a year · 15 min · $30–$60 · saves ~$150

If a dollar bill slides out of the closed door easily, cold air is escaping all day.

Once a year · 20 min · $0–$10 · saves ~$250

A blocked drain sends water into the crisper drawers or onto your floor.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$15 · saves ~$250

A gunked filter is the #1 reason dishes come out gritty and the pump wears early.

Every 3 months · 20 min · $0–$10 · saves ~$250

Hard-water scale coats the heating element and steadily kills performance.

Every 3 months · 30 min · $5–$15 · saves ~$150

A failed supply line under the counter can flood a kitchen before anyone notices.

Once a year · 20 min · $0–$30 · saves ~$1,200

Burst washer hoses are among the most common and costly home water claims.

Once a year · 20 min · $0–$40 · saves ~$2,500

Grease-saturated filters stop venting and become a fire hazard over the stove.

Every 3 months · 20 min · $0–$20 · saves ~$150

Test monthly, replace batteries annually, replace units every 10 years.

Every month · 15 min · $5–$20 · saves ~$0

Creosote buildup is the direct cause of most chimney fires. Do this before burning season.

Once a year · 2 hrs (pro) · $150–$350 · saves ~$5,000

Confirm the gauge reads green, the pin and seal are intact, and the unit hasn't expired or lost charge.

Every month · 10 min · $0–$45 · saves ~$0

Place an object in the path — the door must reverse. Then lubricate rollers and hinges.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$30 · saves ~$500

Water left in lines freezes and cracks pipes — $500+ repair.

Once a year · 1 hr (pro) · $75–$150 · saves ~$600

Pressurize slowly, check for winter breaks, and test the backflow preventer.

Once a year · 1 hr (pro) · $75–$150 · saves ~$500

Broken or misaimed heads water the driveway and leave dry patches on the lawn.

Twice a year · 45 min · $0–$40 · saves ~$300

Run each zone and watch for geysers, soggy spots, and heads that never shut off.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$25 · saves ~$250

Off-balance water corrodes equipment, eats liners, and stains surfaces fast. Test 2–3 times a week in swim season, and always after heavy rain or heavy use.

Every week · 20 min · $20–$50 · saves ~$600

A loaded filter starves the pump, which then runs hot and fails early.

Every month · 45 min · $0–$30 · saves ~$400

Remove the cover, reconnect equipment, and shock the water before first swim.

Once a year · 3 hrs · $150–$400 · saves ~$500

Lines must be blown out and plugged — a frozen pool line is a major repair.

Once a year · 3 hrs (pro) · $200–$450 · saves ~$2,000

Check the pump basket, seals, and heater for scale before the busy season.

Once a year · 1 hr (pro) · $100–$250 · saves ~$1,500

Even treated tub water saturates with solids — fresh water protects the heater and jets.

Every 3 months · 2 hrs · $0–$50 · saves ~$400

Failed caulk lets moisture in and air out — raises heating bills noticeably.

Once a year · 2-3 hrs · $15–$50 · saves ~$300

Catch new or widening cracks early, while they're still a sealant job.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$200 · saves ~$5,000

Overhanging limbs scrape shingles, drop debris in gutters, and invite pests inside.

Once a year · 2 hrs · $0–$400 · saves ~$1,800

Removing mildew and algae protects siding and keeps walkways from turning slick.

Once a year · 3 hrs · $0–$250 · saves ~$600

Check for soft boards and loose railings, then seal against sun and rain.

Once a year · 4-6 hrs · $50–$200 · saves ~$1,500

Water in a crack freezes, expands, and turns a hairline into a pothole.

Every 3–5 years · 3 hrs · $30–$150 · saves ~$1,200

If you can see daylight around a closed door, you're heating the outdoors.

Once a year · 1-2 hrs · $15–$50 · saves ~$250

Outlets, rim joists, and attic hatches leak more air than most windows do.

Once a year · 2 hrs · $10–$40 · saves ~$350

Insulation settles over time. Topping up is one of the best energy paybacks there is.

Once a year · 1 hr · $0–$400 · saves ~$700

A generator that sits unused is the one that won't start when the power goes out.

Every month · 20 min · $0–$15 · saves ~$800

Old oil gels in the cold and is the most common cause of a no-start in an outage.

Once a year · 1 hr · $30–$80 · saves ~$1,200

Tech checks the transfer switch, valves, and load test — before storm season.

Once a year · 2 hrs (pro) · $200–$400 · saves ~$2,500

Untreated gasoline goes stale in months and varnishes the carburetor.

Twice a year · 20 min · $20–$60 · saves ~$500

Standby batteries quietly die in about 3 years — test before you need them.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$120 · saves ~$600

Check for warm breakers, tripping patterns, or signs of corrosion annually.

Once a year · 1 hr (pro) · $150–$300 · saves ~$3,000

Press test/reset on kitchen, bath, garage, and outdoor outlets — these save lives. Also retest after any power outage.

Every month · 15 min · $0–$25 · saves ~$400

Summer direction pushes air down, creating a wind-chill effect that eases the AC.

Twice a year · 10 min · $0–$0 · saves ~$120

Winter direction pulls warm air off the ceiling and circulates it back down.

Twice a year · 10 min · $0–$0 · saves ~$150

A dust-choked fan can't pull moisture out, which is how bathroom mold starts.

Once a year · 30 min · $0–$15 · saves ~$400