The house maintenance check list
Living in a house comes with responsibility – just like your car requires regular oil changes, so does your home need regular maintenance to avoid future headaches.
The good news is that you can undertake the majority of these house maintenance tasks on your own without needing much experience.
Below is a check list that can help you along your home maintenance journey.
The good news is that you can undertake the majority of these house maintenance tasks on your own without needing much experience.
Below is a check list that can help you along your home maintenance journey.
1- Inspect and change out (if necessary) your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning filters.
2- Clean your kitchen sink disposal (if you have one). The best way to do this is via vinegar ice cubes. Put some vinegar in an ice tray, allow to freeze, then run them through the disposal to freshen plus sharpen the blades.
3- Clean range hood filters with a degreaser from an auto parts store mixed with hot water.
4- Inspect your fire extinguisher(s). And ensure its easily accessible, isn’t blocked by anything like a garbage bin, and shows no visible signs of wear and tear.
5-Test all smoke / carbon dioxide detectors. This is important to ensure the batteries still work and that no corrosion has taken place on the battery terminal.
6- Run water and flush toilets in unused spaces, especially guest bathrooms that don’t get used very often. This is to prevent grime or any other kind of build-up. If you’re worried about wasting water, collect the water from the taps in a bucket and use to flush the other toilets in your home, or to water the garden.
7-Test your water heater’s pressure relief valve to help it run more efficiently, plus prevent mineral and corrosion build-up.
8- Give your house a PROPER deep clean. Put one Saturday aside every six months and tackle appliances, windows, surfaces that require dusting, etc. This can be a family activity, but is definitely necessary to keep your home in tip-top shape.
9- Vacuum your refrigerator coils. As a fridge uses up to 15% of a home’s total power, you want it running as smoothly as possible. And since those coils get dirty over time, your fridge will require more power.
10- Check all exterior drainage to ensure that rain water will flow away from the house. If any water puddles stay for more than 24 hours, check your gutters to spot a bad sprout or loose connection, or maybe they just require a good cleaning. Or grade the spaces around your home with some dirt. Last but not least, you can have professionals come out to raise the pavement (if necessary) to move the drainage away from your house.
11- Check your house’s facade to see if any paint is chipping. Are there any holes in the siding or brick? And see if there are any foundation cracks that require a good silicone / caulk job.
12- Get those air conditioning systems ready for the South African summer! Make sure they’re clean, test them to see if they work efficiently, get a professional out if they need to be serviced, etc.
13- See which damaged window screens need to be repaired or replaced.
14- Clear dead plants and shrubs from the house. Check that no plants are weaselling their way into cracks and holes on the exterior of your home – pay close attention to decorative vines!
15- Check that your yard’s trees are not interfering with electric lines. Have them professionally trimmed, if necessary.
16- Inspect your roof for damages, leaks etc. And rely on a professional if anything needs fixing.
17- Check the grout in bathrooms and kitchens and repair as needed.
18- Inspect all plumbing and check all faucets and toilets for any small leaks. Poor water pressure out of a faucet could be because of an aerator.
19- Tackle those insect problems, as summer is their favourite season. Keep cobwebs clear, have ant poison ready, make sure all doors and windows are closed properly, etc.
20- Clean and repair your deck / patio as needed – usually, a good washing is all it takes, but sometimes a deck could require re-staining. And inspect all loose boards or posts.
21-Check and clean the dryer vent, plus other exhaust vents. While the dryer is running, the exhaust should smell like fresh laundry. If there’s not much exhaust, it could be due to a blockage. Be sure to also vacuum the lint from the hose at the dryer.
22- Clean your garage. We actually recommend cleaning it more than once a year (depending on how many projects you got going on in there), but an annual thorough cleaning is better than nothing.
23- Turn off and flush outdoor water faucets. Flush your garden hoses and store them indoors (like the garage or garden shed).
24- Get the chimney cleaned.
25- Double-check your pavement / driveway for cracks and have them resealed if necessary. You don’t want freezing water to get in there and expand the cracks.
We hope that this will handy check list will help you with you around the house maintenance.
2- Clean your kitchen sink disposal (if you have one). The best way to do this is via vinegar ice cubes. Put some vinegar in an ice tray, allow to freeze, then run them through the disposal to freshen plus sharpen the blades.
3- Clean range hood filters with a degreaser from an auto parts store mixed with hot water.
4- Inspect your fire extinguisher(s). And ensure its easily accessible, isn’t blocked by anything like a garbage bin, and shows no visible signs of wear and tear.
5-Test all smoke / carbon dioxide detectors. This is important to ensure the batteries still work and that no corrosion has taken place on the battery terminal.
6- Run water and flush toilets in unused spaces, especially guest bathrooms that don’t get used very often. This is to prevent grime or any other kind of build-up. If you’re worried about wasting water, collect the water from the taps in a bucket and use to flush the other toilets in your home, or to water the garden.
7-Test your water heater’s pressure relief valve to help it run more efficiently, plus prevent mineral and corrosion build-up.
8- Give your house a PROPER deep clean. Put one Saturday aside every six months and tackle appliances, windows, surfaces that require dusting, etc. This can be a family activity, but is definitely necessary to keep your home in tip-top shape.
9- Vacuum your refrigerator coils. As a fridge uses up to 15% of a home’s total power, you want it running as smoothly as possible. And since those coils get dirty over time, your fridge will require more power.
10- Check all exterior drainage to ensure that rain water will flow away from the house. If any water puddles stay for more than 24 hours, check your gutters to spot a bad sprout or loose connection, or maybe they just require a good cleaning. Or grade the spaces around your home with some dirt. Last but not least, you can have professionals come out to raise the pavement (if necessary) to move the drainage away from your house.
11- Check your house’s facade to see if any paint is chipping. Are there any holes in the siding or brick? And see if there are any foundation cracks that require a good silicone / caulk job.
12- Get those air conditioning systems ready for the South African summer! Make sure they’re clean, test them to see if they work efficiently, get a professional out if they need to be serviced, etc.
13- See which damaged window screens need to be repaired or replaced.
14- Clear dead plants and shrubs from the house. Check that no plants are weaselling their way into cracks and holes on the exterior of your home – pay close attention to decorative vines!
15- Check that your yard’s trees are not interfering with electric lines. Have them professionally trimmed, if necessary.
16- Inspect your roof for damages, leaks etc. And rely on a professional if anything needs fixing.
17- Check the grout in bathrooms and kitchens and repair as needed.
18- Inspect all plumbing and check all faucets and toilets for any small leaks. Poor water pressure out of a faucet could be because of an aerator.
19- Tackle those insect problems, as summer is their favourite season. Keep cobwebs clear, have ant poison ready, make sure all doors and windows are closed properly, etc.
20- Clean and repair your deck / patio as needed – usually, a good washing is all it takes, but sometimes a deck could require re-staining. And inspect all loose boards or posts.
21-Check and clean the dryer vent, plus other exhaust vents. While the dryer is running, the exhaust should smell like fresh laundry. If there’s not much exhaust, it could be due to a blockage. Be sure to also vacuum the lint from the hose at the dryer.
22- Clean your garage. We actually recommend cleaning it more than once a year (depending on how many projects you got going on in there), but an annual thorough cleaning is better than nothing.
23- Turn off and flush outdoor water faucets. Flush your garden hoses and store them indoors (like the garage or garden shed).
24- Get the chimney cleaned.
25- Double-check your pavement / driveway for cracks and have them resealed if necessary. You don’t want freezing water to get in there and expand the cracks.
We hope that this will handy check list will help you with you around the house maintenance.