monthly home maintenance checklist to extend the life of your home

As a home owner, it is important to regularly maintain and care for your home in order to keep it in good condition and prevent costly repairs. Here are the top 10 home maintenance tasks that every home owner should prioritize each month:

1. Clean and maintain your gutters and downspouts: This will help prevent water damage to your roof and walls. moving rain water away from the foundation of the home can prevent uneven settling that leads to foundation cracking and structural issues. We recommend installing downspout extensions that divert rain water at least 6ft from the foundation
2. Inspect and repair your roof: Damaged or missing shingles can lead to leaks and further damage to your home. We recommend visually inspection your roof from the ground by walking around your home and looking at the roof coverings, Especially after extreme weather or storms. If any raised or damaged shingles are seen, a roofing contractor should be called to evaluate the roof coverings
3. Check your home’s foundation: The foundation supports the entire structure of your home, so it is important to keep it in good repair. Checking your foundation can be as easy as feeling for sagging, raised areas, or movement while walking around each room of your home. If your home has a crawlspace you can visually inspect it from the access door with a flashlight to look for falling insulation, standing water or movement of piers and foundation walls.
4. Service your HVAC system: Regular maintenance will ensure that your heating and cooling system is operating efficiently and effectively. We recommend changing air filters every 1-3 months depending on the amount of people and pets living in the home. Annual servicing and cleaning from a HVAC company can help reduce unexpected failure and after hours service calls that tend to cost a lot more than the annual service.
5. Test and maintain your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Working detectors are essential for keeping you and your family safe. we recommend testing detectors monthly and replacing batteries as needed or when chirping can be heard. detectors on the ceiling or hard to reach places can usually be pressed from the ground using a broomstick or other long item to reduce the chance from falling off a ladder.
6. Check your plumbing: Leaky pipes and clogged drains can cause water damage and costly repairs. We recommend filling kitchen and bathroom sinks with water and watching the drains below the cabinets while they drain to check for any leaks or slow draining. As a Home Inspector it is common for me to find leaking drains in these areas that the current home owners or tenants were completely unaware of. The quicker a leak is caught, the less water damage will be able to occur to the cabinets or floor below
7. Inspect and maintain your Water Heater: Regular maintenance and timely repairs can extend the life of your water heater and save you money on energy costs. We recommend checking your water heater for any signs of water around the pipe fittings or in the drip pan that could indicate leaks. we also recommend annual servicing of the water heater by draining it to remove mineral buildup in the tank, this will improve water quality and the life of the water heater.
8. Maintain doors and windows: This will help keep them in good condition and improve the energy efficiency of your home. We recommend checking seals and weatherstripping around exterior windows and doors for damage and repairing them to reduce drafts and improve efficiency. We use a thermal imaging camera to view this during inspections but a homeowner can look for sunlight around a closed door, or feel for moving air around doors and windows on a windy day. 
9. Inspect and maintain your outdoor spaces: This includes tasks such as trimming trees and bushes, mowing the lawn, and maintaining any outdoor structures, such as decks and sheds. We recommend keeping vegetation like bushes and trees trimmed at least 1 foot from the siding to prevent damage, moisture and insect access to the siding. repair rotted boards and loose railings on decks to reduce safety hazards.
10. Check your home’s exterior: Look for signs of damage, such as peeling paint or rot, and have them repaired as needed. The exterior siding creates an envelope that helps shed water out and away from the framing and interior of the home. when the siding gets damaged or rotted it can create an access point for water intrusion. simply walking around your home looking for cracked or damaged siding and having it repaired can prevent wood rot and structural damage 

​By following these home maintenance tasks, you can help protect your home and ensure that it is in good working order. It is also a good idea to keep a list of trusted professionals, such as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians, on hand for any needed repairs.