Taking care of your house is a lot of work that’s made more manageable with a checklist. Here are five home maintenance tasks you shouldn’t ignore.
Tips on How to Remember Home Maintenance Tasks
Home maintenance is easier when you keep track of chores on a calendar. If you’ve never cleaned some vital areas like your refrigerator coils, dryer vent, underneath furniture and appliances, or your gutters, put those on your calendar first and then mark the days in the future when they’ll need to be cleaned again. Also, add the dates for changing HVAC filters to your schedule.
Change Air Filters
Changing the air filters in your home is a simple yet critical chore that keeps your HVAC unit running smoothly and eliminates allergens and dust from the air. Most filters should be changed every 30-90 days to promote good air quality and flow, but refer to your manual for instructions. Regular HVAC maintenance also increases energy efficiency, which helps to lower your monthly power bill.
Home Maintenance Tasks for Gutters
Check and clean your gutters as needed so they don’t become clogged with debris and damage your roof, siding, and foundation. A thorough cleaning twice yearly in the spring and late fall should be sufficient to prevent issues. However, if your home is in a more heavily wooded area, check your gutters every two to three months and remove any debris so that water runs cleanly through the guttering.
Wipe Off Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fan blades collect dirt and spread allergens into the air throughout your home. Clean them at least once a month to improve air quality. If you have tall ceilings, invest in a long-reach duster so you can safely remove dirt buildup without having to use a ladder.
Dust Refrigerator Coils
Cleaning your refrigerator coils will extend the life of your fridge while reducing your energy bills. These coils are responsible for keeping the inside of your refrigerator cool and are located on the back or bottom of your fridge.
The easiest way to clean the coils is to pull your fridge away from the wall, unplug it, and gently loosen any dust and dirt with a small brush before using a handheld vacuum. You should perform this home maintenance task once every 4-6 months to increase your refrigerator’s efficiency.
Home Maintenance Tasks for Cleaning
Vacuuming underneath your furniture is a quick task that’s often forgotten. Clean under large appliances and furniture at least every other month. If you suffer from allergies or respiratory problems, you may want to increase the frequency to once a month or more to keep dirt to a minimum.
Quality Check Home Inspections provides home inspection services to Eugene and the Oregon Coast. Contact us to schedule our services.