Seasonal Home Maintenance Guide

There’s nothing like the thrill of moving into a new home. You get to set up each room exactly how you want it and make the space your own. Once you’ve set up your home, it may be time to consider how you will keep it in top shape.

For new homeowners, especially first-time homebuyers, there’s can be an adjustment period when you figure out what sort of maintenance your home needs. It could take some time to figure out how those needs change during the heat of the summer, the cold of the winter and everything in between.

For any bigger home projects, homeowners have options to fund any repairs, remodels or improvements. One option is a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which offers homeowners a borrowing opportunity based on the value of their homes and amount they own.

Fund any of your home projects when starting a HELOC application.

Home maintenance is home health

As a homeowner, whether this is your first property or you’ve owned before, you will always want to keep home maintenance in mind. The responsibility of ownership is vast and never-ending, and you need to keep an eye on maintenance to ensure a smooth, secure, efficient home for you and your family.

Maintaining your home health could help you identify and prevent any major problems that could end up costing you significantly.

Whether you’ve just purchased your home or have been settled for several years, we’ll walk you through some items to inspect for possible damage or performance loss both inside and outside your home.

It’s easy to get started

Even when it’s wintertime and conducting repairs in the seasonal chill is less than ideal, there’s plenty you can do from the inside of your home to address a range of potential issues.

This list is in no way exhaustive, but it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of your home and establishing a set of ongoing best practices when it comes to maintenance.

You don’t have to be handy to keep your home in shape. A simple toolbox, some patience and a willingness to put in a little time can go a long way toward maintaining your home.

Home maintenance: schedule

There are some things you should do throughout the year to properly maintain your home, and there are other things that can be relegated to a seasonal schedule.

The best approach is to have a basic plan of what you want to accomplish over three to four hours twice a month. This way, the work is done in manageable chunks and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed.

To simplify things, here are tasks broken down by season.

Home maintenance: winter

Let’s first look at what can be done around the home during the winter months to keep your home free of costly repairs and functioning in top form.

Plumbing

Professional plumbers exist for a reason, but there are some relatively simple things you can do to avoid major problems or the need for an expert.

These tasks can be accomplished any time of year, but because they generally don’t involve a visit to the outdoors, they might be best completed in winter.

Check shut-off valves and water supply lines underneath sinks to make sure they aren't dripping.
Test the emergency shut-off valve that governs the water supply for the entire house. This is essential for you to locate in case of emergency. Typical locations include the basement, laundry room or garage. In states with warmer climates, the shut-off valve might be on an exterior wall near an outdoor hose bib.
Check visible pipes for corrosion. If they look seriously worn, contact a plumber.
Clean out P-traps, which are the U-shaped pipes under your sinks, to prevent future clogs. The P-trap always holds a little bit of water by design, and it can fill up with grime. Simply unscrew the two nuts that hold the pipe in place, making sure you have a bowl underneath to catch the water. Rinse, wipe, then remount P-trap.
Check your refrigerator: Does it have an icemaker or dispense filtered water? Change the filter on a regular basis but also examine the water-supply tubing to ensure there are no leaks or fraying.
If you have a garbage disposal, give it a quick cleaning. You can do this by dropping in some ice cubes made from white vinegar and running it.
Inspect the caulking around bathtubs, showers, sinks and bases of toilets. If you notice dried-out areas or patches of caulk missing, scrape away the old caulking and lay down some new silicone.
Does your toilet “run”? Make sure the flapper inside the tank lies flat against the drain and that the chain isn’t too short. These can affect the quality of the seal and keep water running needlessly.

Other interior winter maintenance

While plumbing issues might occupy the first order of interior home maintenance, there are a range of things homeowners should keep an eye on.

Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers

You depend on things like smoke alarms and fire extinguishers to help you in the event of a fire, so make sure they are operational.

Smoke alarm: Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm, and if you haven't done so already, consider installing alarms in every room in your house. While that may seem excessive to some, it could literally be a lifesaver.
Fire extinguisher: Take a look at your fire extinguisher. Many of them have gauges indicating proper pressure. Look at the needle to make sure yours is in the proper operating range. Check for damage and make sure the inspection tags are up to date. Lastly, think about placement. Is the fire extinguisher in an easy-to-access area that all family members can get to in case of emergency?

Attic

Examine insulation for moisture, mold, dirt, shredding and even signs of rodent contaminants. Poor insulation leads to energy loss, which leads to higher costs, particularly in winter.
If you have windows in your attic, make sure they are sealed and caulked.
Soffit vents should also be examined. Good attic airflow prevents mildew growth, keeps energy costs down and extends the life of your roof shingles.

Washer and dryer

Dryer: Make sure the vent is working properly and vents to an exterior location. Clean out the lint tray and inspect the dryer interior.
Washer: Inspect the interior of your washing machine drum for mildew. You’ll likely have to scrub a bit. To be certain it’s clean, it’s best to wash your washing machine with two cups of white vinegar at the hottest setting. After you run the vinegar-cleaning cycle, add one cup of baking soda and run that for one cycle. Lastly, just like sinks and toilets, make sure the shut-off valves work and haven’t calcified.

Note: Your washer and dryer will almost certainly plug into a GFCI outlet. Make sure there is no frayed or exposed wiring and that GFCI outlets are functional. It’s recommended that you test all GFCI outlets roughly once a month and fully replace or have an electrician examine them once every 10 years. There’s a test button that will produce a snap sound to demonstrate that it has “tripped” and is working properly. Contact an electrician for more information.

Home maintenance: spring

As the weather warms up and moving around outside becomes more appealing, there are a few seasonal-related appliances that need to be inspected before it gets too hot.

HVAC

If you own anything resembling a modern home, you probably have an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system. For it to work properly, you will need to make sure your HVAC system is maintained regularly.

Replace air filters: Try to do this every three months to optimize air quality.
Clean condensing unit: This is your outdoor AC unit/heat pump, and it needs cleaning to get rid of dirt, grime, dead leaves and other debris.
Clear drain pipe blockage: Your HVAC system has a drainpipe and pan that can get blocked with mold/algae, etc. The best way to clear debris is by pouring one-quarter of a cup of white vinegar into the condensate drain.

Windows

Make sure windows close and lock.
Examine window frames and sashes. Make sure there’s no rot, which is a sign of moisture infiltration and energy inefficiency.
Make sure weather stripping isn’t worn out. Reapply as necessary. Check for gaps between window casing and wall. Fill in with caulk as needed.
Wash and clean windows. You’d be surprised how much more light can be transmitted when your windows have been cleaned properly.

Roof/gutters

Homeowners could potentially spend entire springs and summers up on their roofs looking for problem areas and figuring out how to best address them.

Gutters/downspouts

While this should be done periodically throughout the year, especially in fall, early spring is an essential time to clean them.

Gutter cleaning: You’ll need a sturdy extension ladder, a bucket for collecting debris and a helper to steady things from below. Depending on the square footage of your house, you may want to consider breaking down this activity over a couple of weekends. Simply scoop what is in your gutters and remove.
Downspouts: Clearing downspouts of debris is every bit as important as cleaning your gutters. The best method is to take a leaf blower and insert the nozzle into the end of your downspout at ground level and turn the device on. It will send a powerful burst of air all the way up to the roof and loosen any debris that might restrict the passage of water.

Roof

You'll need to get on your ladder and inspect things. This isn’t for everyone, but regular roof maintenance is important and can prevent costly repairs later on.

Inspect shingles: The best way to inspect your roof is to get up there and walk around very carefully. If there are damaged shingles, they are a sign that you need to bring in a roofing expert to address the issue. While on your roof, you will want to look for:

Missing shingles
Curling shingles
Cracked shingles
Peeling flashing
Missing granules

Wash your roof: There’s a very real possibility that algae and even fungal elements are slowly growing on your roof and over time could affect the integrity of your shingles. Spraying your roof with a combination of 50% bleach and 50% water will kill the algae. Make sure to rinse your roof afterward with plain water from a hose.

Home maintenance: summer

These are the best months to be outside, and it’s a great time to concentrate on projects that address the condition of the exterior of your home as well as the property itself. Here are a few tasks that most homeowners can accomplish in a weekend.

Look for loose or rotted siding: Walk around your property and examine the house itself. How does it look? Loose or rotting siding will need to be replaced. But more often than not, it's a question of stubborn grime. This is an opportunity to have it power washed to keep things clean and mildew-free.
Be prepared to do a little painting: Summertime is paint time. Walk around your house, get on a ladder and inspect. A chipped, cracking or faded exterior is a call to action. Head to your local paint store and prepare to prime and sand as well as paint. While this potentially could be a larger project you might want to farm out to a pro, the main thing is to get on it now before it’s a bigger job.

Check tuckpointing and foundation: If you have a brick house, it’s essential to examine the mortar work for signs of deterioration. Also take time to get down on your hands and knees to look for foundation cracks. These can be a gateway for moisture, mold, leaks, insect invasions and an entry point for toxic radon gas. For more information on radon, check with the EPA and familiarize yourself with the risks and how to address them.
Check fences: Go around back and walk the property. How does the fence look? Depending on upkeep, it may be time to reseal, restrain or repaint. You certainly don’t want a rotten fence post. If it’s rotting, you’ll have to take measurements and go to the local fencing company to find a beam that matches in size. Depending on the fence post in question, this could be a job for professionals.
Wash patio/deck: One of the best ways to aesthetically enhance your property is to have a clean deck and patio. For the patio, a power wash can help you get rid of algae and other microbial growth. For the deck, the power wash can prevent wood from splitting, graying or rotting. Resealing is also important to protect it from the ravages of the sun and rain.
Inspect walkways: Cracks in concrete and asphalt are inevitable. If it’s the first year in your new house and the previous owner left things in good condition, you may be fortunate enough to skip this activity in year one. But soon enough, you’ll have to refill cracks in the concrete and patch up imperfections in your asphalt driveway. Take note of the problem and then head to your local hardware store for the appropriate fillers, patches and sealants.

While obtaining an affordable mortgage was all that was required to get you into a new home, make sure you don’t overlook the responsibilities of home maintenance. While not labor-intensive, keeping your house in top shape definitely requires some regular attention.

But here’s the thing: While the responsibilities of home maintenance are ongoing and will demand your participation from time to time, taking care of your home is actually pretty easy. It is also the No. 1 way to prevent bigger, more expensive problems from emerging.

Whether you’re new to homeownership or have purchased properties in the past, ensuring your home is functioning at peak performance and free from unnecessary deterioration is the goal of every homeowner. After all, homeownership is the investment of a lifetime. A well-maintained house is something you can walk through every day and feel good about.

At the end of the day, basic home maintenance is just a series of task that will preserve the integrity of your home and help build value for the long term. And it’s value you could access whenever you need.

Access your home’s value today when you start a HELOC application.

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