For every month, you will see three category of tasks – reoccurring, maintain, and prep.
Reoccurring tasks are those that pop up more than once a year.
Prep is for those who are way behind in home maintenance chores. I would suggest starting there if that sounds like you and then adding on what you can from reoccurring and then maintain.
If you need help with those chores, join our free course, Prep.
The chores listed under Maintain are the chores we are covering in our course.
🔁 Reoccurring Tasks
- Have a septic tank? Add in your treatment tablets.
- Prune trees and shrubs away from house. It helps keeps the gutters clear and critters away.
- Check the drainage around your house during next rain storm. Your primary job as a homeowner is keeping water OUT.
- Clean your dishwasher (especially the filter). It helps it run efficiency and keeps your dishes clean.
- Check water softener salt levels (if you have one- a must if you have a water heater and a softener.)
- Change HVAC filter (add a reminder to your calendar to check it again in 1 to 3 months.)
- Look for ice dams or icicles (for those in colder climates)
- Clean your kitchen disposal and/or drains. It keeps away odors and germs and helps you avoid clogs.
- Run water and/or flush unused toilets and sinks. It keeps water in the p-trap, which prevents sewer gas to seep through.
🛠️ Maintain
Before it gets hellish hot, let’s peek in the attic. Hopefully, nothing will peek back at us.
- Water heater: Flush it and check the anode rod.
- Attic inspection: If the weather permits, take a peek up there. Any pests, mold, mildew? Is air flowing through the soffits? How do things look structurally? Everything in good shape? Have enough insulation?
- Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors: Test them.
- Drains: Clean them with a mix of vinegar, baking soda, and maybe some salt.
- Valves: Turn all water and gas valves to keep them easy to operate. Check for leaks.
🧰 Prep
Haven’t been keeping up with home maintenance? Keep it simple and just do these tasks to start. These tasks are the one and done tasks you can do that will make future maintenance and DIY task so much easier.
- New? Join one of our orientation sessions
- Organize Your home’s papers and records
- Create a budget for home maintenance
- Check your home’s fire extinguishers placement and charge levels
- Check your fire extinguisher placement and charge levels.
- Make a plastic bag dispenser and stash some disposable buckets. Super handy for messy cleanups.
- Clear obstacles from key maintenance spots (attic access, breaker boxes, etc.). Nobody wants to do two big chores at once! See the Prep course for more on this.
Skills needed for the month
Water Heaters
It’s easier than you think to maintain
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Nervous about falling through the floor? You won’t be after learning how!
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Mold is a bummer. Learn about mold risks in the attic.