The first-time homeowner’s regular home maintenance checklist

Congratulations, you're now a homeowner! This is such an exciting time of your life, with lots of changes and many adventures to come. If you've never owned a home before, you might not know how to protect your new investment, but with the right home insurance coverage and some simple proactive measures, you can keep your home in great shape.

Check out this home maintenance checklist and set a regular maintenance schedule to take the guesswork out of when you should complete each task:

1. Replace your furnace filter every month in the winter. If you have central heat and air, your furnace sucks in dust, pet fur, and debris during the winter months while your heat is on. Keep the air you breathe clean and help your furnace run efficiently by changing your furnace filter every month during the winter.
2. Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors once a year. Protect your home and loved ones against fire and the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning by regularly testing your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors to make sure they're in working order. To make it easy to remember when to change the batteries in all your detectors, pick a holiday to replace them, like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day.

3. Clean your dryer vents once a year. Dryer vents collect lint and dust that you can't see. Not only does this prevent your dryer from working efficiently, but it's also a fire hazard. Hire a professional once a year to inspect your dryer vents and clear them of lint build-up. A professional can also check the vents outside your house for cracking or signs of pests, like birds or mice, entering your vents to make a nest.

   Simple, regular maintenance is key to preventing dryer fires. Watch this short video for more tips on how to safely service and operate your dryer to keep your family safe:

   

   How to prevent dryer fires

   Overheated dryers are a leading cause of house fires. Luckily, it’s easy to prevent a dryer fire and keep your home and loved ones safe.

   1. Clean your lint screen after every cycle and never run your dryer without it.
   2. Don’t overload your dryer. Smaller loads will dry faster and are less likely to cause your dryer to overheat. Pan to the dryer flashing that it’s finished the cycle. The individual pulls out a pair of pants. Show them folding it to indicate it’s dry.
   3. Don’t machine dry items that have come in contact with flammable substances. If you’ve spilled oil (including cooking oil), gas, or any other flammable chemical on your clothes, let them air dry. If a flammable liquid spills on the floor, use paper towels or disposable rags to clean it up instead of a washable cloth.
   4. Stop your dryer if you smell burning, if your laundry room becomes humid, or if your dryer gets very hot. These could all be warning signs that your dryer is overheating and needs to be serviced by a professional or cleaned.
   5. Clean your dryer’s ventilation system every one to three years. Vacuum your dryer vent and ducts to prevent a buildup of flammable lint.

   Sometimes accidents happen, even when you’ve taken the right precautions. Check in with your home insurance broker to make sure you have the right coverage to protect you in the event of a dryer fire.

   Do you follow a regular maintenance schedule for your home? Check your dryer vents, water softener tank, and dishwasher drains often to make sure your home appliances are running efficiently.

4. Check the salt levels in your water softener once a month. If you have a water softener tank, inspect your tank's salt levels once a month to make sure your softener is working well and helping to reduce hard water build-up. If the tank is less than half full, it's time to add more salt.
5. Clean out your dishwasher once a month. Over time, food and hard water can clog the drains in your dishwasher, which can reduce its ability to drain and may leave food and grease on your dishes. Take some time each month to check your dishwasher's drains and clean out the traps to reduce the risk of it breaking down or running inefficiently.
6. Inspect your roof every fall and spring. Always check your roof for missing shingles, sagging areas, cracks in the caulking, and blockages in the gutters before the harsh winter months start and again once the snow melts in the spring. This can help you find and repair leaks and avoid costly water damage to your home.
    

   Improve the air quality in your home by replacing your furnace filter once a month in the winter and vacuuming heating registers and grilles once a week.

7. Vacuum all heating registers and grilles. Dust collects over time on the air vents, registers, and grilles in your home. Vacuum these areas each week while cleaning your floors to keep vents clear of debris, boost indoor air quality, and promote efficient air circulation.

Looking for more helpful tips and tricks to keep your home in great shape all year long? Learn how to get your home ready for any season, like preparing for wintry weather, getting your home ready for spring, and maintaining your property into the fall.

Alongside keeping up with your home maintenance schedule, connect with your licensed home insurance broker every year at renewal time to review your policy and make sure you've got the right coverage for whatever life throws at you and your home.  

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