As a new homeowner, one of the best things you can do to protect your investment is to keep up with maintenance. However, home upkeep can be overwhelming, especially for a first-time homeowner. Throughout the lifespan of your home, appliances, and utilities need to be examined and repaired.

A new homeowner maintenance checklist can help you keep up with your home’s maintenance needs. Regular inspections of your home’s exterior, furnishings, HVAC, plumbing, security, and electrical systems will help you avoid malfunctions, save money, and keep your house looking great. A home maintenance checklist maximizes your investment. Here’s a new homeowner maintenance checklist to give your home the care it needs.

1. Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Having regular HVAC maintenance and heating inspections done by reputable heating and air technicians is the first step in your new homeowner maintenance checklist. A technician will clean and service the furnace and A/C compressor, then inspect the ductwork for any signs of damage. HVAC systems are often capable of holding up on their own. However, you must do routine maintenance on your HVAC system to get the most out of it. Come up with a schedule for maintenance.

Note that even after changing the air filter, dust and particles will still start accumulating in the HVAC system almost immediately. This is why it’s important to change the filter frequently, typically every three months. If it stays in your system any longer, your HVAC system will keep accumulating more dust and debris, affecting the overall efficiency of the system.

Using an acidic cleanser on the coils of the outdoor HVAC unit is another error most homeowners make when performing HVAC maintenance. HVAC coils aren’t designed to withstand acids and other chemicals, regardless of their strength. You only need a stream of water at low pressure to clean your coils. Attempting to fix your HVAC system or carrying out tasks like heating inspections could result in much more damage and high costs.

2. Protect Against the Elements

In your new homeowner maintenance checklist, one of the crucial home maintenance elements is waterproofing materials. They make construction surfaces more resilient. Water damage is one of those situations new homeowners dread. Your home may sustain water damage without warning, which can be stressful. While you’re away from home, a leaking pipe could explode and flood your basement. Due to poor maintenance, your dishwasher could suddenly leak and spill water on your hardwood kitchen floor. A leaking roof could cave in during a spring storm, resulting in water damage to your home’s structure. Water mitigation and restoration services are critical in such circumstances.

The repercussions of water damage, whether caused by a natural flood, a burst pipe, an overflowed appliance, or any other problem, can be severe. The goal of water damage restoration is to address and repair any damage, regardless of the cause. Water mitigation services are usually carried out first, then, if necessary, water restoration services follow after. Water mitigation services prevent further damage to your property and possessions. In contrast, water restoration services fix any water damage that’s already happened to your property.

Painting your exterior is also part of our new homeowner maintenance checklist. In addition to looking good, exterior paint shields your shingles against rot and water damage. Look for a painting that’s starting to peel or chip. You might need a fresh coat or a touch-up. Schedule the project for spring so you can complete it by the end of summer. Materials used for wall waterproofing must provide more than just water resistance. Air barriers are also needed to prevent moisture from getting trapped in the masonry and woodwork underneath the insulation, which can cause mold, mildew, and fungi.

Your home may become wet if your gutters are clogged. Depending on how many trees surround your home and hang over your roof, clean the gutters as frequently as possible. Although most roofing materials are waterproof, that’s not enough. A roof experiences significant wear and tear, necessitating the use of additional waterproofing materials. They’re either applied as part of the roof frame or over them. Depending on the type of roof and the climate where you live, a qualified contractor will advise you on the finest waterproofing products.

3. Prepare Well for Renovations

For major home renovations to be successful, you’ll need to put in the time and effort. Preparation is key in our new homeowner maintenance checklist. Not being prepared will result in delays and other challenging situations. It can potentially raise costs as well. Be sure to prepare your family and home for the endeavor. While renovations are being done, you may have to stay with a friend or relative. You can also take the opportunity to travel as the experts work on your house. If you plan to stay at home as renovations are being done, establish which rooms you’ll be living in during this time.

Roll off dumpster rentals is essential when getting ready for renovations. A roll-off dumpster will make it easier and faster to clean up after the different jobs by simplifying the trash removal process. The size of your project and the waste you’re tossing away will determine the size or capacity of the dumpster you require.

The condition of a roof might affect how well your entire house is maintained. Install a new roof to avoid expensive issues such as flooding and structural damage. Choose contractors wisely and take anything significant or irreplaceable with you for safekeeping.

You’ll want to keep your children inside while the crew is on the site since children could get hurt by construction tools and materials. As well, consider making plans for your dogs and children to stay with a friend or family member. A new roof installation might involve noisy construction, which can annoy dogs and young children.

By going into your roofing project knowing what to expect, you’re less likely to underestimate the overall cost of replacing your roof, which could drive up the price of a home remodel. You can calculate the roof’s surface area, pitch, the number of rafters or trusses, and the number of sheeting boards you’ll probably need for your project using a free roofing calculator.

A professional roofing company will work to ensure your roof is in perfect condition and that any underlying damage is fixed. Before your new roof installation starts, take pictures of the damage. This way, you’ll be able to isolate subsequent damage that may have been caused by the roofing contractor. Home renovation experts advise creating a strategy for your home remodeling project, and it’s part of our new homeowner maintenance checklist.

4. Don’t Forget Your Lawn

Caring for your lawn also makes it into our new homeowner maintenance checklist. Although you’ll likely spend the most time lounging outside during spring, maintaining your lawn requires work all year round. It’s important to avoid taking shortcuts when carrying out lawn maintenance. You must develop a lawn care program if you want a lush lawn. It’s crucial to carry out the necessary care to maintain your grass’ health and beauty. Your lawn needs as much sunshine as possible during winter; so, keep up with your garden tasks, remove all the deciduous tree leaves and debris, and use your catcher when mowing to prevent grass-clipping buildup. Remember, your lawn’s health today will determine its health tomorrow.

Keeping leaves off your lawn can seem like a never-ending job, but if they accumulate, they’ll obstruct the sunlight and air that grass needs to survive. Additionally, the buried moisture traps in an environment that’s favorable to moss. Reseed your lawn. Give your perennials lots of water after planting them. Fertilize later in the spring when the grass turns green.

In certain circumstances, emergency tree removals may be necessary. Most of the time, it takes an incident, like a tree falling over or leaves falling on your yard, for the need to remove a tree to become apparent. Hire qualified arborists to assess the trees. They’ll look for diseased or dead limbs and identify features that could harm your trees. A dead or dying tree poses safety concerns for you, your home, and nearby properties. The untrained eye may miss symptoms of damage. Having a strategy in place can help you stay on top of repairs at various times of the year. Work with a reputable lawn care company if your seasonal to-do list appears overwhelming.

Companies that maintain lawns offer yearly programs that cover all aspects of lawn care, including applying fertilizers, aeration, soil amendments, and grub control. They help manage and prevent the growth of weeds, keep pests out, and other issues. This they do by sticking to a timetable and strictly following a maintenance schedule throughout the year. Work on your lawn year-round to keep it looking its best.

5. Inside Your Home

Even if you don’t use the fireplace frequently, the chimney still needs inspection. It’s important to keep the air in your home breathable by removing hazardous gases from your fireplace, wood stove, or furnace. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that a chimney should be examined annually and cleaned depending on how frequently you use it.

Unfortunately, you’re not the only one who enjoys living in your home. Mice, ants, termites, and carpenter bees enjoy it as well. Some infestations, such as a lone ant path, can be eliminated with a spray can and thorough cleaning. However, some situations, such as a termites infestation, require professional help.

Consider an annual contract if you have a persistent pest problem, such as a mouse invasion. Carefully go over the contract’s specifics. Fix openings that roaches and mice can use to enter. If you go on vacation and believe you may have brought uninvited stowaways in your suitcase, unload it in the garage and wash all of your clothes. You will protect mattresses from invaders like bedbugs. Regularly check the attic to ensure uninvited guests such as raccoons haven’t moved in.

Call a plumber for a yearly inspection of your boiler. You can get rid of particles that may have accumulated and settled in the tank by draining the water from the boiler. Before you switch it on, make sure the tank is full. Get a plumber or heating expert to examine your radiators and ensure the valves are in good condition. Likewise, check your thermostat.

6. Winter Storm Preparations

A severe winter storm can confine you to your home for several days. In a blackout, a portable generator could become your lifeline. Every three months, turn it on and have it serviced twice a year. In the case of a storm, keep fuel and motor oil on hand. Avoid letting gasoline stay in the tank for extended periods to avoid damage to the tank. Check it frequently for wear and corrosion. After a storm, inspect the roof, gutters, and downspouts for any damage or leaks.

Here’s some good news: not every component in your home requires yearly maintenance. Some materials, like wood beams or hardwood floors, can last a lifetime. However, many items, including your appliances, have an expiration date. Therefore, prepare for your water heater’s demise before it breaks down. Please make a list of the things you own and note the year of their purchase. Set aside some money for replacements when the time comes.

In most cases, house repairs require skills beyond your scope or result in more challenging undertakings. Hiring a professional to do the repairs is the best route to take. Walk around the home’s exterior to check for concrete fractures. Is the driveway in decent shape? Look for indications of cracked or loose shingles on the roof. Inspect the chimney from above for signs of wear. There are apps on the market that can alert or remind you of scheduled inspections and maintenance. You can avoid major renovations by fixing minor faults as they arise. This new homeowner maintenance checklist is a great resource to help a new homeowner avoid potentially costly mistakes.