Have a home maintenance question?
Direct guides for recurring tasks homeowners and renters should keep in mind.
Summer Home Maintenance Checklist for Homeowners
A practical summer home maintenance checklist for AC, gutters, irrigation, dryer vents, smoke alarms, grills, leaks, and outdoor systems.
Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist: What to Do Every Month
The monthly home maintenance tasks that matter most, including filters, alarms, drains, leaks, appliances, and safety checks.
The First Year Homeowner Maintenance Schedule
A practical first year homeowner maintenance schedule that covers shutoffs, safety checks, filters, water risks, seasonal tasks, and the end of year reset.
Dryer Vent Cleaning: How Often to Clean It and Signs It Needs It Now
Clean your dryer vent about once a year. Learn the signs it needs cleaning now, how to check airflow, and what to do next.
Why Your Dryer Takes Longer to Dry
If your dryer takes longer to dry, the most likely causes are lint buildup, restricted airflow, overloading, washer spin problems, or a failing part.
HVAC Filter Replacement Schedule: With Pets, Dust, and Heavy AC Use
Check HVAC filters monthly. Replace most filters every 1 to 3 months, with shorter schedules for pets, dust, smoke, and heavy use.
Spring HVAC Prep Before the First Hot Day
Prepare your AC before hot weather with filter checks, outdoor unit cleaning, thermostat testing, condensate checks, and service timing.
How Often Should You Flush Your Water Heater?
Most tank water heaters should be flushed about once a year, especially in hard water areas. Here is when to flush and when to call a plumber.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher Filter?
Clean your dishwasher filter about monthly if you use it often, or every few months for lighter use. Clean sooner for grit, smells, or slow draining.
7 Maintenance Tasks New Homeowners Regret Skipping
The home maintenance tasks new homeowners most often skip, including dryer vents, HVAC filters, gutters, alarms, water heater care, and leaks.
Washing Machine Smells Like Mildew? What to Clean First
If your washing machine smells like mildew, clean the gasket, detergent drawer, washer drum, drain pump filter, and check for detergent buildup or drainage problems.
Water Heater Making Popping Noise? What It Usually Means
A popping or rumbling tank water heater usually means sediment or scale buildup. Check for leaks, rusty water, weak hot water, and when flushing is safe.
Garbage Disposal Smells Bad? Clean These Places First
If your garbage disposal smells bad, clean the splash guard, upper grind chamber, disposal chamber, and drain path before assuming the unit is failing.
Garage Door Won’t Close? Check the Sensors First
If your garage door will not close, check the safety sensors, sensor lights, obstructions, tracks, opener lights, and when to call a pro.
Gutters Overflowing During Rain? What to Check First
If gutters overflow during rain, check for debris, downspout clogs, sagging, bad pitch, undersized gutters, and water dumping near the foundation.
Sump Pump Not Working? Key Things to Check First
If your sump pump is not working, check power, the float switch, water test, pit debris, discharge line, check valve, backup power, and when to call service.
Range Hood Filter Cleaning: What to Clean and How Often
Clean washable metal range hood filters about monthly if you cook often. Replace charcoal filters on the manual schedule, usually every few months.