Regularly scheduled home maintenance can save you thousands of dollars and priceless heartache over the life of your home by identifying troubles before they become catastrophes. All appliances and other fixtures need some sort of regular maintenance not only to prolong their life but also to keep them functioning at peak efficiency. There are also other parts of the home that should be carefully maintained and inspected .

In the event of a catastrophy , don’t hesitate to contact a local contractor for assistance . Several typical home maintenance tasks, when not properly attended to , can escalate to major emergencies requiring outside help. Use this free online construction cost calculator to estimate the expense of your projects in advance.

A good place to commence your routine home maintenance is to develop a schedule . This means making the list of the maintenance tasks you need to accomplish and noting how frequently these tasks should be performed. You can get a good start on creating your maintenance schedule by looking over the owner manuals for the appliances and for the construction materials used in your house . Each appliance or machine comes with a manual from the manufacturer which will include information about the recommended maintenance for that system. Simply review each manual and add the recommended maintenance tasks to your master list. Review the manuals that came with your windows, roofing and siding , light fixtures, HVAC system , etc. You might also find it helpful to note the manufacturer’s suggested life span of each appliance, especially when there is a warranty involved . These notes will help you anticipate replacement and plan your budget accordingly.

Even seemingly simple tasks may be more complicated than they initially appear , in particular for the homeowner not experienced in construction or maintenance types of work . A skilled local contractor can guide you through any task you may present , offering advice and guidance so that you can acquire the necessary expertise to complete the work on your own next time.

Some particular maintenance tasks that should be scheduled annually or semiannually include:

• Change your furnace filter monthly for standard filters; if you use high-efficiency filters, change them every three months . It is generally a good idea to check high-efficiency filters after two months and replace them early if required.
• Every three months it is a good idea to check the circuits in your electrical system by turning them off and then back on; also check for drips with leaks from plumbing fixtures by inspecting areas below and around all faucets and shower heads and other fixtures.
• When the seasons change is a good time to check weather proofing and to check for any leaks around doors, windows, and the roof. To ensure energy-efficiency it is also good to check for air leaks twice a year. Check very carefully around all flashing because this is usually the place where most leaks occur.
• At least once a year drain the water heater to keep it clean and opperating properly . If you heat with hot water, clean off the coils inside the heating units. Also check your furnace or boiler and oil the motor where indicated. Walk around your house and look carefully for any cracks in the siding or mortar , and check your chimney for any cracks or missing bricks .
• If you use a wood burning fireplace , you should have the inside of your chimney professionally cleaned at least every two or three years.
• At least once a year, walk around your house and check for puddles around the foundation or other indications of drainage problems . As the house settles, it might fall below the slope of the land and affect the drainage of water away from the foundation. If you have done any landscaping, check after a year to be sure you have not created any drainage issues that could harm the foundation.

Scheduled maintenance will not require a large amount of time, and it could save many hours of repairs and thousands of dollars . Anticipating the need for maintenance and providing excellent care for your building materials and appliances will ensure that they last as long as they should, saving money on premature replacement. Attending to the most important home maintenance tasks will save money in the long run.