When first buying a home, all people think about is the financial responsibility and amenities provided in a certain house or plot. Given the option, very few would volunteer to spend every Sunday on a ladder pulling leaves out of the gutter or cleaning the high ceiling fans and chandeliers. But when your home is your biggest investment, it is crucial to remember about the time and labor hours that homeownership asks for.

Home maintenance can often feel like a daunting chore, particularly for new homemakers. Maintaining the house you live in is like regularly changing the oil in a car; it keeps the engine happy and healthy. Similarly, well-planned home maintenance will save you a lot of trouble and headache later. Though the list of things to be maintained and looked upon is huge, planned steps and a quick gist of the same can help you tackle the situation, even with complete inexperience.

You no longer need to choke in lots of money and waste it on unplanned things when you make yourself a draft home maintenance schedule. You can jot down the tasks for each weekend to stop overwhelming yourself and get some work actually done. There are listed tasks that need to be done monthly, quarterly, and biannually, along with a list of tasks to be completed seasonally. For all the homemakers, old and new, Ashray Group presents before you the top lookups for home maintenance. Use these quick home maintenance tips to your utmost benefit and enjoy living in your dream home. Tweak things as per your schedule and keep accomplishing the checklist below to have a happy home:

Monthly

HVAC Systems

For homes with central heat and air system, it becomes necessary to call the HVAC technician to check the system’s scheduled checkup and servicing. Many experts advise to change the filters monthly, however, that is not always necessary. For smaller families without pets or allergies, you’ll likely be okay with changing the filters every 2 to 3 months. If the filter is dirty too often, change it monthly and keep checking it for replacement every month.

Fire Extinguishers

Naturally, fire extinguishers are put up in places inside your house to help you during a sudden occurrence of fire. Considering the use of fire extinguishers, the inspection requires checking that these extinguishers are easily reachable in times of emergency and there’s nothing blocking them. The quick checks should be easy access, adequate gauge pressure and no physical signs of wear and tear.

Plumbing

Give your pipes a good once-over checking under the sinks to make sure there are no signs of leaks. Also, look up at your ceilings for telltale water stains that are a sign of a leak in the wall. Check faucets for drips and the flapper in the tank of your toilet to make sure it has not worn out. If you have poor water pressure out of a faucet, the aerator is the likely culprit and it’s an extremely easy fix. If required, seek the help of a plumber to fix the same.

Quarterly

Smoke Alarm And Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Between 2007 and 2011, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths were in homes without working smoke detectors, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Change batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors once a quarter or bi-annually. Also, make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have a test button so you can check if the alarm works, else the battery needs to be replaced immediately before testing it again. If it still doesn’t sound, it’s possible there’s simply corrosion on the battery terminal and it won’t detect new batteries. Clean it and try again. If it still doesn’t work, you’ll possibly need a new detector.

Toilets Of Unused Spaces

This applies to all the guest bathrooms and all the sinks and water sources that go unused for a long time or are not used on a regular basis. The main objective is to prevent grime or any other build up that will create troubles later. Regularly running a little bit of water through will prevent this.

Biannually

Chimney

Even if you do not regularly use the fireplace, the chimney still needs a regular checkup. A chimney carries dangerous gases from your fireplace, wood stove or furnace out of your home, helping to keep the air inside breathable. Your chimney should be inspected bi-annually or annually and cleaned periodically depending upon how often you use it, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Deep Cleaning

Either go for bit by bit daily or take out one day worth of free time per week every six months with your whole family to give your house a proper deep clean. Clean and maintain every appliance, furniture, decor items, mirrors and dust them and clean every nook and cranny including cleaning your windows and glass dividers with specific cleaners. Keeping things clean and not letting any dirt or grime or dust build up over years and years will help keep your home in proper shape and condition.

Vacuum Your Refrigerator Coils

The fridge can use up to 15 percent of your home’s total power so naturally, you would want it running as efficiently as possible. Over time, the coils get dirty and your fridge requires more juice. Vacuuming your refrigerator coils is not a difficult task and will save you up a lot of costs later.

Annually

Spring

Come springtime, most of us are eager to throw open the windows and clean out the closets. It’s also time to give your house, inside and out, a good once-over. Spring is a big season for home maintenance. Here are the quick things to work on during spring:

If your property has any trees, have them inspected by a certified arborist, who can check for signs of illness or any dead branches and catch problems before they escalate and kill a tree. The untrained eye could miss signs of damage, and a dead or dying tree poses a safety hazard to you, your home and neighboring properties.

Summer

- Reseed your lawn and fill in bald patches before the summer heat., water and later in the spring, when the grass turns bright green again, it is time tothe lawn or garden area. - Inspect yourand check for cracks in the concrete. Check thefor signs of loose or broken shingles. Look up at thefor signs of wear. Check thefor cracks or signs of. - Look for signs of peelingand give a retouch of colour to the exterior, if required.

Summer is the season to enjoy your home, not fix it. But still, some chores must be done. Here are the quick things to work on during summer:

Fall

- Make sure yourgets plenty ofduring hot summer days. - Once spring showers end, your plants will need extra water from yourthat need to be checked and maintained, especially during summer.

Fall is an in-between season where you’re finishing up your summer home maintenance tasks as well as getting your home ready for winter. Cold, snow, and rain can do a number to home, so you don’t want to ignore winter preparation.

Winter

- Once the leaves fall, call your drain company to get thecleaned and inspected. Anythat need to be done or downspouts should happen before winter sets in. - If you live in a cold climate, you need tofor the winter to protect it from harsh weather. Skip this step now, and come springtime you could have a hefty repair bill. - If you plan to use yourthis winter, stock up on seasonedin the fall.

For the most part, we slow down in the winter, as the weather is often too cold and unpredictable to tackle major home improvement projects. Make sure your home is prepared for the harsh weather.

- A portablecan provide you with a lifeline in a blackout. Keep fuel and motor oil handy in the event of a storm. - Always be extra careful when working with electricity and re-wiring.