Home Maintenance and Tool Checklist for 1st-Time Homebuyers | Ask This Old House

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1. This seems like more of a home inspection than a maintenance checklist. The electrical panel doesn’t require regular maintenance. I was expecting more of a maintenance schedule, like this (you’re welcome):

   Air Quality / HVAC:
   1. Monthly/Quarterly: Change your HVAC filter every X months, where X=width of your filter in inches.
   2. Quarterly: Clean anything with a fan, like ceiling fans, computer fans, air purifiers, plus the air duct for the clothes dryer.
   3. Semi-Annually: clean or replace filters in vacuum(s).
   4. 1-2 years: Wash off condenser coils for HVAC.
   5. 1-2 years: Check insulation on suction line for A/C condenser, replace if excessively cracking.
   6. 5-10 years: Check/clean the Evaporator coil, heat exchanger, furnace fan, and air ducts for dust/dander buildup (HVAC tech).

   Plumbing:
   1. Annually: Drain the water heater to discharge corrosion buildup at the bottom of the tank (unless water heater is already >5 years old), and change the sacrificial anode every 5 years or so.
   2. Annually: Check Sump Pump (if you have a basement). This is too easily forgotten and could cost you everything in a flood. Remove the sump pit cover, grab a bucket, and pour water into the sump pit. Once it gets high enough, the float on the sump pump should trigger the switch and you should see most of the water quickly pumped out.
   3. Check for slow drains, especially due to hair clogs in bathroom drains. If drains are slow for the entire house, call a plumber.
   4. 3 Years: [he did kind of cover this, but] Check water supply valves for good operation, especially any gait (“globe”) valves – the internals/washer are prone to corrosion and/or getting stuck. Consider replacing with a full-port quarter-turn ball valve – better and more reliable.
   5. Check pipes for any signs of corrosion. If your supply pipes are not copper, PEX, or CPVC, look into replacing them. As of 2025, any galvanized steel pipes are likely to be very corroded inside, and any Polybutylene is likely to fail any day now.
   6. Depends: Replace any water filters. Some areas need to replenish salt in the brine tank of their water softener. See manufacturer specs.
   7. 1-5 Years: remove aerators from toilets, faucet heads and shower heads; clean out with vinegar or replace. Particles and deposits often collect in these traps and reduce flow.

   Weathering and normal wear & tear:
   1. 1-2 years: check caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows. Look for signs of pealing or cracking. Remove and replace.
   2. 1-2 years: check silicone caulk lines and grout lines in bathrooms, especially in corners and around fixtures, for early signs of failing. A leak around a bathtub can result in mold or wood rot, which can cost many thousands of dollars to fix.
   3. 1-2 years: check any exterior and interior paint for signs of bubbling or cracking; address as needed.
   4. He mentioned looking for signs of settling on the outside of brick homes, but also look for signs of settling in the basement’s exterior walls and in the drywall near doors.
   5. 3-5 years: check window sills and door thresholds for signs of rot (water damage). Replace any rotted wood, check/fix flashing and caulk above and around window.
   6. Annually: As he mentioned, clean the gutters and check for leaks and signs of roof fatigue. Depending on region and nearby vegetation (trees): clean off your roof periodically, particularly to keep biomass off (like leaves, pine needles and moss) to keep moisture from being trapped, which causes rot.
   7. Annually: Check downspouts and make sure everything is still connected. One disconnected downspout can contribute to basement/foundation damage.

   Appliances (Annual checks)
   1. Check batteries / test smoke detectors and CO detectors.
   2. Inspect fire extinguishers (for pressure)
   3. Clothes dryer: check vent hose for lint buildup and ensure connection is good
   4. Clothes washer: open drain trap (often collects coins and other solid objects).
   5. Dishwasher: remove drain trap and clean out
   6. Dishwasher: check drain hose for excess waste buildup
   7. Microwave: clean inside, vents, and grease trap (if over-stove) with lemon water.
   8. Fridge: Pull it out and clean under it (food and spills attract pests/ants). Replace water/air filters. Clean vent in back
   9. Stove: Clean inside and underneath (food and spills attract pests/ants).

   This is just what I’ve thought of and experienced after 20 years of home ownership. Obviously there are other things to check and take care of, but I tried to list everything that tends to be out-of-sight-out-of-mind, or that many people probably don’t know about if they’re new to home ownership.

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2. Thank you & God Bless this channel! ❤ John 3:16-17 ❤️✝️🙏🏼
   — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

   — For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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3. 0:59 chimney flashing should be let into mortar joint

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4. The checklist mindset is underrated. A simple seasonal routine saves more money than most “budget hacks” people chase.

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5. She’s beautiful

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