Homeowner's Routine Maintenance Ideas

It's been almost a year since I became a homeowner myself, and needless to say, it's already been quite the adventure: flooding, loose gutters, top-to-bottom painting, and a laundry closet that was too small to take out the old washing machine. Ironically, even though I created Shiny.ooo to help my family keep track of their own home issues and to track things I wanted to fix in my apartment, I really had no idea what to do when it came to actually owning a home myself.

Although the internet is jam-packed with blogs, videos, and content on home care, Reddit has been my main source of credible information and advice. It's an awesome resource, and it seems nearly every problem under the sun has been posted about - with good ideas and suggestions! Unfortunately, the non-stop stream of unique questions and advice makes it difficult to pull out the things that we all deal with. So, here's a *starting point* of suggested ideas gleaned from Reddit (including r/HomeImprovement, r/Homeowners), as well as other resources I've found. I plan to add more and improve what's here over time.

The goal isn't to find or create a million problems to fix (unless you really want to!). Instead, it helps to build a record of when you've last checked everything, notice small problems before they become bigger, and gain a better understanding of how this whole thing works.

Get started!
Check out the lists below. If you'd like a dynamic way to track these issues, you can sign-up for Shiny.ooo, then add these directly to your home's issue board. Or, feel free to access it in spreadsheet form.

The Basics

  • Collect any records or manuals for all major systems (Furnace, Water Heater, AC)
    1x per year
  • Run systems and listen for issues
    2x per year
  • Check water shutoff valve
    1x per year
  • Check natural gas shutoff valve
    1x per year
  • Test life safety systems
    1x per year
  • Check circuit breaker to major systems
    1x per year
  • Check for cracks around exterior of house
    1x per year
  • Check for any water pooling around exterior of house
    1x per year
  • Check attic for any signs of moisture or mildew
    1x per year
  • Check and clear gutters
    2x per year
  • Create an inventory of your stuff for insurance purposes
    1x per year

Getting Ready for Winter

  • Disconnect AC system for winter
    1x per year
  • Turn off water supply to all exterior pipes and faucets
    1x per year