Home maintenance schedule: what to do, and when

Every month

• Smoke alarms: press the test button.
• Drains and traps: run hot water to prevent clogs and odors.
• Range hood filters: clean metal filters, more often if you cook a lot.
• Supplies: check the consumables that run out (batteries, light bulbs, vacuum bags, cleaning products, water softener salt).

Every quarter

• Ventilation vents: dust the extraction vents.
• Air conditioning or heat pump filters: clean them as the manual says, more often when in use.
• Shower and sink seals: look for mold and leaks.
• Washing machine and dishwasher: clean the filters.

In spring

• Roof and gutters: inspect after winter and clear leaves and debris.
• Outdoors: restart the garden, irrigation and outdoor lighting.
• Air conditioning: check it before the first hot days.

In autumn

• Heating: have your boiler or furnace serviced before winter; in some countries, such as France, an annual service is mandatory for most boilers.
• Chimney sweeping: flues for fireplaces and stoves, as often as local rules and your insurer require.
• Gutters: clear them again once the leaves have fallen.
• Outdoor taps: drain them before the frost.

Once a year

• Water heater: operate the safety valve (more often if the manufacturer says so) and check the anode if needed.
• Fire extinguisher: have it checked if you own one.
• Electrical panel: test residual-current devices with their test button.
• Window and door seals: find drafts before winter.

The hard part: remembering

The list is not complicated; what is missing is a reminder at the right time and a record of what was done. Write down the date of each job, who did it and what it cost: it helps with warranties, insurance and the day you sell.

Adapt the schedule to your home too: an apartment without outdoor space has no gutters, while a house with a pool or garden has its own deadlines.