9 Easy Home Maintenance Chores You Should Not Skip

It is easy to get caught up in daily life and forget (or consciously put off) simple home maintenance chores.  However, if you consider that putting off some of these chores may be costing you money, perhaps your sense of urgency will rise a bit.

Today we’ll talk about a few simple maintenance steps that most of us know we should be doing, but we often forget.  Consider this a ‘nudge’ to action.

1. Change your furnace/air conditioning filters.

Dust quickly clogs up intake filters and places extra stress on your system.  Many HVAC professionals actually claim that by not changing your filters frequently enough you may also reduce the longevity of the system. 

And while we’re on the subject, I’ve been recommended by several HVAC companies to use the “cheap” low-MERV 30 day filters and change them regularly, rather than the high-end filters for the same reason – the higher end filters restrict airflow more, and reduce the longevity of the system.  Of course, those who suffer from asthma or severe allergies may prefer the higher cost filters and consider it a worthwhile trade-off. Amazon carries many low MERV filters, but often the big box stores have the best deals.

2. Clean the fins on your outdoor air conditioning unit.

The fins wrap around the outside of the unit and can collect dust, grass, leaves, and dirt, restricting airflow.  Manually remove any large objects (leaves, etc), and then use a strong stream of water (not too strong – you don’t want to bend the fins).  In Arizona and other dusty locations, you’ll want to clean the fins 3 or 4 times a  year, if not monthly

3. Have your AC and Furnace serviced annually.

Some aspects of this servicing can be DIY (see Family Handyman's Step by Step), but steps like adding refrigerant are best left to professionals.

4. Check your door and window weather stripping annually.

Check it for excessive dirt accumulation, cracks, folds, or any other imperfections that may prevent a clean seal.

5. Vacuum and clean your refrigerator grill and coil.

Depending on your model, you may need to remove both the front grill and a back cover to reach the coils.  Take care not to touch the compressor, as it may be very hot. 

While you are at it, vacuum under the refrigerator to insure dust accumulation doesn’t immediately return.  One more easy maintenance activity to consider: make sure you periodically wipe down the seals/gaskets on your refrigerator door.  Refrigerators are often the largest electricity users behind heating and cooling systems, so it is important to have it run efficiently.

6. Fix those leaky toilets.

If you hear your toilet periodically “run” for no reason, it means that a seal within the tank is no longer sealing properly.  Often, this is the flapper seal.  Wear and deterioration  can happen with age - especially if you use those in-tank bleach tablets.  The result can be many gallons of water lost each month. 

Toilet repair is actually quite simple, and don’t work about cleanliness – the tank is very clean – no waste water ever goes into the tank.  Some toilets do work differently than others, but most work the same way, and repair kits are largely interchangeable. Purchase either just a toilet flapper, or a toilet repair kit if you want to be certain you have all the parts you need.

7. Clean your dryer lent collector after EVERY load.

This is important for a couple of reasons – not only will it result in more efficient drying, but it will help reduce the amount of lent that makes it to your vents and flexible tubing.  Lent accumulation over time can become a fire hazard.

8. Adjust your hot water heater temperature with the season.

In some parts of the country (and depending on how your water piping runs within your house), you may be able to drastically reduce your hot water heater temperature in the summer. 

In Arizona, for example, many houses water piping runs through the roof, resulting in a constant supply of hot water in the summer.  I can turn my hot water heater way down in June through August, but make sure you maintain at least 120 - 130 degrees to avoid bacterial growth.

9. Adjust your watering schedule if you have an automatic landscape watering system.

I’ll have a full article on “proper” watering (it’s almost always better to water deeply but infrequently as compared to the frequent shallow watering most homeowners perform).   However, with this step I simply mean that in the spring and fall you can reduce your watering levels by 20% to 40% or more.