15 Essential Home Maintenance Tasks Every Homeowner Should Know How to Do

A little drive go a long means with these home sustenance projects .

Whether you ’re raw to homeownership or you ’re a seasoned pro looking to point your skills , thesehome maintenance tasksare deserving get to know . While you might already be familiar with a few of these domicile betterment projects , whether snaking a waste pipe or exchange an air filter , others might be new to you . In fact , you might not even realize some of the item on this list should be preserve ( sorry in advance for changing your weekend program ) .

Get started today to keep damage to your rest home , make unnecessary thousands of dollars on future abode reparation , and skip unneeded armed service calls .

home exterior front with stone walkway entrance

Credit: Nathan Schroder

Stop a Running Toilet

Over prison term , a potty ’s water supply line may begin to run ceaselessly , leading to eminent water supply usage . To posit a range toilet , start by determining why the toilet is running . The job could be due to an overflow tube that ’s too short , the water horizontal surface could be congeal too high , the flush valve chain could be too forgetful , the flapper could be worn or falsify , or the loaded and filling valve could need replacing .

Reset a Tripped Breaker

To reset a breaker , locate yourhome ’s electric paneland identify the tripped circuit breaker . It will be the breaker with a switch that is n’t fully on . To readjust the tripped breaker , move the electrical switch fully to the " off " position , then return it to the " on " position .

If the circuit breaker continues to trip without a clear reason , do n’t restore the top executive . Instead , contact an electrician to discover the job .

Fix a Leaky Faucet

Anthony - Masterson

Drip , drip mould , drip … that ’s the speech sound of money going down your drain . When simply turning your spigot off a little tighter no longer keep it from leaking , it ’s sentence to learn tofix a leaky faucet . You ’ll also demand to knowhow to keep out offthe water supply for this DIY habitation fixing .

Repair or Replace Window Screens

When mild weather gyre in , give yourair conditioning systema well - deserve jailbreak . However , doing so before ensure your window filmdom are up to snuff will result in a firm full of uninvited guests . Learn torepair and supercede window screensto ascertain your home stayspest spare .

Patch a Hole in Drywall

If you ’re transitioning from renting a base to home possession , you might have already learned how to patch drywall the right way ( or , at least good enough to procure your damage repository ) . If not , fixing dry wall holesfrom little to monstrous with professional results is easier than you might imagine .

Find a Wall Stud

CARSON Andrew Jackson Downing

Once you move into your first domicile , you have an interminable list of item , from pictures to TVS , to fall on the paries . Whether you ’re hanging artwork or anchoring furniture to protect pets and kids , one of the first things you need to learn ishow to accurately happen a wall stud . This simple task can be completed through various method acting , whether you choose to employ a macho-man finder or but tap the rampart and valuate consequently .

Clean a Dryer Vent

allot tothe U.S. Fire Administration , clothes dryers cause about 2,900 family fires each class , and about a third of those result from a loser to pick the dryer . One task in particular that is often forgotten iscleaning the drier vent . Thisessential home maintenancetask should be fill out at least once each year .

Clear the Gutters

Thousands of multitude are offend annually as a final result of ravel twilight . Luckily , there are a number ofways to clean your trough from the prophylactic of the ground , which can preclude grand of one dollar bill in water supply harm . And if you do decide to scavenge gutters using a ladder , follow these tipsto check this out-of-door sustenance task off your checklist safely and fleetly .

Clean or Replace a Faucet Aerator

Kim Cornelison

If your faucet is tend inconsistently or has a fond rate of flow , the job likely lies right at the tip of your spigot rather than with your plumbing or water supply . Inside the faucet is something call an aerator , which can become clogged with sediment or lime and Ca buildup over fourth dimension . houseclean or replacing your faucet ’s aeratorcould be all it takes to get your spigot back up and running .

Change HVAC Filters

Depending on the eccentric of filter , your HVAC filter could require replacing every 30 days . to boot , if you have pets , that number could dilute to every 20 days . To keep your HVAC system running expeditiously all year long , it ’s deserving getting to knowhow often you should alter your HVAC filters . And if your HVAC system utilize reclaimable filters , follow theseinstructions for clean an aura filter .

Check and Maintain Your HVAC System

Beyond changing your household ’s air filters , there are several simple way you’re able to set your home and your warmth and air unit up for seasonal success . Take the time tocheck and maintain your HVAC systembefore each season to keep it do its best .

Change a Door Lock

When moving into a new place , parting manner with a roommate or tenant , or make esthetic update to your home , you ’ll likely need to change the door ringlet . Skip the call to the handyman andlearn to do it yourself . This dwelling improvement project typically convey only a 24-hour interval to complete while providing an updated style with increase security .

Replace a Shattered Lightbulb

Sure , everyone get laid how to change a bulb , but what about a broken bulb ? Sometimes , honest-to-god electric-light bulb separate from their bases , while others but shatter . you could safely hit the thread portion byturning off the baron at the breakerand unscrewing it using phonograph needle - nose pliers .

Snake a Drain

Once you own a home base , there ’s no more calling your landlord when the drain clog . Sure , you could call a plumber , but once you learn how easygoing it is tosnake a drain , you ’ll be traumatise at the money you could save by doing the job yourself . A drain Snake River can gain up to 25 infantry and is idealistic for clearing soft clogs in sinks , bath , and exhibitioner .

Fix a Loose Door Hinge

In well - loved homes , door hinges often become loose , causing doors to sag and stick . Left unchecked , price can occur to the room access , the other flexible joint stage , and the anatomy . To sidestep any additional issues and relieve the loose hinge , all you ask is a pocket-size piece of Sir Henry Wood like a match marijuana cigarette . Learn totroubleshoot your door flexible joint problemsto limit yourself up for achiever .

Keep Your Home Running Smoothly

Bureau of Labor Statistics , U.S. Department of Labor , The Economics Daily , Fatal accidental injury from ladders down in 2020 ; nonfatal ravel hurt were essentially unaltered athttps://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/fatal-injuries-from-ladders-down-in-2020-nonfatal-ladder-injuries-were-essentially-unchanged.htm(visitedFebruary 22 , 2023 ) .

bathroom white toilet marble sink patterned tile floor