ALLBIDS Blog

Home Maintenance Checklist: Things You Should Do Monthly

Thursday, 23 August 2018 | Mike Leano

Home ownership takes responsibility; aside from dutifully paying your mortgage, you'll also need to stay on top of home maintenance tasks. Doing this keeps your place in good working order, helps you control household expenses, and minimises aggravation.

To give you a better idea on what you need to do, here's a list of home maintenance tasks you should do monthly.

Inspect the HVAC filter

The HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) is a technological wonder that warms and cools your home. To keep the device running efficiently and save on energy costs, you'll have to replace them every quarter.

For best results, inspect your HVAC filter every month and see if it's time to change or clean it (depending on the type of filter you have). Tip: if yours uses disposable filters, replace them more frequently with cheaper variants instead of pricey ones.

Clean up the range hood filter

Over time, the range hood filter accumulates airborne grease and combustion products. You'll need to clean this filter monthly; otherwise, it won't effectively get rid of fumes when you cook.

But don't just clean it with your dishwasher. Try these methods:

• Fill the sink up with hot water, baking soda and dishwashing soap, then soak the filter there for about 15 minutes. Scrub off the residual grease with a brush, then rinse.
• Fill the sink up with hot water and a degreaser from a car parts store. Soak the filter for about 15 minutes, then rinse.
  
  

Test the automatic garage door

Make sure that your garage door's auto reverse system is functioning properly by testing it every month, or whenever you make any adjustments. Here's how it's done:

1. With the garage door open, place a 2x4 flat on the floor.Close the garage door.
2. The door must reverse when it hits the 2x4.
3. If it doesn't reverse, you need to adjust its down travel.
4. After adjusting, return to step 1.
   

You should also try tripping the sensor using an object (like the aforementioned 2x4). If the garage door doesn't reverse right away, the sensor may need cleaning or readjusting.

Clean out drains regularly

Here's home maintenance project that others may take for granted: If a sink or tub takes a bit longer to empty, it probably has accumulated waste obstructing the pipes. To avoid build-up, you can:

• Pour very hot water down the drain regularly, or;
• Pour a drain cleaner to stop clogs before they start. But be careful; conventional drain cleaners contain sodium hydroxide, which can burn skin and irritate respiratory airways.

Clear the garbage disposal unit

Your sink's garbage disposal works hard, which is why you should clean it regularly. The simplest, most proven way to do this is with baking soda and vinegar.

1. Pour a half cup of baking soda into the garbage disposal.
2. Gradually pour half a cup of vinegar into the garbage disposal, let it fizz, then let it sit for a few minutes.
3. While running the garbage disposal, pour some boiling water to flush everything down the drain.
   
   

Keep a home maintenance calendar

Monitoring all these tasks lets you reduce energy costs, avoid future headaches, and keep your abode healthy for all its residents. To stay on top of these responsibilities, keep a calendar; you can then check off items you've accomplished.

ALLBIDS runs many online auctions for your home maintenance needs. We provide all buyers several layers of protection, which means you can bid with confidence.

If you're looking to sell home-related supplies, you can also use ALLBIDS to take the hard selling off your hands and turn your items into cash. Get in touch with us today to find out how.