So, you’ve finally done it, the most adult thing you can do: you’ve bought a home! Now you can settle into your brand-new living room for some much-deserved Netflix and Chill.

But wait—you may think you’re done now, but the responsibilities have just begun! Assuming you’re planning to stay in your home for the foreseeable future, you want to make sure you’re taking good care of your home.

Here are some tips for how to make sure your home stays maintained over the years.

Keep a Loose Schedule for Home Maintenance

Like cars or anything else, homes need regular maintenance to make sure everything is working properly. Making sure that nothing is falling under the radar is important. Checking things like electricity, plumbing, structure, appliances, HVAC, etc., will help prevent any surprises like leaks or damage. Regular maintenance will help you to detect a problem early.

If you do happen to discover something like mold or water damage, you can easily get it taken care of. Services from All Dry USA can help you with anything from detecting a leak to repairing water damage. And if you are located in Houston, you can use Linden Builders, a professional company specializes in water damage repair houston of a well-experienced and highly trained staff, who can help you get things done perfectly and at a reasonable price.

What to Check Monthly

Checking smaller appliances monthly will help keep your costs down if problems do occur. Conduct monthly checks on the following:

• Check your air vent to remove dust buildup.
• Check your faucets and sink/tub drains for clogging and buildup. Unclog them monthly just in case.
• Test to make sure your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are working.
• Check outlets to make sure they are all working and not shorting.
• Clean your garbage disposal by running ice cubes through followed by hot water.

What to Check in Fall?

Fall is the perfect time to do a lot of maintenance since the weather is so accommodating. This is the perfect time to do outside maintenance on your home like cleaning gutters and lawn grooming. You can use this time to touch up your exterior with a fresh coat of paint. Fix any window cracks or gaps in door/window closures (before the weather gets cold) to save on heat.

Check your water heater for leaks now before the weather gets colder and you ACTUALLY need hot water. Also, check your roof for missing shingles; weather tends to get harsh in the winter and wet in the spring, so you want to make sure you don’t have any ceiling leaks now.

What to Check in Winter?

Winter can cause a lot of damage to your home, especially if you live in a harsher climate. If your temperatures get below freezing often, make sure to leave your faucets on a slow drip so your pipes don’t freeze over. If there is a freeze, check your basement for a leak once it thaws. Get behind your refrigerator and vacuum those coils to prevent any interference in function.

What to Check in Spring?

Spring is the perfect time to clean and give your home a nice run-through. If you had any serious storms or blizzards during the winter, you’ll want to check some of the same fixtures you did in winter just to make sure there was no residual damage.

Also, since the weather is improving, it’s a great time to power wash windows and driveways. You might also plant some shrubbery on your lawn.

What to Check in Summer?

If you live in a hot, arid climate, chances are you probably don’t want to spend a lot of time outdoors doing maintenance on your house! Use the summertime to tackle indoor things in the nice AC (which you checked in the fall, so it should be good!).

• Polish furniture and touch up paint jobs and/or wallpaper.
• Check appliances for leaks.
• Check faucets and drains for buildups and clogs.
• Clean your kitchen vent filter.
• Manicure any shrubs or lawn decorations you may have before it gets TOO hot out!

With this quick guide to home maintenance, your new home should look fresh and new for many years to come. Congratulations on your new purchase and happy housekeeping!