Home maintenance guides
How often to service the things in your home, what it costs, and the signs you have left it too long. 17 guides, updated for 2026.
- Central Air Conditioner Maintenance Checklist (Spring Tune-Up)
Yearly tune-up extends a $5,000 AC unit from 10 years to 15-20. Here's what to do.
- Dishwasher Maintenance Schedule (Monthly, Yearly, Lifetime)
Dishwashers last 9-12 years with proper care, 5-7 without. Here's the maintenance schedule.
- Garage Door Maintenance: Annual Lubrication and Safety Tests
A garage door cycles 1500+ times a year. Annual maintenance turns 10-year doors into 25-year doors.
- How Often Should You Change Your HVAC Filter?
Most homes need a new filter every 1-3 months. Here's the schedule for your situation.
- How Often Should You Clean Gutters?
Twice a year minimum. Four times in heavy tree cover. Gutter neglect causes $5,000+ damage.
- How Often Should You Replace Your Water Filter?
From fridge filters to whole-house systems — here's exactly when each one needs replacement.
- How Often to Clean a Chimney
Annual inspection at minimum. Clean after every 50 fires or 1/8" of creosote buildup.
- How Often to Clean Dryer Vents (and Why It Matters)
Lint screen every load. Full vent ductwork once a year. This isn't optional — it's a fire hazard.
- How Often to Have Your Carpets Cleaned?
Pro cleaning every 12-18 months. With pets or allergies, every 6 months. DIY vacuum 2x/week.
- How Often to Inspect Your Roof (and What to Check For)
Twice a year + after every major storm. Catching a roof problem early saves 90% of the cost.
- Lawn Mower Maintenance Schedule (Spring, Mid-Season, Winterizing)
Spring tune-up, mid-season check, winterize. A maintained mower lasts 15+ years.
- Pool Pump Maintenance Schedule
Weekly basket clean. Monthly pressure check. Annual seal inspection. Easy work, doubles pump life.
- Refrigerator Maintenance: Coil Cleaning, Gasket Inspection, Filter Replacement
Clean coils, inspect gaskets, replace filters. A maintained fridge runs 18-20 years; unmaintained, 10-12.
- Septic Tank Maintenance Schedule (and How Long Between Pumpings)
Pump every 3-5 years. Inspect annually. Keep harsh chemicals and grease out. Failure costs $15,000+.
- Smoke Detector Battery Replacement: When and Which Type
Every 6 months for battery-only units, every 10 years for the detector itself.
- Sump Pump Maintenance: Quarterly Tests and Annual Inspection
Quarterly test, annual inspection. A sump pump failure during a storm is a $10,000 basement flood.
- Water Heater Maintenance: Annual Checklist and How to Drain It
A water heater that gets yearly maintenance lasts 12-15 years. Skip it, and 6-8 is typical.
Tracking all of this by memory is the hard way. FixLog keeps the schedule for you — or see how it compares to the alternatives.