DIY Home Maintenance Tips You Can Do Yourself (Mostly)

You can save money and get a sense of satisfaction by doing DIY home maintenance throughout your home rather than paying someone to do it for you. It can make appliances and other parts of your home last longer and can help to make your home safer, too.

Here are a series of suggestions throughout your home, some of which you can do today, some of which might be required in the future, and some that you can identify yourself but may need help to actually address.

Appliances

Pull out your fridge and stove	Ever taken a peek underneath your fridge or stove? You might be surprised how much debris and dirt accumulates. Pull both appliances out, take a look and clean up whatever you see. Also make sure when you put your fridge back that you give at least 1″ clearance at the back wall area for air flow.
Inspect the fridge door	Ensure the fridge seal around the door enables the door to tightly close. Also wipe the seal with a wet cloth to keep it clean.
Clean refrigerator coils	An often overlooked maintenance activity: Your refrigerator coils get very dirty and dusty over time. If they look like they are wearing a fur coat, vacuum them or use compressed air to blow the dust off if it’s in a tight place. My fridge coils are pretty inaccessible with my vacuum in certain places so I used compressed air to blow the rest away. If you have pets, you may find your coils are even dirtier still.
Stove grate cleaning	Stoves can get very dirty when you spill hot liquids on it and allow it to dry. It then becomes more difficult to clean. More so if you have a ceramic stove top. While you don’t want to burn yourself by cleaning it while the stove is still hot, don’t let stains and burned food remain overnight.
Hood vent cleaning	I wrote a detailed article on cleaning your range hood filters with pictures that might interest you. The greasier and more oily the foods you cook, the dirtier your filters will get. Many people never get around to cleaning their filters. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.
Oven cleaning	As with your hood vent, the more you cook in your stove with foods that spill, bubble up, overflow and create fumes, the dirtier your oven will be. If your oven has a self-cleaning option use it but do pay attention to venting while using this feature. It involves a high level of heat that creates fumes in your kitchen as it burns away the debris inside the oven.
Change your water filter	Admit it. You like to push it and instead of changing your water filter every 30 days, you reset the timer and use it for another month. More so with the fridge water dispenser water filter because we know how expensive they are. Replace water filters at the manufacturer’s recommended interval. After awhile even the best filters stop doing their job.
Clean clothes dryer ducts	Vacuum your dryer ducts and hose to prevent it from being a fire hazard especially if has never been done. Disconnect the hose from your dryer, pull out noticeable lint by hand and vacuum out the rest. Also empty the dryer lint collector regularly as a full one lowers the efficiency of the dryer and may create a fire hazard.
Dryer vent outside the house	Make sure you look outside the house where the dryer vent ends to ensure it has a screen on it to prevent a rodent from climbing in. Also ensure it is free of lint.
Garage door safety inspection	Lubricating the rollers every so often helps the door open and close easier. Double check that the garage door release cord is locked but is able to release should you ever need to use it.
Electric garage door opener inspection	If you have an electric garage door opener, the hydraulics and spring may need to be lubricated although it’s best to check the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance.

Doors

Inspect for wear, lubricate moving points	Squeaking doors can easily be oiled or lubricated if needed.
Lubricate all locks	Check the locks of your doors and lubricate them if necessary.
Inspect / Repair weatherstripping	For around $10 give or take, you can buy new weatherstripping and install it yourself. It seals leaks and gaps and prevents air from creating noise during windy days and helps to ensure heat and cool air aren’t escaping from your home.

Driveway

Cracks and gaps	If you have a standard asphalt driveway, cracks and gaps can worsen during winter when water seeps into the gaps, freezes and expands. Seal them with a tube of asphalt sealant which comes in squeezable tubes and ones used with a caulking gun. Be careful using salt and other anti-icing products that can damage concrete if you have that sort of driveway.
Maintenance	Washing your driveway regularly before grease and oil stains sets in can help to keep it clean and new looking. If you choose to seal your asphalt driveway, ensure you do it right.

Exterior

Clean downspouts / rain gutters	Ensure that water runoff can escape well away from the house foundation to avoid water getting in your basement.
Wash exterior windows	A simple maintenance option that can save you paying a window cleaner to do it. A professional window cleaning may cost $200 – $300 although they can also do the upstairs ones which might be to dangerous for you to do yourself.
Brick mortar	Look for cracks in brick mortar before it becomes a bigger problem. This is something you want to get a pro to fix but you can inspect your brick mortar yourself for free.
Inspect / repair roof shingles, vents and chimney	Builders often go cheap with shingle roof installation and don’t property prepare your bare wood surface before shingling the roof. The roof is an important aspect of home structure and protection from the elements. Inspect your roof for missing shingles and have them replaced as soon as possible.
Inspect / replace insulation attic	Take a peek at your insulation in the attic especially if you’ve never done so. If you find your house temperature is colder than it should be and you are in a older home, you might need more insulation or a complete replacement. Look for mold which indicates a water leak or excess moisture which can be a health hazard over time.
Store patio furniture	I like to store patio furniture inside during the winter not only for security reasons so they don’t get stolen but also to protect them against the elements. This is especially true if you have very cold, snowy, icy winters.
Chimney / fireplace flue	Have your chimney cleaned professionally. Inspect your chimney for damage if you are able to. Otherwise get a chimney cleaner to go up the roof and check as part of their cleaning routine. Inspect your fireplace yourself to look for damage.
Pressure wash	Pressure washing is a relatively easy to way to keep your yard clean particularly the walls, walkways, garage floors and driveways. It make removing weeds from between bricks easy too.
Water drainage / grading from downspouts	Ensure that the grading of your property goes down away from your property so that water runoff is away from the foundation of your home, not towards.
Inspect, touch up paint on siding / windows / trim	Other than the nice aesthetic look of paint on your house, it also serves to protect wood against water damage, UV exposure and other elements. Cracked and deteriorating paint allows water to penetrate wooden frames causing rot which leads to premature replacement of window frames and windows themselves.

Foundation

Foundation floor

Some foundation and wall cracks are normal in a home. Some new home foundation cracks are critical to fix and can cost thousands of dollars to repair and in some cases, much more. 1/16″ hairline cracks are very common with concrete foundations.

Foundation walls

Even a 1/4″ gap in your basement walls is cause for concern. Look for large horizontal cracks on your foundation walls. Vertical cracks aren’t typically as serious but horizontal cracks indicate that the perimeter of the home foundation is under a great deal of pressure. While inspecting your foundation and walls can be a DIY job, fixing it may not be. Get help from a foundation professional to take a look and give you a professional opinion.

HVAC/Furnace

Clean bathroom fans	Check air vents in your bathroom fans as they tend to get full of dirt as they’re sucking air. Vent covers can typically be quickly removed and either washed or wiped as needed.
Change your air filter	You typically change an air filter 4 times per year so every 3 months. If you find that the filter is getting dark gray or black quicker, you might want to increase the replacement frequency. Washable reusable filters tend to be cheaper but don’t work as well as high quality disposable ones.
Furnace / AC inspection	Get your furnace and air conditioner inspected each year or bi annually at worst. It helps to ensure it’s running optimally and might help you fix minor problems before they become a major problem.
Vacuum air returns	Take a look in your air returns if you have a duct heating and cooling system. If you see noticeable dirt or debris, vacuum it out. It may not do much to improve air flow but it will at least ensure that dirt doesn’t make into the house for you to breathe it in.
Wall heaters	If you have hot water wall heaters, check the water pressure right before winter starts to ensure it’s at the correct level. If it has dropped over the prior season, the heating may not work nearly as well until you add water to the system.
Humidifier	Your humidifier adds moisture into the air in winter when dry cold air entering the home lowers the humidity inside the home. If you have a humidifier built into your furnace it may have a filter than needs to be replaced. Water flow can be restricted or prevented from flowing if you have hard water in the home too so ensure that the system is operating properly. I’ve found cases where in the middle of winter the humidity drops, everyone in the house gets a sore throat and I check the humidifier and find that the water hose is blocked and not flowing.
Dehumidifier	If you use a dehumidifier to lower humidity during the summer when humid air can enter the home and make it uncomfortable, check the filter as it can get very dirty and crusty with calcium. A dehumidifier ensures that humidity remains in check. When it gets too high, humidity can exacerbate allergies and cause mold to develop within the home.

Interior

Clean kitchen walls / cabinets	Kitchen walls and cabinets can get messy from food and other debris. This is more a basic cleaning task rather than something bigger.
Rotate all bed mattresses	Rotate your mattress according to manufacturer instructions but you generally do this every 3 months to ensure that it wears properly. Single sided mattress: Turn the mattress 180 degrees. Double sided mattress: Turn the mattress 180 degrees and then flip it over onto the other side.
Caulk sinks, showers, toilets, tubs	Caulk your sinks, showers, toilets and tubs as necessary if you see it cracking or tearing. Also wipe your shower and bath area after use to prevent mold growth. Once black mold starts to develop on caulking, you pretty much have to replace the caulking to get rid of it. Spray a mixture of white vinegar and water on grout and the shower walls after use to prevent mold growth.
Wall paint touch up	Again, another maintenance item that is more for aesthetics. If you hate looking at cracks, stains and paint chips as much as I do, you know why you have to do this.
Wood trim – touch up	Another maintenance tip that keeps scuffed up wood trim from looking their age.
Repair, clean, seal grout	Gaps and cracks in your grout can allow water to get behind the tiles in your shower and cause rot that you can’t even see. This includes both grout on the shower walls and shower floor if you have it there too. While you may be handy enough to do this yourself, water leaks can be serious. You may be better hiring a plumber to take a look and having them fix it.

Plumbing

Clean your washing machine filter	Washing machines can get very dirty especially in the detergent dispenser area. More so if you use crystal powder which can gum up the system and smell over time. Empty your washing machine filter regularly.
Clean dishwasher filter	The dishwasher filter is another overlooked area that most people never look at. If your dishwasher smells inside and isn’t cleaning dishes properly, check your owner’s manual or watch a YouTube manual if necessary to find the filter and learn how to clean it. In my experience they can get very dirty and gross. Remember: It’s cleaning the plates, cups and cutlery you use to eat with.
Clean faucet aerators	The aerators are the small screens that screw on the end of the taps. They help to filter out sand and other tiny debris that gets in water so you don’t drink it or otherwise have to deal with it. Over time the filters collect the debris and need to be unscrewed and cleaned out.
Flush water heater	If your water heater is at least several years old and has never been flushed it likely has debris and sediment at the bottom from water. The more sediment, the less efficient your water heater will work. Click here to read my article about flushing out your water heater yourself.
Turn off exterior water tap	If you live in a cold weather environment it’s a good idea to shut off access to any outdoor water taps to prevent the possibility of freezing. The outdoor water tap water shutoff is generally in the basement and probably on the ceiling area.
Check TPR valve on water heater	The temperature pressure release valve (TPR) is located on the side of the water heater to automatically release water and reduce pressure if it gets too high. It should be closed to function properly.
Shower leaks	Tighten up loose shower heads. If the seal is gone and it continues to leak, it might be cheaper to replace the shower head if it’s more than a few years old. Also scrub the shower head clean if calcium has built up on it.
Sink leaks	Check underneath the sink for leaks and address them right away. Double check that the tap isn’t dripping. Note: Some faucet manufacturers offers lifetime replacement for the cartridge that sits inside the tap. Others may offer a limited warranty. When the cartridge deteriorates, it can cause leaks but you may get a free replacement which I did with our Delta home faucets when they started to leak and I got free replacements from Home Depot.
Toilet leaks	Toilet leaks waste water and when it ends up on the floor can lead to messy and costly damage. Get a plumber to check this out asap. You can also check to ensure water supply hoses are snugly tightened but not too much.

Roof

Inspect for leaks	Call a roofing contractor the moment you notice a leak from your roof. It’s possible that the leak has been there for awhile and just became noticeable.
Check for leaks, damage, misalignment.	If you notice roof shingles misaligned or missing, this is another things that a roofing contractor should fix. Look for premature wear and curling of shingles which could indicate overheating in the attic.
Inspect gutters and downspouts	Ensure gutters and downspouts are clear so that water is able to properly drain especially during storms and in the winter. Leaking downspouts should be caulked.

Safety

CO detector	Change batteries. Replace the unit if it has expired as it has a shelf life. Use the test button to ensure the battery isn’t dead if the light doesn’t blink every 30 seconds or so.
Smoke detector	Change batteries. Replace the unit if it has expired as it has a shelf life. Use the test button to ensure the battery isn’t dead if the light doesn’t blink every 30 seconds or so.
Fire extinguisher	Check the level to see if it has gone down. Some fire extinguishers are rechargeable every 6 years. Others have to be replaced every 12 years or sooner. Replace the unit if it has expired.
Water sensor	If you have a water sensor(s) make sure if hasn’t been knocked out of place or otherwise damaged. They come in very handy when a water leak occurs in the home so that you catch it before it becomes a costly problem.
IP camera	Check any cameras that you have outside the home for security purposes to ensure their bracket hasn’t come loose and they’re pointing in the right direction.
Motion detector	Use a soft terry cloth with a glass or window cleaner to wipe dust and dirt away from the detector to ensure it doesn’t get set off by accident or not at all. Get rid of spider webs, too.
Security lighting	As with the motion detector, make sure security lighting is kept clean but also check the angle to make sure it’s pointed in the direction that makes the most sense.

Walkways

Pressure wash	Pressure washing cleans off surface dirt and removes weeds that look unsightly. The sooner you do it the better as weeds can grow deep roots if you wait too long.
Inspect / repair cracks	The sooner you address cracks, the less likely it’ll turn into a bigger problem especially if you get ice and snow in the winter.
Fill cracks / seal asphalt	As above, the sooner you address cracks, the less likely it’ll turn into a bigger problem especially if you get ice and snow in the winter.

Windows

Inspect for wear, lubricate moving points	Also check for areas that need recaulking. This seals air leaks that cause you to spend more money on heating and cooling.
Replace your windows	Consider upgrading your windows if they’re old and past their prime. When window seals deteriorate, it costs you more money for heating and cooling. It’s an expensive fix but eventually it’ll need to be done. Signs that your windows need replacement: Drafts and noise are noticeable. Condensation build up on the inside of the windows in winter.
Clean tracks and weep holes	Weeping holes are the gaps on the brick exterior of your home. They appear every so often and look like the builders forgot to put grout in. They didn’t. These gaps allow water and moisture that entered through window frames to exit the building and not get caught behind the brick wall. Some people shove wire mesh into the weep holes to prevent insects and pests from getting inside and building nests.
Inspect / Repair weatherstripping	As mentioned above, worn weatherstripping and caulking leads to air leaks and higher heating and cooling costs.
Wash exterior windows	Clean windows are nice to look through.
Install window screens	This keeps insects out. It enables you to keep windows open without worrying about mosquitoes, bees or flies coming in.
Clean and lube crank out window operators	If you have windows with cranks that turn to open, cleaning them and spraying a bit of lubricant ensures that they turn correctly. Over time I’ve noticed that the gears on the cranks get worn so a bit of WD-40 or other lubricant can help to turn them easier and perhaps increase their lifespan. If the gears start skipping and the window won’t open, they will need to be replaced.