Made for your home
Upkeep for what your house actually has.
10 steps · about 6 hr in all
Start this plan in Haven
- Test your garage door’s auto-reverseWith the door open, lay a 2x4 flat in its path and close it: the door must reverse when it hits the board, and if it doesn’t, stop using the opener until it’s adjusted or repaired.5 min · Easy · Monthly · Homes with an automatic garage door opener
- Have your chimney inspected and sweptBurning wood leaves flammable creosote in the chimney, so the national fire code calls for an inspection every year, with sweeping when it’s needed.30 min · Call a pro · Yearly · Homes with a wood-burning fireplace or stove
- Have your septic system inspectedA septic professional checks the system and pumps the tank when it needs it; EPA says to have it inspected at least every three years and pumped about every three to five, so start with an inspection if you don’t know when it was last done.1 hr · Call a pro · One time · Homes on a septic system
- Test your well waterNo one else tests a private well, so test it every year for coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and again after flooding or if the taste, color or smell changes.30 min · Easy · Yearly · Homes on a private well
- Test your sump pumpPour a bucket of water into the pit: the pump should start on its own, drain it and shut off; if it doesn’t start, have it serviced, and test the battery backup too if you have one.15 min · Easy · Every 3 months · Homes with a sump pump
- Descale your tankless water heaterMinerals build up inside the heat exchanger, and a yearly flush with vinegar or a descaling solution dissolves them; check your manual first, since steps differ by model and a botched descale can void the warranty.1.5 hr · Call a pro · Yearly · Homes with a tankless water heater
- Check your crawlspace for moistureOnce a year, ideally after heavy rain, look for standing water, damp insulation, mold, sagging joists and pests; wear coveralls, a respirator and gloves, or hire a contractor if you’d rather not go in.1 hr · Moderate · Yearly · Homes built over a crawlspace
- Inspect your wood deckEach spring, probe the ledger where the deck meets the house, the posts, joists, boards, railings and stairs for soft wood, and have a deck builder look at anything spongy or loose.45 min · Easy · Yearly · Homes with a wood deck
- Keep your heat pump’s outdoor unit clearThe outdoor unit needs open airflow, so keep leaves and plants about 2 feet back and clear snow drifts, with the power off before you clean it; a little frost is normal, since heat pumps defrost themselves.15 min · Easy · Every 3 months · Homes with a heat pump or mini-split
- Check your water softener’s saltThe softener uses salt to recharge, so check the brine tank about once a month, top it up when it’s below half full, and break up any hard crust of salt.10 min · Easy · Monthly · Homes with a water softener
Keep this plan for your own home.
Haven fits the steps to your house, reminds you when each one is due, and Clark walks you through any of them.