Home Maintenance Kings

Home Baseline checklist

19 one-time jobs that make every month of maintenance easier: know your systems and their ages, find your shutoffs, check your safety basics, and set up simple habits.

Track your progress with a free accountGet the free 12-Month Maintenance Calendar

Know your systems

Write these down once and every future repair is faster and cheaper.

  • Record the furnace or heat pump make, model and install year Guide
  • Record the AC make, model and install year Guide
  • Record the water heater type, size and install year Guide
  • Find out roughly how old the roof is Guide
  • Note the furnace filter size and buy two spares Guide
  • Gather appliance manuals, or save PDF copies Guide

Find your shutoffs

In an emergency, minutes matter.

  • Find and label the main water shutoff Guide
  • Check the shutoff under each sink and behind each toilet turns Guide
  • Find the electrical panel and check the breakers are labeled Guide
  • If you have gas, find the meter and where the shutoff is Guide

Safety basics

The checks that protect people first.

  • Test every smoke alarm and check its manufacture date Guide
  • Install CO alarms if you have gas appliances or an attached garage Guide
  • Put a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage Guide
  • Test GFCI outlets in the kitchen, baths, garage and outside Guide

Set up the habits

Small routines that keep maintenance from piling up.

  • Print the 12-Month Calendar and put it somewhere you'll see it
  • Pick one day a month for maintenance (the first Saturday works for many)
  • Find an HVAC company, plumber and electrician before you need one Guide
  • Replace rubber washer hoses with braided steel Guide
  • Read the notes for your climate zone