Home maintenance checklist
General, sourced guidance — not a personalized inspection or a stated code requirement. When you sign up, ProReside asks a few questions about your home and turns the relevant items below into an actual schedule automatically.
Safety
The highest-consequence items on this list.
Smoke & CO detectors
Test monthly; replace smoke detectors every 10 years from their manufacture date regardless of whether the test button still works (NFPA 72) — check the date printed on the back of the unit. CO detectors typically need replacing every 5-7 years (up to 10 for newer sealed-lithium models).
Fire extinguisher
Keep one in or near the kitchen — cooking is a leading cause of home fires. Check monthly that the gauge reads in the green and it isn't expired; most residential units are replaced rather than recharged at end of life.
Radon
The EPA recommends testing every home for radon regardless of location — levels depend on your specific foundation and soil, not just your general area. A DIY test kit is inexpensive; retest roughly every 2 years or after a major renovation.
Fireplace & chimney
Wood-burning fireplaces need an annual chimney inspection/cleaning (NFPA 211) — creosote buildup is the real hazard. Gas fireplaces don't have creosote to sweep, but still need an annual inspection of the burner, venting, and gas connections by a qualified technician.
Know your shutoffs
Locate and label your main water shutoff valve, and your main gas shutoff if you have gas — knowing where these are before you need them can turn an emergency into a quick fix.
Systems & plumbing
HVAC filter
Replace the filter on a central heating/cooling system roughly every 90 days.
Water heater
Flush a tank water heater (and check the TPR valve) or descale a tankless unit about once a year.
Dryer vent
Clean it out yearly — a clogged vent is a real fire-safety issue, not just an efficiency one.
Sump pump
Test twice a year. A battery or water-powered backup is commonly recommended by plumbers and waterproofing contractors, since the most common sump pump failure is a power outage during heavy rain — exactly when it's needed most.
Well water
If you're on a private well, the EPA recommends annual testing for bacteria and nitrates, with a fuller chemical panel every 3-5 years.
Septic tank
Have it pumped roughly every 3 years if you're on a septic system rather than city sewer (EPA SepticSmart).
Exterior
Gutters
Clean them out at least once a year to prevent water damage to the roof and foundation.
Roof
A yearly visual inspection catches small issues (loose or missing shingles, flashing wear) before they become expensive ones.
Pool / spa
Service equipment regularly if you have one — about every 90 days is a reasonable baseline on top of routine chemical checks.
ProReside turns this list into an actual schedule — built from a few quick questions about your home, with a real completed maintenance record you can point to later.
Create Your HouseholdGeneral guidance sourced from NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), EPA, and CPSC. Not a personalized inspection, and not a statement of any local code requirement — some of these vary by jurisdiction.