As a homeowner, there are a lot of responsibilities you have regarding your house...especially when it comes to maintenance and upkeep! It can be really daunting. Here at Landmark Home Warranty, we always want to make your life easier. That is why we’ve created what your responsibilities are as a home warranty customer.

TIP: Breaking up maintenance monthly can help you not feel so overwhelmed!!

This is a general guideline of what your responsibilities are for maintenance of your systems and appliances. Here is the good news: not all of the maintenance has to be done by a professional! You can find a lot of DIY solutions on our blog!

HVAC Systems:

• Landmark recommends you have your HVAC unit checked and serviced semi-annually by a licensed technician.
• Replace your air filters at least every 3 months.  You should also monitor your fans and belts on the outdoor unit. If the belts or fan does not sound right, call a professional to take a look at it.

Refrigerators:

• Landmark recommends having a service technician clear the defrost drain tubes of debris as needed to prevent the tubes freezing and potentially springing a leak.
• As a homeowner, you should be cleaning the evaporative coils at the bottom or back of your refrigerator. This will help the unit cool quicker and last longer.

Washing Machine:

• You should visually inspect the hoses behind the washer. If there are any bulges, or visual leaks, you will need to call a technician to have the hose replaced.
• You should also clean the inside of your washer using baking soda and vinegar.
• Remember to leave the washing machine door open to reduce mold or mildew build-up.

Dryers:

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• Landmark recommends that you have your dryer duct cleaned annually. This will reduce long dry times, excessive wear and tear on the unit, higher utility bills and potential house fires.
• If you clean the dryer’s lint trap after every use, allowing for proper air flow and shorter dry times

Stove/Cooktop:

• As a homeowner you should clean any visible grease that accumulates and could cause a potential fire hazard.
• You should clean the filters on your cooktop. This is important because if the filters are clogged, they are less effective at trapping grease and smoke, creating a fire hazard.

Microwaves:

• You should clean the inside of your microwave after every use to remove any splattered food particles. This will ensure that the micro “waves” are properly heating and cooking the food.

Dishwasher:

• As a homeowner you should clean out any debris in the bottom of the unit to allow proper water flow and drainage to get the best cleaning results. You should clean the filter once a month.
• Running an empty cycle using a cup of vinegar will help to deodorize the dishwasher

Ovens

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• When cleaning your oven you should clean your oven without heat, as the heat can damage the heating elements and cause broken glass oven doors.
• As a homeowner when your seals are cracked or old you should replace them because they will let heat out. You’ll be tempted to turn up the heat of the oven, which eventually will burn the heating elements. Instead, just replace the seals!

Landmark has so many more DIY Repairs and Maintenance from garage doors to spring maintenance checklists on our blog!