Help · Home care
Looking after what’s in your home
How often, why, and how: each one from the makers and safety groups, with the sources linked. Add your home to My homes and each piece of equipment keeps its own schedule.
Furnace, air conditioner and heat pump: 3 jobs
- Check the air filter, and change it when dirtyFurnace, Air conditioner, Heat pump · Check monthly, year round; replace 1-inch fiberglass about every 30 days, 1-inch pleated every 1-3 months, 4-5 inch media every 6-12 months, and check more often in wildfire-smoke season
- Have the furnace, air conditioner or heat pump tuned upFurnace, Air conditioner, Heat pump · Each fall, before heating season
- Clear and rinse the outdoor unitAir conditioner, Heat pump · Check monthly; clean yearly before cooling season
Boiler: 1 job
- Have the boiler started up and checkedBoiler · Each fall, at the start of heating season
Water heater: 3 jobs
- Set the water heater to 120°FWater heater · Once
- Drain the water heater and test its relief valveWater heater · Tank models: after the first 6 months, then yearly; about every 6 months with hard water; lift the relief valve lever yearly; the valve’s label gives its own inspection schedule
- Check the water heater’s anode rodWater heater · Tank models: at 6 months, then yearly; sooner with softened water
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: 4 jobs
- Test the CO alarm near fuel-burning equipmentFurnace, Water heater, Boiler, Clothes dryer, Range / oven · Monthly (NFPA); Kidde and First Alert say weekly
- Test the smoke and CO alarmsSmoke / CO alarm · Monthly (NFPA); Kidde and First Alert say weekly
- Replace the alarm batteriesSmoke / CO alarm · Yearly, or when it chirps; not on sealed 10-year alarms
- Replace old smoke and CO alarmsSmoke / CO alarm · Smoke alarms 10 years from the date on the back (NFPA); CO and combination alarms 7 years (Kidde, First Alert), or the maker’s date
Refrigerator: 2 jobs
- Clean the refrigerator’s condenser coilsRefrigerator, Freezer · Only if the manual says to: most GE models since 2001 and most homes never need it; with pets, dust or a garage, every 3-6 months
- Change the refrigerator’s water filter (if it has one)Refrigerator · Every 6 months, or when the flow drops or the light turns red (the light is a timer; an outage can reset it)
Dishwasher: 1 job
- Clean the dishwasher filterDishwasher · Manual-filter models: monthly (Whirlpool) to every other month (GE); Bosch 3-6 times a year; self-cleaning models: nothing to clean
Range hood: 1 job
- Clean the range hood’s grease filtersRange hood · Every 1-3 months (Broan), about 6 months (GE); monthly with lots of frying; charcoal filters replaced every 3-6 months
Garbage disposal: 1 job
- Clean the garbage disposalGarbage disposal · Monthly (Whirlpool); InSinkErator says just use it often
Washer: 1 job
- Run a washer tub clean (and wipe a front-loader’s door gasket)Clothes washer · Monthly, or every 20-40 washes by maker
Dryer: 1 job
- Clean the dryer ventClothes dryer · Yearly, or when drying slows (Whirlpool: 1-2 years); the lint screen every load
Garage door opener: 1 job
- Test the garage door’s safety reverseGarage door opener · Monthly
Sump pump: 1 job
- Test the sump pumpSump pump · Every 3 months, the main pump and any battery backup
Water softener: 1 job
- Check the water softener’s salt and top it upWater softener · Every 4-6 weeks; Culligan says monthly
Standby generator: 1 job
- Have the generator servicedStandby generator · Yearly checks; oil and filter per the model’s schedule (Generac every 2 years or 200 hours; Kohler yearly or 100 hours)
Filters and parts you replace
What each kind of equipment and appliance uses up, and where to find the exact size or part number for yours. On your home’s record, each one’s page links a search with its brand and model.
Furnace
- Air filter. Check it monthly; replace 1-inch fiberglass about every 30 days, 1-inch pleated every 1-3 months, a 4-5 inch media filter every 6-12 months. The size is printed on the edge of the filter you have now (for example 16 x 25 x 1). Buy the same size. How →
Air conditioner
- Air filter. Check it monthly; replace 1-inch fiberglass about every 30 days, 1-inch pleated every 1-3 months, a 4-5 inch media filter every 6-12 months. The size is printed on the edge of the filter you have now (for example 16 x 25 x 1). Buy the same size. How →
Heat pump
- Air filter. Check it monthly; replace 1-inch fiberglass about every 30 days, 1-inch pleated every 1-3 months, a 4-5 inch media filter every 6-12 months. The size is printed on the edge of the filter you have now (for example 16 x 25 x 1). Buy the same size. How →
Water heater
- Anode rod. Wears away so the tank doesn’t; checked yearly and replaced when it’s thin or coated. A consumable, not covered by the warranty. The owner’s manual or the maker names the rod for your model; the manual gives owner steps, or a plumber if you’d rather. How →
- Relief valve. The safety valve on the top or side; replaced if it won’t release or keeps dripping after a test. Its rating is on its own tag; a plumber replaces it. How →
Standby generator
- Oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs. Changed on the maker’s schedule (yearly or by hours run); usually by the dealer. The owner’s manual lists the parts and the schedule for your model. How →
Refrigerator
- Water filter. On models with a water or ice dispenser: about every 6 months, or when the filter light comes on. The part number is on the filter you have now, or in the owner’s manual for your model. How →
- Air filter. Some models have one. The owner’s manual says whether yours has one, which, and how often to change it.
Dishwasher
- Filter. Most models have a removable filter at the bottom: rinse it monthly to every other month. Some models clean themselves. The manual shows yours; a damaged one is replaced by model number. How →
Clothes washer
- Drain pump filter. On front-loaders, behind a small door at the bottom front: clean it monthly or every 40 washes. Top-loaders have none. The manual shows where yours is. How →
Clothes dryer
- Vent duct. The duct from the dryer to the outside: clean it yearly; replace it if it’s crushed or torn. Metal only, never plastic; CPSC and NFPA say rigid or semi-rigid metal. Match the size of the dryer’s outlet and the wall vent. Duct hidden in a wall, floor or ceiling must be rigid smooth metal (IRC M1502); the exposed piece from the dryer to the wall may be a transition duct listed to UL 2158A, no longer than 8 feet. How →
Range hood
- Grease filters (metal). Washable; clean them every 1-6 months by maker, monthly with lots of frying. Replacements, if one is damaged, by the hood’s model number. How →
- Charcoal filter. Only on hoods that recirculate air instead of venting outside; never washed, replaced every 3-6 months. The part number is in the owner’s manual or on the filter. How →
Smoke / CO alarm
- Batteries. Replace yearly or when it chirps, unless the alarm has a sealed 10-year battery. A chirp every 30-60 seconds means low. The battery type (often 9-volt or AA) is on the alarm or behind its cover. How →
- The alarm itself. Smoke alarms are replaced 10 years from the date on the back; CO and combination alarms at 7 years (Kidde, First Alert) or the maker’s date. The date is on the back of the alarm. How →
Water softener
- Salt. The type your manual names (makers differ: some say pellets only, some allow rock or solar salt; potassium chloride needs setting changes). Check every 4-6 weeks. The owner’s manual names the salt for your softener. How →
Sump pump
- Backup battery. On battery-backup systems; wet-cell batteries need their level checked monthly. The manual for the backup system names the battery. How →
Still stuck?
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