Looking after a house, one job at a time

How often, why it matters, what skipping it costs, and how to do it — written by the developer of Gable. Where a job needs a professional, the guide says so.

Start here

• New homeowner maintenance: your first yearWhat to learn in week one, season one and year one — in the order it matters.
• The home maintenance checklist: what to do and whenSeventy-one jobs grouped by spring, fall and year-round, with why each one matters.

Heating, water and plumbing

• How often should you change your furnace filter?Every 1–3 months for thin filters, 6–12 for thick ones — and what MERV means.
• When to book a furnace tune-upWhy it goes in the fall, what the technician should check, and what to ask for.
• Ceiling fan clockwise in winter: which way is that?Which way clockwise looks from the floor, what speed to use, and when it saves anything.
• Radiator cold at the top? How to bleed itTrapped air, the order to work in, and the boiler pressure check that comes after.
• How to flush a water heaterThe safe order of steps, a clogged drain valve, and the two checks to do while you’re there.
• How to winterize outdoor faucetsTen minutes before the first freeze, and the spring check that finds a split pipe.
• Insulate pipes to prevent freezingWhich pipes freeze first, how to fit foam sleeves, and what insulation alone cannot do.
• How to test a sump pumpFive minutes with a bucket, the discharge line outside, and the signs a pump is failing.

Safety

• How often to test and replace smoke and CO alarmsMonthly tests, yearly batteries, and the replacement dates most people miss.
• How to clean a dryer ventThe warning signs, how often, and the job itself — from the dryer to the outside wall.
• How often to sweep a chimneyYearly inspection, the eighth-of-an-inch rule, and the signs to book before the year is up.

Outside the house

• When and how often to clean guttersTwice a year for most houses, when exactly, and the signs you’re already late.
• When to winterize a sprinkler systemThe temperature to watch, how late is too late, and blow-out versus drain-down.

Comparisons

• Best home maintenance apps for Android, comparedHomer, Dwellin, Oply, Housed, Housemindr and Gable, compared honestly.

Gable: home maintenance

Answer three questions about your house and get the list it actually needs this season, with a reminder before each job. No account; your plan stays on your phone.