11 Home Maintenance Chores That Can Wait Longer Than You Think

This post may contain affiliate links.

From a homeowner’s perspective, there are never ending things you need to do to maintain a home and it can be incredibly overwhelming. Whether it’s gutter cleaning or HVAC servicing, it seems like everything needs to be done right away. The truth is, though, that not all home maintenance chores need to be attacked as often as others. Keeping those that can wait from being pushed through not only saves you time, but also unnecessary stress and expense.

Though it’s important to stay on top of some responsibilities, like checking your smoke detectors, other tasks are more forgiving when you miss a cycle. In this article, we’ll look at 11 home maintenance tasks that you can snooze on until later without compromising the safety or value of your home.

Cleaning the Dryer Vent

15 Uncommon But Simple Home Repairs You Can DIY to Save Big — Photo Credit: Ucpage/Pexels

The dryer vent often gets lumped in with regular cleaning tasks, but here’s the good news: You don’t have to do it every month. Cleaning it annually is usually sufficient unless you’re drying a dozen loads weekly. Clogged dryer vents can increase fire risk, cleaning it too often can feel like overkill. One quick tip? Monitor drying times. If you’re still getting damp clothes after a cycle, it’s time to clean the vent.

Deep Cleaning Carpets

18 Items You Should Never Clean with Vinegar! — Photo Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock

Vacuuming does keep carpets fresh, but that’s quite a different thing than full-on steam cleaning. That can take a back seat. Experts say carpets should be deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months unless you have kids, pets or you have a knack for spilling coffee. If your carpet doesn’t look like a Jackson Pollock painting of stains, you’re good stretching the timeline.

Inspecting Roof Shingles

If you haven’t just weathered a storm, you can postpone that rooftop inspection. A solid roof is built to last years of weather and a complete check every two or three years is usually enough. Only use your ladder climbs after you’ve seen missing or curled shingles or following severe weather.

Repainting Interior Walls

Perhaps pristine walls sound like the perfect thing, but you don’t need to repaint every few years unless they’ve been used as a canvas by your toddler or damaged by your pets. In rooms with little foot traffic, a good quality paint job should last 7-10 years. Enjoy the long lasting results, touch up scuffs as needed.

Draining the Water Heater

Some people suggest that you drain your water heater every year, but most modern systems can go a few years without such a drain. If you live in an area where the local water is softer, sediment buildup will be slower so there is no need to set a rigid draining schedule.

Cleaning Gutters

These Common Habits Are Secretly Wrecking Your Home – Are You Guilty? — Photo Credit: 123switch/Pixabay

Fortunately, you don’t live under a canopy of trees, so gutter cleaning doesn’t have to be a seasonal thing. Most homes only need to be cleaned twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. You can stretch that out even further if you have gutter guards or a single story home with not many trees around.

Polishing Hardwood Floors

A good buff and polish can bring hardwood floors back to life, but thankfully, this is a chore that’s more forgiving on time. According to hardwood experts, you can stretch polishing to every 1 to 2 years, depending on traffic. To keep them shining, they just need you to keep up with regular sweeping and mopping.

Inspecting the Chimney

Fireplaces do make for a nice cozy atmosphere, but chimney inspections don’t need to be an annual happening unless you’re a heavy wood burner. Occasional users should have inspections every one to two years, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Heavy soot buildup? That’s a signal to call a pro.

Regrouting Bathroom Tiles

The grout in between tile can look dingy, but you don’t need to constantly regrout. Sometimes, all you need to do is give it a deep clean with a good grout cleaner and brush. You can typically wait 8-10 years before regrouting areas that really need it.

Checking Window Caulking

Window caulking can last for years if the climate and the quality of installation are good. If you don’t see any drafts or leaks, this isn’t a chore you need to jump on every year. Generally, a five year check will be enough to make sure your windows stay energy efficient.

Trimming Overgrown Trees

Photo Credit: Virrage Images/Shutterstock

While tree trimming is important for safety and aesthetics, it doesn’t have to happen annually for most homeowners. Mature trees should be pruned every 3 to 5 years unless branches are dangerously close to power lines or your roof, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.