Every homeowner knows that keeping a house in great condition takes commitment, consistency, and a smart plan.
Our tropical climate, heavy monsoon seasons, high humidity, and occasional trap snow scenarios in cooler upland areas make home maintenance a year-round responsibility. But one of the smartest ways to stay ahead of costly repairs is to do an annual home reset.
During this annual house maintenance, perform a focused review of the things to check in your house yearly so your home stays durable, safe, and efficient.
Why Your Annual Reset and House Maintenance Matters
Having an annual maintenance checklist is essential for keeping your home not only livable but also less prone to wear and tear.
A yearly home reset prevents emergencies, protects your investment, improves comfort, and strengthens safety.
Doing these tasks reduces the risks of flooding, mold, fire, electrical issues, and appliance failure. After all, helping you save on costly repairs.
7 Things to Check in Your House Yearly
This guide gives you a practical yearly home maintenance checklist tailored for the Philippines.
Whether you live in the lowlands with harsh summers or in highland areas where temperatures drop, and semi-winter household maintenance tasks become relevant, these steps help you maintain a beautiful, functional home.
1. Inspect Your Roof and Gutters Thoroughly
The Philippine rainy season puts roofs through extreme wear. A yearly roof inspection can help catch small issues before they become major roof repairs.
What to check:
- Look for missing, curled, or cracked tiles or sheets during your roof inspection.
- Check for rust on metal roofing.
- Inspect soffits and fascia for moisture damage.
- Clear gutters to prevent rot; wooden window sills often start to rot with overflowing gutters.
- Ensure your triple-track storm windows and seals are intact during storms.
This step is crucial in areas where basement leaks occur, which can be triggered by overflowing roof drainage systems.
Tip: Perform this task before typhoon season. A thorough inspection by professionals can help you avoid expensive repairs later.
2. Service Your Cooling Systems and Air Filters
In the Philippines, where temperatures can soar, keeping cool is essential.
That’s why your annual home maintenance checklist should include a detailed review of your air conditioning system, particularly before the air conditioning season begins.
Things to check:
- Clean or replace air filters.
- Ensure outdoor air conditioning units and outdoor HVAC units are free from debris.
- Check outdoor air conditioning units for rust and other signs of deterioration.
- For homes using central air conditioning, check ducts for dust buildup that affects indoor air quality.
- If you use window air conditioners, remove dirt from coils and confirm proper drainage.
Have an HVAC system inspection by a qualified HVAC mechanic to check the entire system for leaks, low refrigerant, or improper pressure.
This reduces energy consumption and extends the lifespan of your AC units.
3. Maintain Your Plumbing and Water Systems
Water issues can escalate quickly. Your annual house maintenance checklist should include checking:
- Outdoor faucets and frost-free exterior faucets
- Kitchen and bathroom faucets (including outdoor faucets) for leaks
- The water heater and hot water heater for rust
- How to drain hot water heater sediment annually
- The basement sump pump or sump pump in flood-prone areas
- Ensure you have a clean septic tank. Most households must have a septic tank cleaning every 3–5 years.
If you have an underground lawn irrigation system, make sure to:
- Test lawn irrigation system
- Confirm proper pressure in each sprinkler head
- Inspect the irrigation system for leaks
These tasks help prevent water waste and protect your home from moisture damage.
4. Inspect Electrical Cords and Conduct a Fire Safety Check
Electrical problems are a major fire hazard, especially during the holidays when lights and appliances are running nonstop.
Make these part of your yearly maintenance checklist:
Electrical systems safety tasks:
- Inspect electrical cords for fraying.
- Test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Ensure your detectors and carbon monoxide sensors are working.
- Check your fire extinguishers for expiration.
- Clean your dryer vent since lint buildup can ignite and start fires. If you have a dryer vent cover, make sure to clean it too.
- Confirm your bathroom exhaust fan is clear and functioning.
If you use a wood stove, have a professional inspect wood stove connections and chimneys yearly.
Tip: While smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are common in condos, it’s recommended for all homes to have these systems too. Additionally, invest in fire extinguishers for your home.
5. Outdoor Home Maintenance: Exterior Paint, Surfaces, and Structural Elements
A home’s exterior shields it from the sun, salt, rain, and humidity. Include these home maintenance tasks in your annual checks:
- Inspect and retouch exterior paint, especially wood-trimmed areas.
- Look for cracks or moisture damage in walls.
- Perform pressure washing vinyl siding.
- Look for cold air slipping through cracks in doors and windows during monsoon season.
- When spring flowers begin to show, or temperatures drop with cool winds, check cold air drafts that may weaken seals.
- Also, check your crawl space ventilation to reduce mold buildup.
6. Appliances, Doors, and Garage Systems
Some of the most overlooked annual maintenance tasks involve appliances and garage systems:
- Clean clothes dryer exhaust and hoses.
- Clean garbage disposal to prevent buildup.
- Inspect your garbage disposal blades and seals.
- Test your garage door opener.
- Lubricate garage door springs and ensure your garage door springs have no cracks.
- Use a compressed air canister (available in most home improvement stores) to clean dust from motors and vents.
- Check your window air conditioners for mold and airflow issues.
These items only take a few weekend hours but greatly reduce the chance of appliance failure.
7. Seasonal Maintenance: Adaptations for the Rainy Season
Even in a tropical country, seasonal adjustments help maintain your home.
Spring (Philippine Dry Season)
Your springtime homeowner’s maintenance checklist should include:
- Clearing yard debris.
- Checking your underground lawn irrigation system.
- Repairing cracks on your driveway.
- Reviewing your outdoor areas for summer home care vacations.
Fall House Maintenance
Although the Philippines doesn’t experience “autumn”, you can still pull some house maintenance cues from the typical autumn home maintenance tasks:
- Rechecking drainage systems.
- Cleaning gutters before heavy rains.
- Inspecting outdoor HVAC units before December breezes.
Winter Home Maintenance Chores
For upland or cooler regions:
- Perform winter home maintenance chores, including sealing drafts and inspecting heaters.
- Homes with little or no snowfall should still perform winter household maintenance tasks like sealing windows, checking insulation, and inspecting cracks.
- Check storm window drains and ensure triple-track storm windows move smoothly.
During all seasons, homeowners can also sign maintenance agreements with trusted service providers to guarantee timely upkeep.
Make Every Year Safer and Smarter with Camella
For Filipino families, living in a community designed for comfort, convenience, and long-term value makes home upkeep easier.
Camella, one of the country’s most trusted developers, creates master-planned communities with durable homes, smart layouts, and features that withstand the Filipino climate. With well-built homes and secure neighborhoods, your home maintenance checklist becomes simpler and more manageable.
Start your annual home reset today and make every year safer, cleaner, and more comfortable with a beautiful Camella home.
