How often should you…? Every maintenance interval
Updated July 2026
The twenty-six intervals that keep a house out of trouble, in one table: HVAC filter every 90 days, water heater flush yearly, gutters twice a year, septic every 3–5 years, GFCI outlets tested monthly, grout resealed yearly, each linked to a deep dive covering what moves the number for your home, what skipping it costs in real dollars, and how to do the task. Print the table, or let OnOtto run the whole schedule for you.
| Task | How often | It depends on… |
|---|---|---|
| How often should you clean solar panels? | Every 6–12 months | More often in dusty, pollen-heavy, or low-rain climates |
| How often should you replace a carbon monoxide detector? | Every 5–7 years | Up to 10 years if the unit is rated and dated for it |
| How often should you replace smoke detectors? | Every 10 years | From the manufacture date on the back, not the install date |
| How often should you service a standby generator? | Once a year | Plus the built-in weekly self-test; more if it runs long outages |
| How often should you test smoke detectors? | Every month | Press-to-test monthly; vacuum the dust off a few times a year |
| How often should you inspect an electrical panel? | Every 3–5 years | Sooner for homes over 25 years or hazard-brand panels |
| How often should you replace a surge protector? | Every 2–3 years | Sooner after a big surge; a power strip is not a surge protector |
| How often should you test a carbon monoxide detector? | Every month | Button test monthly; fresh battery yearly on battery models |
| How often should you change standby generator oil? | Every 100–200 hours | Or once a year; first change at 25 hours |
| How often should you clean and reverse a ceiling fan? | Twice a year | Dust and flip direction each spring and fall; wipe blades monthly in season |
| How often should a standby generator run? | Weekly self-test | 10–20 minutes; verify it actually ran and threw no alarms |
| How often should you inspect an EV charger? | Once a year | Every 6 months for plug-in or outdoor units; sooner if the plug runs warm |
| How often should you replace an electrical panel? | Every 25–40 years | Sooner for a recalled brand or a 100A-to-200A upgrade |
| How often should you replace a GFCI outlet? | Every 10–15 years | Every 5–7 years outdoors; replace any that will not trip or reset |
| How often should you replace a solar inverter? | Every 10–15 years | String inverters; microinverters last 20–25 years |
| How often should you replace a whole-house surge protector? | Every 5–10 years | Or after one big surge; check the indicator light |
| How often should you run a portable generator? | Monthly to quarterly | Run it under load; stabilize the fuel; oil every 50–100 hours |
| How often should you test AFCI breakers? | Every month | Press TEST; it must trip and cut power |
| How often should you test circuit breakers? | Once a year | Cycle each breaker fully off and back on |
| How often should you clean your gutters? | Twice a year | Late spring + late fall; quarterly under heavy tree cover |
| How often should you service your garage door? | Once a year | Full lube + tune yearly; auto-reverse safety test monthly |
| How often should you inspect your roof? | Twice a year | Ground-level look spring + fall and after storms; pro every 2–3 years |
| How often should you clean your chimney? | Once a year | NFPA 211: inspect annually; sweep at 1/8" creosote, yearly for regular burners |
| How often should you clean an AC condensate drain line? | Every 3 months | Monthly vinegar flush in hot, humid climates |
| How often should you clean AC condenser coils? | Once a year | Twice a year near cottonwood, dryer vents, or heavy dust |
| How often should you clean mini-split filters? | Every 2-4 weeks | Monthly in shoulder seasons; sooner with pets |
| How often should you recharge AC refrigerant? | Only if leaking | A sealed system never needs a routine top-off |
| How often should you replace a central air conditioner? | Every 12-17 years | Sooner in humid coastal air; plan around year 15 |
| How often should you replace a furnace? | Every 15-20 years | Up to 25-30 for a low-use, well-maintained furnace |
| How often should you service a heat pump? | Twice a year | Before heating and before cooling; it runs year-round |
| How often should you clean air ducts? | Every 3-5 years | Sooner after renovation, pests, or visible mold |
| How often should you clean an evaporator coil? | Every 1-3 years | Yearly if you skip filters or run a poor one |
| How often should you clean a furnace flame sensor? | Once a year | Replace the rod itself every 2-5 years |
| How often should you clean heat pump coils? | Twice a year | Spring and fall; keep snow, leaves, and grass clear year-round |
| How often should you deep-clean a mini-split? | Once a year | Every 6 months for kitchens, pets, or smokers |
| How often should you inspect a heat exchanger? | Every year | During the fall furnace tune-up; more often past 15 years |
| How often should you replace a heat pump? | Every 12-15 years | Longer with twice-yearly service; plan ahead of failure |
| How often should you replace thermostat batteries? | Once a year | Each fall; hardwired smart stats with a C-wire rarely need it |
| How often should you service a boiler? | Once a year | Before heating season; required by many warranties |
| How often should you bleed radiators? | Once a year | At the start of heating season, or whenever a radiator is cold up top |
| How often should you check boiler pressure? | Monthly in heating season | Should sit near 1.0-1.5 bar (12-18 psi) when cold |
| How often should you clean an air handler? | Once a year | Usually at the spring cooling tune-up |
| How often should you clean a furnace blower wheel? | Every 2-3 years | Sooner in dusty homes or if filters get skipped |
| How often should you clean a condensate pump? | Once a year | Twice a year in humid climates; test the safety float every spring |
| How often should you clean a dehumidifier filter? | Every 2–4 weeks | While the unit is running; vacuum the coils once a year |
| How often should you clean furnace burners? | Once a year | Before heating season; clean now if flames are yellow instead of blue |
| How often should you clean a mini-split drain line? | Once a year | Before cooling season; twice a year in humid climates |
| How often should you clean a whole-house humidifier? | Once a year | At the start of heating season; replace the water panel or pad too |
| How often should you clean a window air conditioner? | Filter every month | Coils, pan, and blower once a year, plus a clean before storage |
| How often should you inspect ductwork? | Every 2–3 years | Every 2 years for ducts in an attic or crawlspace |
| How often should you replace an AC capacitor? | Every 5–15 years | Replace on failure or a weak reading; heat shortens it |
| How often should you replace a blower motor? | Every 10–20 years | Replace on failure; ECM motors outlast older PSC motors |
| How often should you replace a boiler? | Every 15–30 years | About 15 for condensing, 25–30 for cast iron with annual service |
| How often should you replace a furnace igniter? | Every 3–7 years | Many pros replace it proactively at the annual tune-up; keep a spare on hand |
| How often should you replace an HVAC UV lamp? | Once a year | The bulb still glows but loses germicidal UV-C first; verify any two-year rating |
| How often should you replace a mini-split? | Every 12–20 years | Closer to 10–12 for neglected or coastal salt-air units; plan the swap for the off-season |
| How often should you replace a thermostat? | About every 10 years | Sooner to gain smart scheduling; a drifting stat adds 10–15% to energy bills |
| How often should you seal air ducts? | Once, recheck every 10 years | One good mastic or Aeroseal job lasts; re-inspect after any duct work |
| How often should you adjust HVAC zone dampers? | Twice a year | At each heating and cooling changeover for manual dampers; check motorized zoning yearly |
| How often should you change your HVAC filter? | Every 90 days | 30–60 days with pets or allergies; 6–12 months for thick media filters |
| How often should you flush your water heater? | Once a year | Every 6 months in hard-water areas; descale tankless annually |
| How often should you clean your dryer vent? | Once a year | The duct (the lint screen is every load); every 6 months for heavy use |
| How often should you clean refrigerator coils? | Every 6–12 months | Every 6 months with shedding pets; some sealed modern units skip it |
| How often should you replace the furnace humidifier filter? | Once a year | The water panel, at the start of heating season; every 6 months in hard water |
| How often should you drain and flush a tankless water heater? | Once a year | Descale flush; every 6 months in hard water (many warranties require it) |
| How often should you have your HVAC professionally serviced? | Twice a year | AC tune-up in spring, furnace in fall; heat pumps get both visits |
| How often should you reseal grout? | Yearly in showers | Every 2 years on tile floors; recaulk corners and tub joints when cracked |
| How often should you replace the toilet flapper? | Every 4–5 years | Sooner with in-tank cleaner tablets; dye-test for silent leaks twice a year |
| How often should you lubricate door hinges and locks? | Once a year | Dry lube (PTFE/graphite) in locks, oil or silicone on hinges; fall is the natural slot |
| How often should you test GFCI outlets? | Monthly | The official line; quarterly is the realistic floor. Replace any unit that fails the test |
| How often should you clean a dishwasher filter? | Once a month | Weekly if you scrape plates rather than pre-rinse; most units built since about 2010 have one |
| How often should you replace a dishwasher? | Every 9–12 years | Replace at the first major leak, pump failure, or rusted tub on an aging unit |
| How often should you replace a refrigerator? | Every 10–15 years | Clean coils and tight seals push to the high end; sealed-system failures end it |
| How often should you calibrate oven temperature? | Once a year | Recalibrate if a $10 oven thermometer reads more than about 25°F off the set point |
| How often should you clean gas range burners? | Once a month | Every two weeks with heavy cooking; wipe spills the same day they happen |
| How often should you clean an ice maker? | Every 6 months | Every 3 months in hard water or a standalone countertop or under-counter unit |
| How often should you clean an induction cooktop? | After every use | A deeper cooktop-cream polish weekly; keep the underside fan vents clear |
| How often should you clean an oven? | Every 3–6 months | Sooner after a spill or heavy baking; use the self-clean cycle sparingly |
| How often should you clean a refrigerator door gasket? | At least yearly | Wipe sticky spills sooner; run the dollar-bill seal test at the same time |
| How often should you defrost a chest freezer? | Every 6–12 months | Or whenever frost passes about 1/4 inch thick on the walls |
| How often should you descale a dishwasher? | Once a month | Every 2 weeks in hard water; separate from the every-load filter rinse |
| How often should you replace microwave filters? | Charcoal: every 6–12 months | Metal grease filter: wash it monthly |
| How often should you replace a range hood charcoal filter? | Every 6–12 months | Every 3 months with heavy cooking; the grease filter washes monthly |
| How often should you change the refrigerator water filter? | Every 6 months | Every 3–4 months on well water or heavy dispenser/ice use |
| How often should you clean the range hood filter? | Every 1–3 months | Monthly for daily cooking; recirculating hoods also need charcoal filters replaced |
| How often should you clean your washing machine? | Monthly | Tub-clean cycle; wipe front-loader gaskets weekly, drain-pump filter every 3–6 months |
| How often should you seal granite countertops? | About once a year | Let the water-drop test decide: dense granites need it rarely; quartz never |
| How often should you clean a front-load washer gasket? | Every month | Wipe the gasket, run a tub-clean cycle, and leave the door ajar to dry |
| How often should you replace washing machine hoses? | Every 5 years | Braided stainless; replace bulging or cracked rubber hoses now |
| How often should you replace a dryer? | Every 10–13 years | Rule out a clogged vent first; a slow dryer is usually the duct |
| How often should you replace a dryer vent hose? | Every 10 years | Swap foil or plastic flex duct now; use smooth rigid metal |
| How often should you replace a washing machine? | Every 10–13 years | Bearings, a cracked spider, or a control board usually end it |
| How often should you winterize your sprinkler system? | Once a year | Every fall before the first hard freeze; book the blowout by early October in freeze country |
| How often should you fertilize your lawn? | 2–4 times a year | Cool-season grass: fall-heavy. Warm-season: late spring through summer. Soil test every 3 years |
| How often should you aerate your lawn? | Every 1–3 years | Yearly for clay/high-traffic; every 2–3 years otherwise. Fall (cool-season) or late spring (warm-season) |
| How often should you change lawn mower oil? | Every 50 hours | Or once a season; first change at 5 hours on a new engine |
| How often should you clean a pool filter? | Every 2–6 weeks | Cartridge rinse; backwash sand/DE at 8–10 psi over clean |
| How often should you sharpen a lawn mower blade? | Every 20–25 hours | Roughly 2–3 times a season; balance the blade after |
| How often should you clean a hot tub filter? | Rinse weekly | Chemical soak monthly; replace the cartridge every 1–2 years |
| How often should you deep-clean a gas grill? | 1–2 times a season | Brush grates every cook; deep clean burners and grease tray |
| How often should you dethatch a lawn? | Every 1–2 years | Once the thatch layer passes 1/2 inch, in the growing season |
| How often should you service a pressure washer? | Once a year | Pump oil yearly; pump saver and fuel stabilizer before winter |
| How often should you overseed a lawn? | Once a year | Early fall for cool-season grass; late spring for warm-season |
| How often should you replace a mower spark plug? | Once a year | At the start of mowing season; do the air filter too |
| How often should you replace a pool filter cartridge? | Every 1–3 years | When pleats fray or pressure stays high after cleaning |
| How often should you service a pool pump? | Weekly + seasonally | Basket weekly; seals, O-ring, and motor at pool open and close |
| How often should you service a snow blower? | Every fall | Before the first storm; oil, fuel, belts, shear pins, auger |
| How often should you test a sprinkler system? | Every spring | Full startup yearly; spot-check each zone monthly in season |
| How often should you apply crabgrass preventer? | Every spring | When soil reaches about 55F (forsythia bloom); optional fall follow-up |
| How often should you check home water pressure? | Once a year | Twice a year on hilly city systems; test now if hoses keep bursting |
| How often should you clean a garbage disposal? | Every 1–2 weeks | Weekly for heavy cooks; clean now if it smells |
| How often should you clean a heat pump water heater filter? | Every 1–3 months | Monthly in a dusty garage; vacuum the coil once a year |
| How often should you replace a sump pump? | Every 7–10 years | Every 5–7 years if it runs constantly; sooner if the float sticks |
| How often should you replace a water heater? | Every 8–12 years | Sooner in hard water; tankless units last 15–20 years |
| How often should you replace a water heater anode rod? | Every 3–5 years | Every 2 years in softened water; check at year three |
| How often should you change a whole-house water filter? | Every 3–6 months | Carbon blocks every 6–12 months; sooner on well water |
| How often should you winterize outdoor faucets? | Every fall | Before the first hard freeze; disconnect hoses even on frost-free bibs |
| How often should you check a toilet for leaks? | Every 6 months | Test now if you hear phantom refills or the water bill jumps |
| How often should you clean a showerhead? | Every 3–6 months | Monthly on very hard water; descale now if the spray splits |
| How often should you inspect a septic system? | Every 1–3 years | Yearly for systems with a pump or alarm; separate from 3–5 year pumping |
| How often should you replace a garbage disposal? | Every 8–12 years | Sooner if it leaks or seizes; heavier HP units last longer |
| How often should you test a backflow preventer? | Once a year | Certified test required by most water utilities |
| How often should you test a water heater TPR valve? | Once a year | Replace the valve every 3–5 years or if it weeps |
| How often should you add septic tank treatment? | Monthly (if at all) | Most healthy tanks need none; pumping matters more |
| How often should you check your water heater temperature? | Once a year | Set to 120°F; verify with a thermometer at the tap |
| How often should you check a well pressure tank? | Once a year | Set 2 psi below pump cut-in with the tank drained |
| How often should you check a water heater expansion tank? | Once a year | Match the air charge to home water pressure |
| How often should you clean a faucet aerator? | Every 6–12 months | More often on hard water or well systems |
| How often should you clean a sewer line? | Every 18–24 months | Only with mature trees or a root history; newer PVC less often |
| How often should you clean a sink P-trap? | Once a year | Sooner if the sink drains slow or smells; kitchen traps clog faster |
| How often should you clean a sump pit? | Once a year | Before the wet or snow-melt season; every 6 months on new construction |
| How often should you clean a tankless water heater air filter? | Once a year | Time it with the annual descale; every 6 months in dusty or pet homes |
| How often should you clean a water softener brine tank? | Once a year | Break up any salt bridge on sight; deep-clean the tank yearly |
| How often should you camera-inspect a sewer line? | Every 2-5 years | At every home purchase; yearly if roots keep coming back |
| How often should you maintain a septic drain field? | Ongoing, all year | No fixed date; pump the tank every 3-5 years to protect the field |
| How often should you replace a heat pump water heater? | Every 10-15 years | Longer with anode and filter upkeep; plan ahead to catch rebates |
| How often should you replace a pressure-reducing valve? | Every 7-15 years | Replace on sight if pressure climbs past 80 psi and will not adjust down |
| How often should you change reverse osmosis filters? | Pre and post filters every 6-12 months | Membrane every 2-3 years; sooner on well water or high TDS |
| How often should you replace a sump pump backup battery? | Every 3-5 years | Test twice a year; sealed AGM outlasts flooded lead-acid |
| How often should you replace a tankless water heater? | About every 20 years | Nearly double a tank, but only with an annual descale in hard water |
| How often should you replace a toilet fill valve? | Every 4–5 years | Or the moment the tank hisses, runs on its own, or fills slowly |
| How often should you replace a toilet wax ring? | Only when needed | Lasts 20–30 years; replace whenever the toilet comes off the flange |
| How often should you replace a UV water filter bulb? | Once a year | About 9,000 hours; the lamp keeps glowing after it stops disinfecting |
| How often should you replace water softener resin? | Every 10–15 years | Sooner on chlorinated city water or well water heavy in iron |
| How often should you replace a well pump? | Every 8–15 years | Submersibles 8–15; jet pumps 8–10; short-cycling shortens both |
| How often should you test your main water shutoff valve? | Once a year | Fully close and reopen it so it does not seize in place |
| How often should you test a sewage ejector pump? | Once a year | Check the pump and float; sooner for a heavily used basement bath |
| How often should you service a well pump? | Every 1–2 years | Plus a yearly water-quality test for bacteria and nitrate |
| How often should you inspect a foundation for cracks? | Once a year | Plus after droughts, floods, or any new crack you spot |
| How often should you inspect roof flashing? | Once a year | Plus a look after every major wind or hail storm |
| How often should you recaulk exterior windows and doors? | Every 5 years | Inspect yearly; cheap latex caulk fails sooner |
| How often should you repaint a house exterior? | Every 5–10 years | By substrate: wood 3–7, stucco 5–10, fiber cement 10–15 |
| How often should you replace an asphalt shingle roof? | Every 20–30 years | Architectural 25–30; 3-tab 15–20; sooner in harsh sun |
| How often should you sealcoat an asphalt driveway? | Every 2–3 years | Fill cracks yearly; wait 6–12 months after new asphalt |
| How often should you clean gutter guards? | Once a year | Twice a year under pines or heavy tree cover |
| How often should you clear downspouts? | Twice a year | With the gutters, spring and fall |
| How often should you check attic insulation? | Every 5–10 years | Plus after any roof leak or pest problem |
| How often should you inspect a deck for safety? | Once a year | Each spring, before the outdoor season |
| How often should you recoat a flat roof? | Every 5–10 years | Inspect twice a year and after storms; silicone coatings stretch to 8–10 |
| How often should you replace weatherstripping? | Every 2–5 years | Check each fall; foam tape lasts 1–3 years, metal V-strip 8–10 |
| How often should you reseal a deck? | Every 2–3 years | Yearly for clear sealers or full sun; the sprinkle test settles it |
| How often should you stain a wood fence? | Every 2–4 years | Sooner in full sun or wet climates; clear sealers barely last a year |
| How often should you test garage door safety sensors? | Monthly | Both the contact auto-reverse and the photo-eye beam, federally required since 1993 |
| How often should you check grading around a foundation? | Once a year | Spring is best; new construction settles for the first 5 years |
| How often should you clean vinyl siding? | Once a year | Soft wash, not high-pressure; twice a year on shaded north walls |
| How often should you flush a French drain? | Every 1–3 years | Yearly in silty soil, with tree roots, or with iron-rich groundwater |
| How often should you inspect a chimney? | Every year | A Level 1 inspection, separate from a sweep; Level 2 when buying or selling |
| How often should you inspect a chimney cap? | Once a year | And after windstorms; galvanized caps rust through in 5–10 years |
| How often should you inspect a crawl space? | Once a year | Twice a year in wet climates or after any flooding |
| How often should you inspect fascia and soffit? | Once a year | Pair it with your fall gutter cleaning |
| How often should you repaint fiber cement siding? | Every 10–15 years | Factory finishes last longest; recaulk joints as they fail |
| How often should you replace garage door springs? | Every 7–12 years | About 10,000 open/close cycles; replace both at once |
| How often should you replace a metal roof? | Every 40–70 years | Standing seam 40–70; exposed-fastener panels 30–45 |
| How often should you replace windows? | Every 15–30 years | Fogging between panes, drafts, and rot mean it is time |
| How often should you reseal a skylight? | Every 10 years | Sooner at the first ceiling stain; units last 10–20 years |
| How often should you reseal stucco? | Every 5–10 years | Patch hairline cracks yearly; use a breathable coating |
| How often should you reseal window frames? | Every 5 years | Inspect the caulk yearly; fogging means a failed glass unit |
| How often should you reseal wood siding? | Every 3–7 years | Clear sealers sooner; solid-color stains last longest |
| How often should you seal a concrete driveway? | Every 3–5 years | Every 3 years in freeze-thaw and de-icing-salt climates; reseal when water stops beading |
| How often should you seal foundation cracks? | As they appear | Reinspect sealed cracks yearly for reopening; cracks over 1/4 inch need an engineer first |
| How often should you check a ridge vent? | Once a year | Plus after any windstorm over 50 mph; look for lifted sections and blocked openings |
| How often should you inspect a fire extinguisher? | Every month | Quick owner check monthly; professional service yearly; recharge or replace every 6–12 years |
| How often should you test radon levels? | Every 2 years | Plus after any renovation, foundation, or HVAC change; every home should test at least once |
| How often should you test well water? | Once a year | Bacteria, nitrates, and pH yearly; a full panel every 3 years; retest after floods or repairs |
| How often should you replace a security system battery? | Every 3–5 years | Panel backup battery every 3–5 years; door, window, and motion sensor cells when they report low |
| How often should you shock chlorinate a well? | As needed | Triggered by a positive bacteria test, well or pump repairs, flooding, or a sulfur odor, not a set schedule |
| How often should you test water leak sensors? | Once a year | Wet the probe to confirm the alert fires; swap batteries yearly or when the app reports low |
| How often should you check a radon mitigation fan? | Every month | Check the U-tube manometer monthly; the inline fan itself lasts about 5–10 years |
| How often should you test your AC before summer? | Every spring | One full cooling cycle before the first heat wave; pair with a yearly tune-up |
| How often should you test your furnace before winter? | Every fall | One full heating cycle before the first freeze; pair with a yearly tune-up |
| How often should you winterize a lawn mower? | Every fall | Stabilize or drain the fuel, change the oil, clean the deck before storage |
| How often should you winterize a pool? | Every fall | Freeze climates only: balance chemistry, drop the water, blow out the lines, cover |
| How often should you replace smoke detector batteries? | Every 6 months | 10-year sealed units need no swaps; replace any detector at 10 years |
| How often should you pump your septic tank? | Every 3–5 years | Sooner for big households or small tanks; inspect every 1–3 years |
| How often should you test your sump pump? | Every 3–4 months | Always test before spring melt / rainy season; replace pumps ~every 10 years |
| How often should you add water softener salt? | Check monthly | Top up below half-full, typically a 40-lb bag every 4–8 weeks |
Twenty-six intervals, five cadences, one house: that's a lot of calendar math. OnOtto reminds you at the right interval, and won't let you snooze it into next year. Every task persists until it's done, and completing one schedules the next.
Put every interval on autopilot, free for 30 daysPrefer to work by season?
These same tasks, organized into printable seasonal work sessions: the complete home maintenance checklist splits 62 tasks across spring, summer, fall, and winter. For budget planning, the cost calculator prices your personal list.
Frequently asked questions
What home maintenance needs doing monthly vs yearly?
Monthly: test smoke detectors, check the HVAC filter (change at 30–90 days), glance at the water softener salt. Quarterly: test the sump pump. Twice a year: gutters, roof walkaround, detector batteries. Yearly: water heater flush, dryer vent, chimney inspection, garage door tune-up, refrigerator coils. Multi-year: septic pumping (3–5 yrs). The table above has every number with its caveats.
Why do maintenance intervals vary so much between sources?
Because the honest answer is usually a range that depends on your home: an HVAC filter is 30 days (fiberglass, pets) or 12 months (5-inch media); septic is 2 years (big family, small tank) or 5 (couple, big tank). Sources that give one number are averaging. Each deep-dive page here leads with the typical number, then gives the variables table so you can place your own home on it.
What’s the most commonly missed interval on this list?
The annual ones: dryer vent, water heater flush, chimney inspection. Monthly habits survive on rhythm and seasonal tasks get anchored to weather, but "once a year" has no natural trigger, which is why these tasks quietly stretch to two or three years. That failure mode, the snoozed reminder that never comes back, is exactly what OnOtto was built to end.