The go-to library for your home and car
Short, plain-words answers to the upkeep questions people ask most. Every guide names its official sources and the date we last checked them.
20 guides
Home
- Change a furnace or HVAC filterA clean filter lets your heating and cooling system move air without straining. Swapping it takes a few minutes and needs no tools in most homes.Reminder every month
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarmsPress the test button on every alarm once a month. It takes a minute per alarm and is the simplest safety check in the house.Reminder every month
- Clean the dryer ventLint that gets past the filter collects in the duct behind the dryer. Clearing it once a year lowers the fire risk and helps clothes dry faster.Reminder every year
- Drain sediment from a tank water heaterSediment settles at the bottom of a tank water heater and makes it work harder. Draining a little water clears some of it. A full flush is a bigger job that many people hand to a plumber.Reminder every 3 months
- Clean refrigerator coilsDust on the condenser coils makes a refrigerator run longer to stay cold. Some models need the coils brushed off now and then; many newer ones never do.Reminder every 6 months
- Replace a refrigerator water filterThe filter behind your water and ice dispenser wears out with use. Swapping it is usually a twist-out, twist-in job.Reminder every 6 months
- Test GFCI outletsA GFCI outlet cuts the power in an instant if electricity starts flowing where it should not, such as through water or a person. The Test and Reset buttons let you check that it still works.Reminder every month
- Clean gutters safelyClear gutters carry rain away from your roof and foundation. The cleaning is simple; the ladder is the risky part, so this guide is mostly about staying safe.Reminder every 6 months
- Winterize outdoor faucetsWater left in a hose or outdoor faucet can freeze, expand and split the pipe. Draining them before cold weather takes a few minutes per faucet.Reminder every year
- Find and test the main water shutoffWhen a pipe bursts, knowing where the main valve is and that it turns saves minutes that matter. Find it once, test it, and show everyone at home.Reminder every year
- Check the sump pumpA sump pump sits unused for weeks and then has to work the moment the water rises. A quick test tells you it will start when you need it.Reminder every month
- Reseal or caulk a bathtubThe bead of sealant where the tub meets the wall keeps water out of the wall. When it cracks or lifts, cut it out and run a fresh one.Reminder every year
Car
- Check and top up engine oilChecking the oil takes about five minutes and catches a slow leak or a thirsty engine before it becomes a repair bill.Reminder every month
- When to change your oilThere is no single number for every car. Your owner’s manual, or the oil-life monitor in many newer cars, sets the schedule.Reminder every 6 months
- Check tire pressure and treadTires are the only part of the car touching the road. A monthly look at pressure and tread takes ten minutes and a pocket gauge.Reminder every month
- Rotate your tiresMoving tires between positions evens out wear so they last longer. Most people have a shop do it; your part is knowing when it is due and what to ask for.Reminder every 6 months
- Replace wiper bladesWorn blades smear rain instead of clearing it. New ones click on in a few minutes, usually with no tools.Reminder every year
- Check for open recallsA safety recall means the maker must fix a defect at no cost to you. A free government lookup tells you in a minute whether your car has one waiting.Reminder every 6 months
- Virginia safety inspection, emissions and registration renewalThree separate dates keep a car legal in Virginia: the yearly safety inspection, an emissions inspection in parts of Northern Virginia, and the registration renewal. Here is how each one works.Reminder every year
- Jump-start a carA flat battery can often be started from another car with jumper cables. The order you connect the cables matters, and your owner’s manual has the final say for your car.Reminder every year
Tell it once. It remembers.
HavenCue turns any of these into a reminder for your household, so the job comes to you when it is due.
These guides are general information. Your owner’s manual and the instructions for your own equipment come first, and some jobs belong with a licensed professional.