Most catastrophic home repairs are slow failures that gave quiet warnings for months. This is the short, honest list — not the 90-item internet version — of what actually prevents the expensive stuff.
Every season (the big four)
- Change the HVAC filter. The single highest-value 5 minutes in homeownership. A choked filter strains the blower, ices coils, and shortens system life.
- Rinse the outdoor AC unit. Power off, garden hose, wash the fins clear of fluff and clippings. Airflow is life.
- Drain a few gallons from the water heater. Flushing sediment off the tank bottom adds years.
- Test smoke detectors and glance at the fire extinguisher gauge. Two minutes.
Spring & summer extras
- Clean refrigerator coils (back or beneath) — dusty coils make the compressor run hot
- Check washing machine hoses for bulges — a burst hose is a flood, not a repair
- Clear the AC condensate drain line before the heavy season
Fall & winter extras
- Have heat running BEFORE the first cold night — the first freeze is when igniters and heat pumps fail en masse
- Disconnect garden hoses so outdoor spigots don't freeze and split
- Clean the dryer vent duct — lint restriction is both a fire risk and a dryer-killer
Why bother, if you have a warranty?
Two reasons: breakdowns are disruptive even when they're cheap, and well-maintained equipment simply lasts longer. Coverage is for the failures age guarantees anyway — maintenance is how you postpone them.
Protect your home before the next breakdown
Flat $75 service fee. File claims online in about 2 minutes.
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