What Maintenance Does a Brand New Home Need in Year One?
What's normal settling, what needs attention, and a seasonal checklist for an Ohio home.
A new home settles, dries and moves through its first year, and most of what you'll notice is normal rather than defective. Knowing the difference saves worry, and doing the routine maintenance protects your warranty.
What's normal in year one
- Small drywall cracks, especially at door and window corners
- Nail pops, as framing lumber dries and shrinks
- Trim and caulk separation at joints
- Doors that need adjustment as the house settles
- Gaps in hardwood flooring that open in the dry winter and close in the humid summer
- Concrete hairline cracks in driveways, walks and slabs
- Grass and landscaping settling, and soil settling over utility trenches
Most builders address these at a defined point in the first year rather than one at a time. Keep a running list rather than calling for each item.
What to report right away
- Any water intrusion, anywhere
- A persistent leak or a drip under a sink
- Anything electrical that behaves oddly
- Heating or cooling that isn't performing
- A large or growing crack, especially in the foundation
- A door or window that won't operate or lock
Ongoing maintenance
Monthly
- Check the HVAC filter and replace on schedule. This is the single most impactful thing you'll do
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Run water in any unused drains to keep traps full
Seasonally, in an Ohio climate
- Spring: clean gutters, check grading and downspout discharge, inspect the roof from the ground, service the air conditioner, check exterior caulk
- Summer: check window and door seals, keep landscaping and mulch away from siding, test the sump pump
- Fall: clean gutters again, service the furnace, drain and shut off exterior hose bibs before the first freeze, check weatherstripping
- Winter: watch for ice dams, keep the furnace exhaust and intake clear of snow, run bath fans during and after showers, watch for condensation on windows
Two Ohio-specific things
Winter humidity. Very dry indoor air stresses wood floors, trim and doors. A humidifier helps the house and makes you comfortable at a lower thermostat setting.
The sump pump. Test it before spring thaw and again before a heavy rain season. Consider a battery backup, since the storms that flood basements are also the storms that knock out power.
Outside, expect the yard to be a work in progress through the first year. See which outdoor projects should wait.
Keep your records
Warranty document, manufacturer paperwork, model and serial numbers, filter sizes and paint colors. See warranty coverage and winterizing an Ohio home.