home-maintenance-calendar

by harrylabsj

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SKILL.md About

---
name: home-maintenance-calendar
displayName: "Home Maintenance Calendar"
version: "1.0.0"
description: "Build a seasonal + interval-based home maintenance calendar to prevent costly surprises. Track what needs attention before it breaks."
triggerKeywords: [home, maintenance, repair, seasonal, calendar, preventive, checklist, household, upkeep, service]
tags: [home, maintenance, seasonal, preventive, calendar, repair, household, upkeep]
healthSafety: "This skill provides maintenance scheduling frameworks only. It does not provide professional repair, electrical, plumbing, or structural advice. Dangerous repairs require licensed professionals."
---

# Home Maintenance Calendar

## Why This Skill Exists

**Target pain:** You fix things only when they break. The furnace dies on the coldest day of the year. The roof leaks during a storm. The smoke detector chirps at 3am because you never changed the battery. Every repair is an emergency, every emergency costs more than preventive maintenance would have, and you live with a low-grade anxiety about "what's going to break next?"

**Why generic advice fails:** Home maintenance checklists are abundant online but overwhelming — 200 items, no prioritization, and no connection to *your* specific home, climate, and equipment. They don't distinguish between "do this or your house floods" and "nice to have." They also don't account for renters vs. owners, apartment vs. house, or different climate zones.

**How this skill is different:** It builds a personalized calendar with three priority tiers (critical safety, preventive, nice-to-have), mapped to seasons and intervals (monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, annual). The assistant helps you inventory *your* home's specific systems and equipment, then outputs a calendar you can actually follow — not a generic 200-item list you'll never read.

**Why users reuse it:** The calendar is yearly-recurring with seasonal adaptation. New equipment (appliances, HVAC, water heater) gets added. Users return for the seasonal transition check-ins and when they move to a new home.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

- You want to move from reactive repairs to preventive maintenance.
- You are a new homeowner and don't know what needs regular attention.
- You have experienced a costly surprise repair that could have been prevented.
- You want a seasonal rhythm for home care tasks.
- You are a renter who wants to know what to track vs. what the landlord handles.

Do not use this skill to:

- Diagnose or repair electrical, gas, plumbing, or structural issues — these require licensed professionals.
- Create a legally binding maintenance contract.
- Replace professional home inspection or specialized trade assessments.
- Guarantee that following the calendar prevents all possible failures.

## What You'll Need

Before starting, have ready:

- Knowledge of your home type (house, apartment, condo) and ownership status (own, rent).
- List of major systems and appliances with approximate ages (HVAC, water heater, roof, appliances).
- Climate zone and typical seasonal weather patterns.
- Awareness of any existing issues or recent repairs.
- Access to utility shut-off locations (water main, gas valve, electrical panel) — for safety awareness.

## The Home Maintenance Workflow

### Phase 1: Home Systems Inventory

The assistant guides you through identifying what needs maintenance:

**Major systems (long-life, high-cost if they fail):**

| System | Typical Lifespan | Key Maintenance |
|--------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Roof | 15-30 years (material-dependent) | Annual inspection, gutter cleaning, moss removal |
| HVAC / Furnace | 15-20 years | Filter change (1-3 months), annual professional service |
| Water Heater | 8-12 years | Annual flush (tank), descaling (tankless), anode rod check |
| Plumbing | 50+ years (pipes), variable (fixtures) | Leak checks, drain cleaning, winterization |
| Electrical | 30-50+ years (wiring) | Outlet testing, breaker panel check, GFCI testing |

**Seasonal equipment:**

| Equipment | Key Maintenance | When |
|-----------|----------------|------|
| Air Conditioner | Filter clean/replace, coil cleaning | Spring (before first use) |
| Heating System | Filter, professional service | Fall (before first use) |
| Gutters | Clear debris | Spring + Fall (after leaves drop) |
| Sprinkler System | Winterize, spring startup | Fall (blow out), Spring (test) |
| Chimney/Fireplace | Inspection, sweep | Fall (before burning season) |
| Snow Blower / Generator | Test run, fuel stabilizer | Fall (before snow season) |

**Safety equipment (critical tier):**

| Equipment | Maintenance | Frequency |
|-----------|------------|-----------|
| Smoke Detectors | Test, battery change | Monthly (test), Annual (battery) |
| CO Detectors | Test, battery change | Monthly (test), Annual (battery) |
| Fire Extinguishers | Check pressure gauge | Quarterly |
| GFCI Outlets | Test button | Monthly |
| Radon Test (if applicable) | Test kit | Every 2 years |

### Phase 2: Three Priority Tiers

The assistant helps you prioritize into three tiers:

| Tier | Description | Examples | Consequence of Skipping |
|------|-------------|----------|------------------------|
| **Tier 1: Critical Safety** | Prevents injury, death, or major disaster | Smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguishers, gas leak detection, electrical hazards | Life safety risk |
| **Tier 2: Preventive** | Prevents expensive damage or system failure | HVAC service, gutter cleaning, roof inspection, water heater flush, winterization | $1,000-$10,000+ repair |
| **Tier 3: Nice-to-Have** | Improves comfort, efficiency, or appearance | Deep cleaning, paint touch-up, deck sealing, window washing | Minor inconvenience or cosmetic |

### Phase 3: Seasonal Calendar Design

The assistant helps you build a seasonal maintenance map:

#### Spring (March-May)

| Task | Tier | Why |
|------|------|-----|
| HVAC — AC service before first use | T2 | Avoid failure on first hot day |
| Gutters — clear spring debris | T2 | Prevent water damage |
| Roof — visual inspection for winter damage | T2 | Catch leaks before rainy season |
| Smoke/CO detectors — battery change | T1 | Life safety |
| Outdoor faucets — turn on, check for freeze damage | T2 | Prevent interior leaks |
| Window screens — inspect, repair | T3 | Comfort |
| Deck/patio — inspect for winter damage | T3 | Safety + longevity |

#### Summer (June-August)

| Task | Tier | Why |
|------|------|-----|
| HVAC filter — check/replace monthly during heavy use | T2 | Efficiency + air quality |
| Dryer vent — clean lint buildup | T1 | Fire prevention |
| Refrigerator coils — vacuum | T2 | Efficiency + lifespan |
| Pest inspection — ants, termites, wasps | T2 | Prevent infestation |
| Garage door — lubricate, safety sensor test | T1 | Safety |

#### Fall (September-November)

| Task | Tier | Why |
|------|------|-----|
| HVAC — furnace/heating service before first use | T2 | Avoid failure on first cold day |
| Gutters — clear leaves | T2 | Prevent ice dams and water damage |
| Chimney/fireplace — inspection and sweep | T1 | Fire safety |
| Outdoor faucets — shut off, drain, cover | T2 | Prevent frozen/burst pipes |
| Sprinkler system — blow out/winterize | T2 | Prevent frozen/burst pipes |
| Weather stripping — check doors and windows | T3 | Energy efficiency |
| Snow equipment — test, fuel stabilizer | T2 | Ready before first snow |

#### Winter (December-February)

| Task | Tier | Why |
|------|------|-----|
| Ice dam prevention — attic insulation check | T2 | Prevent roof damage |
| Pipe freeze prevention — cabinet doors open on cold nights | T2 | Prevent burst pipes |
| Sump pump — test (if applicable) | T1 | Flood prevention |
| Generator — test run | T2 | Emergency readiness |
| Indoor air quality — humidifier clean, filter check | T3 | Comfort + health |
| Annual review — what broke this year? Update calendar | T2 | Continuous improvement |

### Phase 4: Interval-Based Tasks (Non-Seasonal)

| Task | Frequency | Tier |
|------|-----------|------|
| HVAC filter change | 1-3 months | T2 |
| Smoke/CO detector test | Monthly | T1 |
| GFCI outlet test | Monthly | T1 |
| Fire extinguisher check | Quarterly | T1 |
| Water softener salt check | Monthly | T3 |
| Drain cleaning (preventive) | Quarterly | T2 |
| Refrigerator coil vacuum | 6 months | T2 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | 6-12 months | T1 |
| Water heater flush (tank) | Annual | T2 |
| Sewer line inspection (older homes) | 1-2 years | T2 |
| Septic tank pump (if applicable) | 3-5 years | T2 |

### Phase 5: Service Provider Tracking

The assistant helps you maintain a service provider reference:

| System | Provider | Last Serviced | Next Due | Phone/Contact |
|--------|----------|--------------|----------|---------------|
| HVAC | [company] | [date] | [date] | [contact] |
| Plumber | [company] | [date] | as needed | [contact] |
| Electrician | [company] | | | |
| Roofer | [company] | | | |
| Pest Control | [company] | | | |
| Chimney Sweep | [company] | | | |
| Appliance Repair | [company] | | | |

**Why this matters:** When the furnace dies on a Sunday night in January, you don't want to be searching Yelp while shivering. Have the number ready.

### Phase 6: Renter-Specific Adaptation

If you rent, many tasks are the landlord's responsibility. The assistant helps you distinguish:

**Landlord's responsibility (typically):**
- HVAC service and repair
- Roof, gutters, structural issues
- Plumbing and electrical systems
- Major appliance repair/replacement
- Pest control (structural pests)
- Smoke/CO detector installation and maintenance (varies by jurisdiction)

**Your responsibility (typically):**
- Reporting issues promptly (in writing)
- HVAC filter changes (confirm with lease)
- Light bulb replacement
- Basic cleaning that prevents damage (mold prevention, pest prevention)
- Smoke/CO detector battery changes (between landlord inspections)
- Knowing where shut-offs are (water, gas, electrical) for emergencies

**Renter calendar approach:** Track what you're responsible for + track what you need to report. "Report the dripping faucet" goes on your calendar, not "fix the faucet."

## Output Template

```
## Home Maintenance Calendar — [Address / Date]

### Home Profile
Type: [house/apartment/condo] | Own/Rent: [own/rent]
Climate zone: [zone] | Year built/renovated: [year]

### Systems Inventory
| System | Age | Last Serviced | Next Due | Service Provider |
|--------|-----|--------------|----------|-----------------|
| [system] | [years] | [date] | [date] | [contact] |

### Seasonal Calendars

#### Spring (Mar-May)
- [task] — [Tier] — [Month] — [Done?]

#### Summer (Jun-Aug)
- ...

#### Fall (Sep-Nov)
- ...

#### Winter (Dec-Feb)
- ...

### Interval Tasks
- Monthly: [task list]
- Quarterly: [task list]
- Semi-annual: [task list]
- Annual: [task list]

### Service Provider Contacts
| System | Provider | Phone | Website | Notes |
|--------|----------|-------|---------|-------|

### Emergency Shut-offs
- Water main: [location]
- Gas valve: [location]
- Electrical panel: [location]
- Fire extinguisher: [locations]
```

## Tips & Variations

**For older homes (pre-1980):** Add lead paint awareness, asbestos awareness (don't disturb old insulation or flooring), and knob-and-tube wiring awareness to your safety tier. Consider a professional home inspection if you haven't had one.

**For new construction:** The first year is about catching builder defects while under warranty. Document everything. The calendar still applies — systems still need maintenance even when new.

**For condos/apartments:** Know what the HOA or building management covers vs. what you cover. Common areas and building systems are usually theirs. Interior systems may be shared responsibility.

**For vacation/second homes:** Add "arrival check" and "departure shutdown" checklists. Water shut-off when leaving. Heat set to minimum to prevent freeze. Someone local with a key for emergencies.

**For extreme climate zones:** Arctic: freeze protection is tier 1 for everything. Desert: dust management and AC are tier 1. Coastal: salt air corrosion, hurricane prep. Tropical: humidity/mold, termite vigilance.

## Related Skills

- `seasonal-home-refresh` — The broader seasonal transition that includes cleaning, supply rotation, and routine adjustment alongside maintenance.
- `weekly-home-review` — The weekly check-in where you note "that thing that's starting to make a noise" before it becomes an emergency.
- `household-inventory-system` — Tracks what you own. Maintenance calendar tracks the condition of what you own.
- `personal-document-organizer` — Keeps warranties, manuals, and service records findable when you need them.

## Safety Notes

- **Electrical, gas, and structural work are NOT DIY for untrained people.** If you are not qualified, hire a licensed professional. Incorrect repairs can cause fires, explosions, electrocution, or structural collapse.
- Always know where your main shut-offs are (water, gas, electricity) and how to operate them. In an emergency, seconds matter.
- When using ladders for gutter cleaning or roof inspection, follow ladder safety: 3 points of contact, proper angle, stable ground, never the top two rungs. Have someone spot you.
- Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly. Never skip CO detector maintenance. If a detector alarms, evacuate immediately and call emergency services — do not investigate yourself.
- This calendar is a planning tool, not a guarantee. Even well-maintained systems can fail. The goal is to reduce probability, not eliminate it.
- For renters: document maintenance requests in writing. If a landlord fails to address a safety issue, know your local tenant rights and resources.

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