Dorsey Taylor Homes
Affordable Housing & Education
Dorsey Taylor Homes
267-210-0255
RENTERS · HOME MAINTENANCE GUIDE
Year-Round Home Maintenance Guide
Simple, practical maintenance tasks every renter should know — to keep your home safe, healthy, and in good shape.
1 · Monthly Quick-Check List
Set a recurring monthly reminder. The whole list takes about 15–20 minutes.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Replace HVAC air filters (every 1–3 months)
- Run hot water in unused drains for 1 minute
- Wipe down range hood filter
- Check under sinks for leaks or water marks
- Clean lint trap behind dryer (not just the screen)
- Vacuum refrigerator coils once a quarter
2 · Seasonal Checklists
Do these once at the start of each season.
Spring
- Check window screens for tears; clean window tracks
- Inspect caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks — re-caulk if cracked
- Vacuum and rotate mattresses
- Wash bedding, curtains, and shower curtain liners
- Clean refrigerator coils and behind appliances
- Test all GFCI outlets (the ones near water)
- Check the dryer vent hose for lint build-up
Summer
- Clean window AC unit filters and front panels
- Inspect doors and windows for drafts; re-weather-strip if needed
- Wipe down ceiling fan blades and reverse direction (counter-clockwise = cool)
- Deep-clean carpets or have them shampooed
- Inspect for any signs of pests (ants, roaches, mice)
- Wash baseboards and clean light fixtures / lampshades
Fall
- Have heating system inspected before first cold night
- Replace HVAC / furnace filter
- Test smoke and CO detectors — replace batteries
- Reverse ceiling fans (clockwise = warm)
- Check window and door seals before winter
- Drain outdoor hoses; cover outdoor faucets
- Clean gutters (if applicable — landlord may handle)
Winter
- Open cabinets under sinks during cold nights to prevent frozen pipes
- Keep heat at 55°F or higher even when away to prevent pipe freeze
- Run a trickle of water on extra cold nights from one tap
- Wipe condensation off windows to prevent mold
- Inspect for ice dams on roof edges (report to landlord)
- Check for drafts and add door snakes where needed
3 · Fix It Yourself vs. Call the Landlord
When in doubt, call the landlord — but here's a starting guide.
You Can Usually Handle
- Light bulbs
- Air filter changes
- Battery replacements (smoke/CO detectors)
- Unclog minor sink/tub drains (plunger or boiling water)
- Reset a tripped breaker
- Clean lint traps
- Tighten loose cabinet pulls or door knobs
- Replace shower curtain liner
Always Call the Landlord
- Major leaks, flooding, or burst pipes (Landlord)
- No heat, no hot water, no electricity (Landlord (emergency))
- Gas smell or carbon monoxide alarm (911 first, then landlord)
- Mold or major water damage (Landlord)
- Pest infestation (roaches, rodents, bedbugs) (Landlord)
- Broken windows, doors, or locks (Landlord)
- Appliance breakdowns (fridge, stove, washer) (Landlord)
- Anything affecting health or safety (Landlord)
Always put maintenance requests in writing (text or email) so you have a record.
4 · Emergency Contacts & Shutoffs
Keep these numbers somewhere visible
All Emergencies (fire, medical, police)911
Philadelphia Gas Works — Gas Leak215-235-1212
PECO — Power Outage / Downed Line1-800-841-4141
Philadelphia Water Dept. Emergencies215-685-6300
Poison Control1-800-222-1222
Philadelphia 311 (non-emergency)311
Know Your Shutoffs (write these down)
Main water shutoff location:
Gas shutoff location:
Breaker box location:
Landlord emergency line:
A Few Pro Tips
- •Document everything. Take a photo before and after any repair. Save text-message threads with your landlord.
- •Never withhold rent as a tactic for unresolved repairs without speaking to a tenant attorney first — it can hurt you legally.
- •Renter's insurance is worth it. Typically $10–20/month and covers your stuff if there's a fire, theft, or water damage.
- •Build a relationship with your landlord. Polite, prompt communication makes a huge difference when you need something fixed.
© 2026 Dorsey Taylor Homes Inc. · Affordable Housing & Education267-210-0255 · dorseytaylorhomes@gmail.com · Philadelphia, PA 19128
