Owning a home in Singapore comes with year-round responsibilities. Humidity, heat, and daily wear can degrade your property faster than you think. Follow this complete monthly, quarterly, and annual maintenance checklist.

Monthly Tasks (Quick 30-Minute Checks): Clean all drain strainers in bathrooms and kitchen sink. Check for slow-draining water. Test every circuit breaker and RCD by pressing the "test" button. Inspect all visible water supply hoses (washing machine, dishwasher) for bulges or leaks. Wipe down rubber seals on your refrigerator and main door to prevent mold.

Quarterly Tasks: Deep clean your aircon filters – clogged filters increase electricity bills by 15%. Pour one liter of water into all floor traps to ensure the water seal isn't dry (prevents sewer gas). Check grout lines in showers and re-seal if cracked. Lubricate all door hinges and sliding door tracks with silicone spray. Test smoke detectors – replace batteries annually or when they chirp.

Biannual Tasks (Before and After Monsoon): Inspect ceiling for water stains or peeling paint. Clean balcony and corridor floor traps of leaves and debris. Check rubber seal on your main door’s weatherstripping – replace if flattened. Run your water heater for 20 minutes to flush sediments. Examine all caulking around windows and balcony doors.

Annual Tasks: Hire a licensed electrician to tighten all connection points in your DB box. Service your storage water heater – replace the anode rod if needed. Pressure wash external aircon ledges and window sills. Inspect the roof (for landed) or common roof (talk to MCST for top-floor units). Flush out your water tank (if you have a storage tank for a big family). Reapply waterproof sealant for any wet areas.

Pro tip: Create a digital folder with photos of your meter readings, circuit breaker layout, and plumbing as-built plans. When emergencies happen, you’ll save precious time.