Our homes need regular care to stay in top shape, but maintenance tasks often slip through the cracks. These small oversights can pile up and lead to unexpected and costly repairs—turning minor issues into big headaches.
At Frontdoor, we understand that life happens, and home repairs and maintenance might not always be at the top of your to-do list. That’s why we’re here to help you stay proactive. Keeping up with home repairs isn’t just about reacting to problems as they arise; it's about preventing those breakdowns in the first place and in turn, protecting your budget.
The True Costs of Maintenance vs. Repairs
Investing a smaller amount of time and money into regularly maintaining your home can prevent the need for larger home repair costs later on. It’ll also extend the lifespan of your home and give you greater peace of mind.
But what’s the true cost of opting out of routine home maintenance? Let’s break it down.
Plumbing
Maintenance
$100-$350
cost to repair a small leak
Repair
$450-$4,000
cost to repair a water main break
There are plenty of plumbing maintenance tasks you can do for free or cheaply by yourself. Regularly checking for leaks and cleaning your drains can help you catch and solve larger issues sooner. According to our plumbing Experts, a small leak might cost $100 to $350 to fix. If ignored, these minor issues can lead to more significant problems, such as a main water line leak, which can cost between $450 to $4,000 to repair. When you compare the two, it’s a no-brainer. Proactive maintenance can easily save you thousands.
HVAC
Maintenance
$75-$200
cost of an HVAC tune-up
Repair
$5,000-$20,000
cost of a complete HVAC overhaul
Simple actions like changing air filters regularly, ensuring clear airflow around outdoor units, and keeping vents unblocked in your home can significantly improve the efficiency and longevity of your system. These maintenance tasks can be done at little to no cost, yet they play a crucial role in preventing major system failures. Our HVAC Experts say that replacing an air filter costs around $15 to $30—that’s a small price to pay compared to the consequences of clogged filters that can strain your system, leading to more severe issues.
Annual professional tune-ups, typically ranging from $75 to $200, are also essential. These tune-ups include checking the thermostat settings, tightening electrical connections, and lubricating moving parts. But a neglected HVAC system might end up with a broken blower motor: a repair that can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500. And according to our Experts, if you suffer a complete breakdown, a replacement HVAC system can range anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000.
Electrical
Maintenance
$0-$50
cost to check and replace old cords
Repair
$150-$500
cost per circuit to rewire your home
Engaging in basic electrical maintenance tasks is not only affordable but also critical for ensuring safety and efficiency. These tasks include checking for loose GFCI outlets, ensuring proper operation of circuit breakers, and replacing old or frayed cords. Most of these can be done at a minimal cost, generally requiring only basic tools and supplies.
On the other hand, overlooking these small tasks can lead to substantial electrical issues. Our electrical Experts advise that neglecting to keep your outlet wiring tightened and outlets up to date can lead to issues with your circuit breaker. The cost of rewiring a house varies greatly depending on its size and the complexity of the job, but it can range from $150 to $500 per circuit. For a larger dwelling, home repair costs like that add up!
Appliances
Maintenance
$30
cost to purchase a coil brush
Repair
$600-$2,300
cost of a new refrigerator
Regular maintenance keeps your home’s appliances running longer and more efficiently. Each appliance has a specific set of maintenance needs, but the common thread is that these tasks are usually straightforward and inexpensive.
Think about your refrigerator. Routine fridge maintenance primarily involves cleaning the condenser coils, which can be done with a high quality coil brush costing around $30. Regularly defrosting the freezer, descaling your water dispenser, and cleaning the interior are other low-cost maintenance tasks.
Failing to clean your condenser coils can cause the fridge to overheat, and our appliance repair Experts say that this oversight could lead to a compressor failure. Repairing or replacing a refrigerator compressor can cost between $500 to $1,000 and replacing a fridge entirely can cost anywhere from $600 to $2,300!
Getting Proactive with Frontdoor
Frontdoor empowers you to tackle home repairs and maintenance by giving you the support you need to confidently handle proactive maintenance. Through the Frontdoor app, you get instant access to video chat with qualified HVAC, plumbing, electrical, appliance, and handyperson Experts about your home repair and maintenance questions or issues in real time. With us by your side, you can take control of your proactive maintenance and save hundreds to thousands of dollars each year.
There For You When Things Break
Even with proactive maintenance, items in your home will eventually give in to normal wear and tear. When this happens, we’ve got you. Through our national network of vetted and trusted Pros, Frontdoor can provide in-person help when you need it. Additionally, Unlimited members get discounted pricing on select services.
Ready to embrace a smarter, more efficient way of maintaining your home? Open the Frontdoor and get started.
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