Once you purchase a home, you might think all the financial responsibility is accounted for. Unfortunately, you also need to factor in maintaining your residence, and this includes caring for your appliances. Just like your vehicle needs regular oil changes, your appliances require maintenance and service tasks.

Use this guide to know when you should have certain appliances looked at. Keep in mind that this is a rough estimation, as not every expert agrees that each task needs to be taken care of during certain timeframes. Do whatever works best for your schedule.

• Dishwasher: Check the dishwasher for leaks every year. Also, clean the drains out once a year.
• Dryer: Every year, make sure the dryer vents out of the house without any blockages. Vacuum the lint from the hose at the dryer.
• HVAC: Clean or replace filters every month or when they get dirty. In the spring, have your air conditioning tuned up before it gets too warm. In the fall, have a qualified HVAC technician inspect the unit to make sure it's ready to heat your home in the cooler months.
• Refrigerator: Every six months, vacuum the refrigerator's coils. This can keep the refrigerator working efficiently.

Staying on-task with these appliance maintenance schedules can help them stay in excellent working condition. Yes, you will end up replacing many of these appliances after about 10 years, but there's no reason that you can't make them last a little longer by giving them a little additional attention.

Sources: HSH.com, Artofmanliness.com, BHG.com