I Used AI to Help Me Stay Ahead of Home Maintenance. Here’s How


Your home can be a worthy adversary in the battle of time suckage: Gutters need clearing, railings need securing and walls need painting. But the worst home maintenance of all is the invisible kind. The leaky pipe in the crawl space that silently betrays you while you’re focused on increasing curb appeal.

AI Atlas

It’s not just that you don’t want to do it. You probably don’t, but anyone who’s ever snaked a clogged drain  knows the longer you wait, the messier the job gets. The good news? AI tools can give you a leg up, helping you use your elbow grease and rainy day fund wisely.

Here’s how to use AI to keep up with home maintenance.

Take your insurance seriously 

Homeowners insurance isn’t just there to cost a fortune. Theoretically, you should be able to make a claim and recoup certain costs, but wading through the jungle of legalese and policy inclusions can tax even the sharpest of homeowners’ minds. 

AI tools can help you crawl your homeowners insurance policy for benefits you might be missing out on. I used Microsoft Copilot to review a 29-page standard policy in Ohio and generate an easy-to-reference breakdown of what those large homeowner payments actually cover.

Microsoft Copilot's analysis of a homeowners insurance document.

Important documents such as homeowners insurance policies can be complicated, but an AI chatbot can help summarize them and point you to the parts you need to know. Just be sure to check what the AI says against the actual document.

Copilot/Screenshot by CNET

I was surprised to find volcanic eruptions listed as covered damage in an Ohio insurance policy — but anything is possible, I guess. The policy also covers damage from failing HVAC systems and spoiled food if the power goes out. That’s good to keep in mind as we head into what’s already shaping up to be a record-breaking heat season.

Microsoft Copilot's advice of insurance perks for home maintenance

A chatbot can pull out any potential insurance programs that can help you with home maintenance.

Copilot/Screenshot by CNET

The known unknowns

A lot of new homeowners aren’t yet hip to the potential horrors that come with the pillar of the American dream known as homeownership. You may have always dreamed of owning a house with a pool, but I’ll bet those fantasies didn’t include chlorine tablets and flooded water pumps.

AI can help you take stock of your home’s quirks, danger zones and risk factors. I asked Google’s Gemini to round up the trouble that might be waiting around the corner.

Gemini's answer to a prompt about likely home maintenance issues and risks for a 1940s Los Angeles home.

Gemini has some guesses about what problems a particular type of home might have.

Gemini/Screenshot by CNET

Gemini was spot-on when it came to the plumbing, which was mercifully replaced with copper in the early 2000s. The note about adding French drains was also accurate, as we had one installed just last winter, right in time for two straight weeks of heavy rain 

Copilot's suggestions for seasonal home maintenance.

Copilot/Screenshot by CNET

The note about the electrical panel was timely, and the termite inspection raised the hairs on the back of my neck. We’ve never had the house inspected for termites, and seeing “high-activity zone” definitely makes the need feel urgent.

Mountains to mole hills

Sometimes a gopher pile is just an isolated eyesore. Other times, it’s a sign of something way more serious happening right under your feet. Waiting to find out could be a recipe for a destroyed lawn and an expensive fix. 

I used AI to give me some tips about how to deal with a creature I assumed was a gopher I’d noticed in my garden. Claude AI was able to ID the little bugger from a few screenshots in a nighttime video I took, and told me it was most likely a vole and not a gopher.

A chatbot interface with some pictures of a rodent of some kind, with Claude identifying it as a vole.

I asked Claude to identify what I thought was a gopher and to come up with a strategy for keeping it away.

Claude/Screenshot by CNET

The tool also generated some options for deterring and dealing with the creatures so they don’t destroy my poppies and flowering plants. 

A plan for deterring voles, including barriers, habitat modification and repellents.

Claude/Screenshot by CNET

Spoiler alert: The only thing I’ve found that actually works on gophers and voles is underground mesh, but bless Claude’s heart for being optimistic about castor oil.





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Michelin is a French multinational company that many consumers consider to be one of the most satisfying major tire brands. This firm makes several tire models that offer comfort, performance, all-terrain prowess, and everything in between — including cutting-edge products like the $42,000-per-set Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that it developed specifically for the Bugatti Veyron. Aside from its own tires, Michelin also owns other tire brands that you might be familiar with, including BFGoodrich, Achilles, and Corsa.

While tires are what Michelin is known for, the company has put its name to more than the rubber that wraps around your car’s rims. In fact, the company sells several other products that aren’t tires. So, we’re listing a few Michelin-branded items that you can buy online and in retail stores. While they might not all be made of rubber or even related to vehicles, these tools and accessories can come in handy when keeping your car — and even yourself — in good shape.

Michelin tire inflator

Since Michelin is primarily known for its tires, it makes sense for the company to sell a Michelin-branded tire inflator as well. That way, if you get a flat on one of the Michelin tires on your car or want to regularly top up your car’s tire pressure to maintain optimum performance, you can use a Michelin-branded pump to fill up your tires. The company actually sells several types of inflators on its Amazon page, but it only offers a single motorized unit — the Michelin Micro Tyre Inflator, which is available on Amazon for $98.99.

This little device is only slightly wider than an iPhone 17 and weighs about 400 grams, or 14 ounces. This means it’s easy to store in your car and to move to whichever tire needs topping up. More importantly, it takes power from a 12-volt socket, allowing you to run it using your car’s battery. It also has a USB port for charging your phone (or any other USB device) in case of an emergency.

Some users say that the device is slow, taking about 12 minutes to bring a tire from 10 to 32 PSI, but that’s not unexpected given its small size. Still, it should be good enough for regular weekly maintenance if you know your car’s proper tire pressure, or in case of an emergency. Its biggest downside is that you need a power source to run it, but having a dead battery and a flat tire simultaneously is likely a rare occurrence in many modern cars.

Michelin mini fridge

Taking a road trip during the summer can get you thirsty, and there’s no better way to quench that thirst than by drinking a cool can of soda (or your beverage of choice). If you want to ensure that you’ll always have a cold drink ready while you’re driving on the freeway, Michelin’s mini fridge will help you with that. This nifty little refrigerator is available on Amazon for just $99.99 and can be connected to either 110V AC or 12V DC power, ensuring that it will work on both your desk and in your car.

The mini fridge measures 6.9 x 9.45 x 10 inches (17.5 x 24 x 25.4 cm), meaning it can easily fit on a garage shelf or office desk. It should also be small enough to put on the floor of your car. Despite that relatively small size, it’s large enough to fit six 350-ml cans or four 500-ml bottles, and it will keep these items at a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. It also has an LED light on the door, so it can double as a night light if necessary.

Aside from keeping your drinks (and other food items) below room temperature, it also has a few other creature comforts. These include a removable shelf and door basket for flexibility and easy cleaning, as well as a retractable carry handle and a self-locking door to make transportation easier.

Michelin car floor mats

Heavy-duty car floor mats are often made from rubber for durability and water resistance, and since Michelin is in the business of rubber, it makes sense for the company to offer exactly that. So, if you want to protect your vehicle’s floor from dirt, dust, and mud, the company can help you with its Michelin all-weather car floor mats. This four-piece package is available on Amazon for $49.99 and comes in either black or tan.

The surface of these floor mats is specially designed to trap debris, snow, and water, preventing them from ruining the carpet on your vehicle. The mats have a cleat backing that grips your car’s floor and prevents them from slipping. The front row mats also come with what Michelin calls a Gripclip Retention System, allowing them to clip into your vehicle’s safety clips and adding even more reassurance that they won’t accidentally slip while you’re driving and pose a hazard to your safety.

These mats are universal and will work in most vehicles. However, they’re also easy to customize: If you find them a bit too large for the footwell of your tiny hatchback, you can use a pair of scissors to trim the edges for a perfect fit.

Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades

While Michelin’s Stealth Ultra wiper blades aren’t generally considered among the best windshield wipers, they appear to be a pretty good choice given their four-star rating on Amazon. These wipers cost $49.99 and are available in various size combinations for all sorts of cars. This ensures that no matter what vehicle you’re driving, you can probably find a set that will fit your needs.

These Michelin wipers are curved to conform to the shape of your windscreen for a clean, streak-free wipe. The company’s Amazon listing claims that these are designed to “withstand rain, wind, snow, mud, dust, or any other debris that might hamper your windshield’s visibility.” While you might think that windshield wipers are pretty simple items, and that you can just purchase any generic wipers off the internet, you must remember that they’re essential so that you have the best visibility possible during inclement weather. So, for your safety, consider investing in a set from a reputable brand like Michelin.

Michelin work boots

Michelin is known for making rubber tires to put on your car’s “feet,” but did you know it also makes shoes for the driver’s feet? The company makes sports & outdoor footwear, as well as shoes for work and safety. For this example, we have the Michelin HydroEdge Steel Toe waterproof work boot, listed for $210 on Amazon and at Georgia Boot. This shoe is available in U.S. sizes from 7.5 up to 14, ensuring that no matter what size you wear, you can get a Michelin work boot for yourself.

As the name suggests, this pair of shoes has steel toes to protect your feet from accidental impacts and is fully waterproof to help keep your feet dry, even in supposedly severe conditions. It also meets ASTM F2413 standards for electrical protection, meaning it has fully insulating soles to protect you from electrical hazards at work. Michelin also added what it calls an Advanced Rear Suspension system to its heel, ensuring proper shock absorption when you walk.





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