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How Much Should You Save for Home Repairs?

A Simple Guide to Protect Your Budget

Owning a home means more than just mortgage payments. Roof leaks, HVAC breakdowns, plumbing failures, and foundation issues can all cost thousands — sometimes tens of thousands — of dollars.

So how much should you really set aside each year to stay ahead of unexpected repairs?

Use our repair reserve calculator and expert-backed tips to build a smart safety net — no guesswork required.

Check Out Our Home Repair Cost Study
01.
🤔 Know the Real Costs

See what real homeowners are paying for major repairs like roofs, HVAC systems, and sewer lines — and why the old “1% rule” isn’t always enough.

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02.
💵 Estimate Your Reserve

Enter your home’s value and age to get a recommended annual savings target and emergency reserve fund amount.

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03.
⚠️ Reduce Your Risk

Learn about insurance riders, smart tech (like water shutoffs), and preventative maintenance that can save you thousands.

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Comparison graphic showing a $25,000 emergency fund against common repair costs for roof, HVAC, plumbing, and foundation.

How Our Calculator Helps You Plan Smarter

Smarter saving starts with the right numbers

Most budgeting advice stops at “save 1% of your home’s value each year.” That’s a decent rule of thumb, but it doesn’t reflect the real-life costs homeowners face. Our tool looks deeper—factoring in the age of your roof, HVAC, and water heater, plus hidden risks like plumbing, foundation, and extreme weather—so your reserve is sized to your actual home.

  • Estimate annual and monthly repair savings tailored to your home.
  • See when major systems (roof, HVAC, water heater) are likely to need replacement.
  • Add extra protection for foundation, plumbing, or weather-related risks.
  • Plan for insurance gaps with a deductible cushion and rider suggestions.
  • Avoid being blindsided by $10k–$50k surprises — and stay financially steady.
Home Repair Reserve Calculator

Home Repair Reserve Calculator

Estimate how much to save each year for repairs — plus an emergency cushion.

What you’ll get: a yearly savings target, a monthly amount, an emergency cushion, and a simple list of big items to plan for.

Step 1 — Enter the value of your home

A ballpark number is fine. This helps size your savings and our HVAC estimate.

Step 2 — How old are the big systems?

Tell us the ages you know. If you’re not sure, a best guess works.

Asphalt roofs last ~20y; metal 40+. HOA/condo covers your roof? Enter 0 to leave it out.
Most systems last ~15y.
Tank ~8–12y; tankless 15–20y.

Step 3 — Fine-tune (optional)

Add a few details to personalize the numbers — totally optional.

Older homes usually need a bit more set aside.
We add this to your emergency cushion.
Think storms, hail, freeze/thaw, extreme heat, wildfire risk.
We use about 1% of home value by default. Change if you prefer.
We size at ~1 ton per 600 sq ft and ~$3,500 per ton installed.

Step 4 — Optional extras

Assumes ~10-ft width. Choose length and we’ll estimate cost and lifespan.
Rules of thumb: asphalt 18–20y, concrete 25–30y, pavers 25–40y. Wider drives? Add length proportionally.

Recommended annual repair reserve

Based on saving about 1% of your home’s value, adjusted for the details you provided. Most homes land between 1–2% of value.
Based on your home value
A simple rule of thumb adjusted for your home and risks.
Based on big items
Total of roof, HVAC, water heater.
Simple rule: Save the higher number above. That’s your yearly goal.
NOTE Roof costs left out (Roof Age set to 0). ⓘ
Monthly savings to set aside
Move this into a dedicated “home repairs” account.
Emergency cushion
For sudden failures and insurance gaps; includes your deductible.
Big items to plan for
    Keep it simple: save the higher of the two amounts shown at the top. That keeps you covered for both routine wear and bigger replacements.
    If the number feels high
    Prioritize the oldest items first, consider a home warranty to cap surprises, or keep a HELOC available for rare big expenses.
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