51.6M
homeowners made improvements to their homes between 2021 and 2023.
That was 59% of U.S. homeowners, according to the 2023 American Housing Survey.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing SurveyData date: 2021-2023
QASHTU Reference
U.S. Home Maintenance Statistics
A sourced reference for the numbers behind home upkeep, household water use, energy, and safety.
Last updated September 24, 2026. Every statistic below links to its original public source and includes the source data date.
61%of owners of older homes started an improvement project
9,300+ gal.can be lost to household leaks in a year
52%of household energy use went to heating and cooling
Older-home upkeep
Older homes often come with a heavier first stretch of maintenance and improvement work, especially for recent buyers.
Link
$827B
was spent by homeowners on improvements between 2021 and 2023.
Among homeowners who made improvements, the median amount spent was $6,500.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing SurveyData date: 2021-2023
61%
of owners of homes built before 1950 started a home improvement project between 2019 and 2021.
Those owners spent a median of $4,100 on all home improvement projects during that period.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing SurveyData date: 2019-2021
$540
was the median annual maintenance spending for owners of homes built before 1950.
The Census definition covers routine maintenance, separate from improvement projects such as remodeling.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing SurveyData date: 2021
$3,900
was the median annual upkeep spending for recent owners of older homes.
Owners who had moved in within the previous two years spent more than long-term owners of older homes, whose median was about $1,500 a year.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing SurveyData date: 2021
47%
of homeowners nationwide completed an interior improvement project.
The Census identified interior improvements as the most common project type, including work on plumbing fixtures, flooring, drywall, paneling, ceiling tiles, and water heaters.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing SurveyData date: 2019-2021
Water use and leaks
Small leaks and outdoor water habits can quietly turn into a meaningful household expense.
82 gal.
is the average amount of water each American uses at home per day.
This is the Environmental Protection Agency’s household-use figure, based on the U.S. Geological Survey’s 2015 water-use estimate.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSenseData date: 2015 estimate
9,300+ gal.
can be wasted by household leaks in an average family home each year.
EPA says nine percent of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more a day, before a visible emergency makes the problem obvious.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSenseData date: EPA page accessed September 2026; underlying date not stated
Nearly 1T gal.
of water can be wasted nationwide each year by household leaks.
The EPA’s current Fix a Leak Week guidance describes this as nearly 1 trillion gallons annually nationwide.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSenseData date: EPA page accessed September 2026; underlying date not stated
30%+
of average household water use happens outdoors.
In arid regions, outdoor use can reach as much as 60% of a household total, according to the EPA.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSenseData date: Current EPA fact sheet
Comfort and safety
Heating, cooling, and safety equipment deserve a place in a home’s routine because their effect is felt long before a problem becomes urgent.
52%
of a typical U.S. household’s annual energy consumption went to space heating and air conditioning.
The Energy Information Administration reported this share for 2020, and notes that it varies substantially by climate, home size, and equipment.
U.S. Energy Information AdministrationData date: 2020
10 years
is the replacement interval the U.S. Fire Administration gives for smoke alarms.
It also recommends testing smoke alarms monthly and placing them inside and outside sleeping areas, as well as on every level of the home.
U.S. Fire AdministrationData date: Reviewed May 2023
<2 min.
may be the time available to get everyone outside after a smoke alarm sounds.
The U.S. Fire Administration uses this figure to stress the value of working alarms and a practiced home escape plan.
U.S. Fire AdministrationData date: Reviewed May 2023
Sources and methodology
This page brings together public figures that are directly relevant to the work of keeping a home running. It uses primary U.S. government sources where available. Statistics are shown as each source reports them, with the original period or review date beside the source link.
- U.S. Census Bureau: Cost of Improving and Maintaining Older Homes Higher for New Owners, based on the 2021 American Housing Survey.
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2023 Home Improvements Infographic, based on the 2023 American Housing Survey.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: WaterSense Statistics and Facts, plus the EPA’s Fix a Leak Week guidance, accessed September 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Energy Use in Homes, 2020 household energy data.
- U.S. Fire Administration: Smoke Alarms, reviewed May 2023.
Cite this page
QASHTU. “U.S. Home Maintenance Statistics.” Updated September 24, 2026. https://qashtu.com/home-maintenance-statistics
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