I’m a new homeowner and unsure about maintaining my roof. How often should I have it professionally inspected? Is there a best time to do these inspections? Also, I’ve heard about roof cleaning, but I’m unsure if it’s necessary, and if so, how often to do it.
You said it’s asphalt shingles in another comment. If it’s under 20 years old and you aren’t having issues, there’s nothing for you to do.
If you’re getting moss, leaf, or pine needle build up, I would clear that off with some regularity. You don’t have to be militant about it, just get a broom or brush and clean it when you can. If your roof pitch is shallow enough to allow these issues then it should be shallow enough to do cleaning yourself. If the pitch is so steep you’d want to hire someone then you probably don’t have these issues.
I would never call any part of a house “set and forget”. But correctly installed asphalt shingle roofs are made to last 20-30 or more years with little to no maintenance during that span. Since you’re new to the home I don’t see any harm in having a professional inspect it to get a read of where you’re at. They should be able to give you an estimated remaining lifespan and advice on things to watch for specific to your roof.
Good luck!