Homeowner’s Maintenance Checklist

Spring is the season for a refresh: get your home cleaned up and ready to handle the season’s wind and rain.

Outdoor Tasks:

• Clear gutters and downspouts.
• Check the roof and chimney for cracks.
• Touch up peeling exterior paint.
• Wash every window, inside and out.
• Reinstall window and door screens.
• Wipe down outdoor furniture and air the cushions.
• Get the lawn mower serviced.
• Fertilize the lawn.

Indoor Tasks:

• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you spring the clocks forward.
• Got a sump pump? Pour a large bucket of water into the basin to make sure it kicks on and moves water; if it doesn’t activate or isn’t pumping properly, call in a professional, and while you’re at it, clear out any debris and check for leaks.
• Swap in your seasonal bedding and give it a wash.
• Dust the blinds and run the vacuum over curtains around the house.
• Go through kitchen and bathroom cabinets and toss anything expired, whether it’s food, medicine, or cosmetics.
• Check the attic fan for animal nests and confirm it’s running properly.
• Schedule a professional inspection for your outdoor AC unit.
• Run your whole-home generator to confirm it’s functioning correctly.
• Test the circuit breakers on your electrical panel.

Summer’s about keeping your yard healthy and your home comfortable; here’s what to tackle.

Outdoor Tasks:

• Walk the perimeter of your home and open up any crawl space vents at the foundation.
• Trim back overgrown trees and shrubs.
• Use a long, flexible brush to clear lint buildup from the dryer exhaust vent.
• Take the cover off your central AC unit and get window units installed.

Indoor Tasks:

• Replace or clean your HVAC filters, checking your furnace’s manual since some households need to swap filters more often than others.
• Deep clean kitchen appliances, inside and out, including the refrigerator coils.
• Keep drains flowing by pouring in a half-cup of baking soda followed by a half-cup of white vinegar; let it sit for 10 minutes, then flush with boiling water.
• Check that every GFCI outlet in the house trips properly when tested.
• Swap out water filters to keep your water quality up.
• Drain or flush the water heater tank.

As temperatures drop and the leaves start falling, fall maintenance gets your home ready for more time spent indoors.

Outdoor Tasks:

• Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris so water drains properly; gutter guards can make this an easier job going forward.
• Have your roof inspected, ideally by a licensed pro, for wear. Curling, buckling, or cracked shingles should be replaced individually; widespread damage may mean it’s time for a full roof replacement. Check the flashing around skylights, pipes, and chimneys too, since any gaps or leaks there let snow and ice sneak in later.
• Rake up fallen leaves; shred them for mulch or dispose of them per your local guidelines.
• Install or close up storm windows.
• Disconnect hoses from outdoor spigots, drain them fully, and store them indoors coiled flat.
• Bring outdoor furniture and cushions in for storage.
• Have your snow blower tested and serviced if it needs it.
• Probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings, and decks with a screwdriver; caulk small holes or replace wood that’s too far gone.
• Before freezing temperatures hit, shut off the valves to your exterior hose bibs and run the taps until the lines are empty, since any water left behind can freeze and crack the pipes.
• Fall’s lower humidity and mild-but-not-cold temperatures make it a great window for exterior painting.

Indoor Tasks:

• Check doors and windows for drafts and add weather stripping wherever it’s needed.
• Book a professional furnace inspection.
• Set out rodent traps if you’re seeing signs of unwanted visitors.
• Dust the blinds and vacuum the curtains throughout the house.
• Clear out kitchen and bathroom cabinets, tossing anything expired.
• Look over the indicator lights on your surge protectors.
• Test every GFCI outlet in the home.
• Replace water filters as needed.
• Confirm your whole-home generator is working as it should.
• Test your electrical panel’s circuit breakers.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries, replacing them if they’re low.
• Vacuum lint out of the dryer duct and the area around it.
• Vacuum the condenser coils on your refrigerator to help it run more efficiently.

Winter is when your maintenance work pays off in the form of efficient, reliable warmth. Spend this season giving your home’s interior a thorough once-over, with just a handful of precautions to take outside.

Outdoor Tasks:

• Walk your home’s perimeter and close up any open foundation crawl space vents.
• Cover your central AC unit, and take down and store any window units.
• Give garden tools a good cleaning before putting them away.
• Position snow shovels and the snow blower somewhere handy, and stock up on ice-melt for walkways.

Indoor Tasks:

• Swap or clean furnace filters, checking the manufacturer’s guidance on how often yours should be replaced.
• Give kitchen appliances a thorough clean, inside and out, including the refrigerator coils.
• Keep drains running clear by treating them with Endure.
• Foundation: look for moisture intrusion and cracks widening on either side of the walls.
• Roof: look for loose shingles or tiles, plus signs of leaking near vents, skylights, and chimneys.
• Paint: touch up spots where interior or exterior paint is peeling or cracking.
• Gutters: clear leaves and debris out of gutters and downspouts.
• Chimney: remove built-up creosote and other flammable residue; bring in a professional every year or two to keep fire risk down through winter.
• Water Heater: drain the tank until the water runs clear of sediment, then refill; this step adds years to the unit’s life.
• Heating and Cooling System: swap out all filters, since some filter types need changing as often as monthly.
• Schedule a furnace tune-up if it’s been more than a year since a technician last looked at it.
• Exhaust Fans: clean the grille and fan blades.
• Garbage Disposal: flush it with hot water and baking soda.
• Doors and Windows: lubricate hinges and moving hardware, and polish the metal fixtures.
• Garage Door: clean and lubricate the hinges, rollers, and tracks.
• Flooring: shampoo the carpet and wax hard flooring.
• Caulking and Grout: check the caulk and grout around tubs, sinks, and showers, and reapply anywhere it’s worn.
• Fire Extinguishers: confirm they’re fully charged, recharging or replacing any that aren’t.