Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist

What to Do Each Spring and Fall to Keep Your Home in Top Shape

A little maintenance twice a year can prevent most major home repairs.
Checking your home each spring and fall helps you spot small issues before they become expensive problems — and keeps everything running safely and efficiently.

Spring Maintenance Tips

Winter weather can be hard on your home. Use spring to inspect, clean, and refresh.

Interior

  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries

  • Inspect caulking and grout in bathrooms and kitchens for cracks

  • Look for water leaks under sinks or around toilets

  • Flush your hot water tank to remove sediment buildup

  • Vacuum refrigerator coils for efficiency

  • Clean or replace HVAC filters

  • Touch up wall paint or trim where needed

Exterior

  • Check your roof and gutters for loose shingles or debris

  • Clean gutters and downspouts so water drains away from your foundation

  • Inspect siding and trim for damage or peeling paint

  • Wash windows and screens

  • Examine fencing and gates for loose boards or rusted hardware

  • Look over your deck or patio for loose boards, nails, or cracked concrete

  • Prepare your landscaping or xeriscape beds — remove weeds, refresh mulch or rock

Fall Maintenance tips

As temperatures drop, focus on safety and preventing cold-weather damage.

Interior

  • Replace furnace filters; have your system serviced if needed

  • Test smoke and CO detectors again

  • Reverse ceiling fans to push warm air down

  • Check weatherstripping on doors and windows

  • Inspect attic and basement for signs of pests or moisture

  • Clean dryer vents to prevent lint buildup

  • Make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is — just in case

Exterior

  • Clean gutters again after leaves fall

  • Check that downspouts drain away from the house

  • Drain and store garden hoses; shut off outdoor faucets

  • Inspect and seal gaps or cracks around doors and windows to prevent drafts

  • Check exterior lighting for proper operation

  • Look for damaged roof shingles before winter storms

  • Trim tree branches away from the roof and siding