Home Maintenance Checklist

home maintenance checklist

Home Maintenance Checklist

Keeping your home in good shape is no easy task. From winter to summer, there’s always lots to do. Maintenance is key to keeping your home in great shape and can help you feel better, save money and prevent major damages in the future. You might ask: What regular maintenance should be done on a house? Read on to discover how to keep your home in tip top shape with our general maintenance checklist.

Table Of Contents

General Home Maintenance Checklist

  • Keep your kitchen tidy; clean the sink, fridge and oven/range with water and baking soda
  • Test all your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and other emergency equipment
  • Inspect electrical appliances for wear and tear; check cords and outlets
  • Look for peeling/chipped paint on both the interior and exterior of your home; paint where needed
  • Clean up your outside space: it’s important to keep trees and hedges trimmed, as well as maintaining things like patio furniture or your pool
  • Check grout on all your tiled surfaces and touch up where needed
  • Organize your home as best you can, ensuring you can find any items you may need
  • Check your furnace filter and clear it to help save on energy costs
  • Unclog all drains throughout your home, including showers and sinks
  • Check your home security system (if you have one) to make sure it’s in working order
  • Fill any holes or cracks in your walls with spackle
  • Tend your lawn and garden (if weather permits)
  • Clean your common living spaces regularly, whether it’s bedrooms, living rooms or bathrooms
  • Replace the batteries in all smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors

This list is a great starting point for a basic home maintenance checklist. While this checklist can be used as a preventative maintenance checklist, you may be looking for something more focused on time of the year. If that’s the case, read on for our seasonal checklists!

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

bearded handyman holding screwdriver while fixing broken air conditioner in living room
  • Inspect your home’s exterior and pressure wash, paint and protect siding
  • Repair your driveway if any cracks are present
  • Clean the gutters
  • Clean and inspect all ceiling fans–beware of sending dust flying!
  • Clean all vents and air ducts throughout your home
  • Ensure your air conditioning units are functioning properly
  • Keep an eye out for bugs that appear in the summer time like flies, beetles and wasps
  • Inspect windows and doors for leaks–it’s imperative to keep your home cool
  • Test all smoke detectors
  • Maintain your pool’s cleanliness–check chemical levels and keep it free of insects
  • Repair and inspect windows and window screens
  • Water your lawn and ensure it’s healthy
  • Plan for extreme weather–prepare an emergency kit in case of fires or storms
  • Clean your grill and replace the fuel, whether it’s gas or charcoal
  • Landscaping: trim your hedges and prune weeds to get your garden looking great

Summer home maintenance typically centers around temperature and outdoor maintenance. The summer time is often spent indoors in the AC or outside enjoying the sunshine, so it’s important to pay special attention to these areas. Keep in mind that upkeep to both indoors and outdoors can be time consuming–consider hiring a Tasker to simplify your to-do list.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Man Cleaning Gutters on Ladder
  • Clear gutters of debris and rake leaves
  • Seal gaps to prevent animals from nesting
  • Prepare for winter–gather firewood, replace snow removal equipment, restock emergency supplies
  • Weatherproof your home as temperatures drop
  • Ensure your heating systems and chimneys are clean and functional
  • Repair paths and walkways in preparation for icy weather conditions
  • Change the direction of your ceiling fan to help redistribute heat
  • Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Remove leaves and debris from your pool and prepare your heating system for winter
  • Care for any plants growing on your property, especially trees
  • Shut off outdoor water supplies (hoses, faucets) to prevent freezing in winter
  • Remove your window AC units
  • Prepare your pet’s living spaces (such as dog houses) for colder weather
  • Dust surfaces to prevent common household allergens

Fall maintenance is similar to summer maintenance, including a mixture of indoor and outdoor needs. However, fall maintenance differs in that it’s secretly winter preventative maintenance – fall is the perfect time to prepare for cold weather before the elements get too intense.

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Hand installs faucet cover to protect the plumbing from freezing in the winter
  • Ensure your heating systems are in good working order
  • Stock up on emergency supplies in case of power outages
  • Add insulation to your pipes to keep them from freezing
  • Store all outdoor furniture and clean up outdoors
  • Replace your HVAC air filter if needed
  • Install rugs and window coverings (window sealants, door draft seals) to keep the heat in
  • Keep your pool’s heating system in good working condition
  • Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
  • Clear ice and snow from your trees, roof and other high surfaces
  • Clean your carpets–spending more time indoors means more dirt and debris on the carpet
  • Protect your entryway from ice, snow and dirt with a rug or rubber mat 
  • Check your security system (especially if you plan to travel for winter holidays)
  • Check your septic tank. No one wants septic issues when family is gathering for the holidays.
  • Ensure the lighting throughout your home is updated

A winter home maintenance checklist rounds out the preparation you’ve done in fall. There’s minimal work to be done outside (besides snow removal and de-icing) so you can focus on staying cozy inside. If you want to forgo being outside entirely, hire a Tasker for snow and ice removal. Taskers can help keep your home in good condition and save you valuable time.

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Waist up portrait of young woman washing windows while enjoying Spring cleaning in house or apartment, copy space
  • Clean out your entire home – remove dust, pollen and other allergens
  • Repaint your exterior to repair any winter damage
  • Repair doors and windows so you can be sure let fresh air in
  • Check for pests that arise in the springtime
  • Reseal exterior woodwork and surfaces(including wooden tables, patios and fences)
  • Check your irrigation system
  • Clean out your attic and other storage areas
  • Keep your pool free of debris and ensure its chlorine levels are correct
  • Check the foundation of your home for cracks or instabilities
  • Prepare your AC units/system for the upcoming hot weather
  • Ensure your basement is free of leaks and moisture to prevent mold and pests
  • Flush the water out of your hot water heater
  • Inspect your roof for any damage incurred during the winter
  • Clean out your garage and oil the door tracks (which may get stiff during winter)

Spring home maintenance can be very refreshing and freeing. Building your spring home maintenance checklist should revolve around both indoor and outdoor maintenance. Additionally, there should be a strong focus on cleaning out your home to avoid common springtime allergens. Don’t slack on the spring cleaning!

Other Considerations

Home maintenance checklists vary based on your home’s location, size and other factors. There isn’t a one-size fits all list, so take the above recommendations as a guideline rather than concrete rules. Inspect your home thoroughly and create a custom home maintenance checklist that works for you.

Need help with home maintenance tasks?

We know it can be daunting to maintain your home all year round. That’s why we’ve provided these recommendations to help you keep things in check so you can relax and enjoy your home as much as possible.

Don’t do all the maintenance in your home on your own. Consider hiring a Tasker to do home maintenance no matter the season. Taskers can shovel, make repairs, clean and perform tons of other household tasks.

Click here to get started and hire a Tasker today!

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