We all know that taking care of a home is a big responsibility. But, even if you understand that it takes work, you may not know what exactly needs to be done. Make it easy on yourself by following our annual home maintenance checklist and spreading out a few tasks each month throughout the year. Bookmark this page and set a calendar reminder at the beginning of each month to check it. You’ll get into a well-paced rhythm that doesn’t feel like too many chores in one weekend. 

January

January marks the first set of to-do items from your home maintenance plan. You may need some rest after the rush of the holiday season, so keep it simple. 

 

The first order of business is to replace air filters throughout your home. This should be done at least once every three months, and maybe even more frequently if you have furry friends at home. Since this is a recurring task, you’ll see it pop up again in coming monthly checklists as well.

 

Winter is also a good time to do some interior work. In January, focus on the bathroom. Clean your showerheads to get any buildup out. That keeps your water stream nice and strong so you can fully enjoy a hot shower all winter long.

 

Then check your bathroom caulking that outlines your tub or shower, or any tiles in the shower area. Touch up caulking that looks cracked to prevent any water from damaging the wall or flooring.

February

The home maintenance calendar keeps you indoors during February’s chill as well. Start with a biannual task of vacuuming your refrigerator coils. This helps to keep your energy bills down because dirty coils that accumulate dust and pet hair can end up requiring a lot more effort to maintain the set temperature inside.

 

Depending on the model of your refrigerator, the coils may either be on the back or at the bottom of the appliance. You may need to remove a plastic grill. Then it’s as simple as vacuuming the accumulated lint and debris around the coils. 

 

Another easy task that gets a jump on spring cleaning is to clean all of your windows, both inside and out. This can be tricky with a two-story home, so be sure to invest in some inexpensive tools to make the process easier and safer. A magnetic sponge or a squeegee with a telescopic handle, for instance, can help you reach the outside of windows without getting on a ladder, which can be dangerous.

March

As spring begins to emerge, your seasonal home maintenance checklist starts to take you outdoors. If you live in an area where pests are a problem, this is an ideal time to have the exterior perimeter of your home sprayed for pest control. This gets a jump start on treating bugs before they become a problem. Just check what type of spray is being used to make sure it can be safely used around pets, children, and any edible garden space you have. 

 

Your next yard task in March is to mulch your garden beds. Not only does it keep your landscaping looking fresh and crisp, it also promotes healthier soil and better water and temperature regulation for your plants as they start to emerge. 

 

Inside your house this month, it’s time to check your water heater pressure relief valve. This helps prevent leaks caused by mineral deposits. Lift the valve up and down a few times to make sure water comes out of the valve. This indicates it’s working properly in the event water pressure builds up and needs to be released at some point. If no water comes out or if only a small stream is released, then it’s time to have the valve replaced.

April

When April comes around, it’s time to replace those air filters again, just like you did in January. This keeps your air quality healthy and your HVAC purring smoothly. Speaking of your HVAC, call a technician to schedule an HVAC tune-up before you employ your air conditioner full time. That way your unit works as efficiently as possible, while also keeping your electric bill down.

 

Next, head outside and look at the trees in your yard. Assess their growth to see if any limbs are unsafely hanging over power lines or your roof line. If the tree limbs are within 10 feet of a power line, you’ll need to have them safely trimmed by a professional. It’s dangerous and typically illegal to attempt it yourself when in such close proximity to power lines.

May

May is a quiet month on the seasonal home maintenance checklist, but an important one as well. Your first job is to check that your smoke detectors are working. There’s a test button you can hold. If it beeps, you’re all set. If nothing happens, then it’s time to replace the batteries.

 

Next up for May is to check under all your faucets for leaks or even just small drips. Look under every bathroom and kitchen sink for signs of water. Run the faucets to see if any drips come out. You may need to tighten the pipe connections or have a gasket replaced to stop the dripping. Even minor leaks can cause a lot of damage, not to mention turn into bigger problems when left unattended. 

June

As temperatures begin to warm, check your exterior siding and deck for mold or mildew. If you see visible signs, it’s time to powerwash your home. There are a couple of ways to tackle this chore. First, you could either purchase or rent a powerwash machine to tackle the project yourself. The drawback is that you could inadvertently damage your siding if you don’t know how to properly handle the machine. The other option is to hire a professional to powerwash your home.

 

Another good June job is to clean out your garage. Declutter your space and donate any tools or other items you no longer need or want. Clear out the floor so you can sweep and even apply a mild cleaner. Hose it out and use a squeegee to remove excess water. Next, wash the garage door and windows. Also check the garage door framework and apply a lubricant spray if it squeaks. 

July

Three months have passed on the home maintenance checklist, so it’s time to replace your air filters again. If you’re worried about the continual costs, remember that the more frequently you change out the air filters, the lower quality product you can buy. The premium filters are meant to last longer, but many home experts agree that it’s actually better for your health to use cheap filters and replace them more frequently. 

 

Next, head to your dryer vent and clean out any excessive lint build up, which can become a fire hazard if left too long. Remove large chunks by hand, then use a vacuum to suck up excess around the edges. Another solution is to use a leaf blower to force lint out the exterior of the vent. 

August

Enjoy the last bit of summer by taking it easy with your home maintenance tasks. All you have scheduled in August is to vacuum your refrigerator coils. It should be easy this time around since you completed this task earlier in the year and figured out where your coils are located. Plus, once you start regularly keeping up with this job, they shouldn’t be as dirty as the first time.

September

September brings back-to-school errands, but also a few different early fall chores that should be addressed. First, check your water heater pressure relief valve now that six months have passed by. If water doesn’t come out, schedule a visit from a plumber. 

 

Another to-do this month is to get your chimney cleaned, if you have one. An annual chimney cleaning keeps you safe, since accumulating residue is extremely flammable. Scheduling your appointment early in the fall ensures you make it onto your chimney sweep’s calendar. The longer you wait, the quicker they’ll fill up and you may risk not getting your chimney cleaned until later in the season.

October

As leaves begin to drop, stay on top of cleaning your gutters. Depending on how many trees are near your house, you may need to perform this chore twice during autumn. But clean gutters do a lot in maintaining your home. First, you’ll prevent water damage caused by leaks or overages that pool around the foundation of your house. You’ll also keep the gutters intact, since they can freeze and crack when clogged up with debris and weather.

 

Also schedule another HVAC maintenance check-up. This time the technician will work on your heating unit instead of your air conditioner. It’s also time to replace your air filters this month. It should be easy now that you’ve done it a few times!

 

Finally, get your home ready for colder months by checking for gaps or cracks around your exterior doors and windows. If you see any red flags or can feel cold air coming in, caulk around the edges or add weather stripping. This keeps your heat in throughout the winter and lowers your utility bill. 

November

It’s time to put your yard to bed before winter fully settles in. Start by raking the leaves to keep your grass healthy throughout the winter. Plus, you won’t have to worry about ice freezing in wet pockets of leaves, making them even harder to get rid of in colder months. 

 

Next, turn off the water connection to your outdoor faucets. Drain the hoses and put them away in your garage or other storage space so they don't freeze and crack throughout winter.

 

Finally, address any cracks in your driveway. For smaller cracks, you can simply fill them yourself with a resurfacing product. Larger cracks may require professional help, but it’s important work to be done to fix the problem before it gets even bigger and potentially causes damage to your car.

December

You don’t want to overload your schedule during the holiday season, but there are a few annual tasks you’ll appreciate once they’re done. Start with deep cleaning your rugs. It’s up to you whether you want to hire a professional team or you want to rent a machine and do it yourself. You may be surprised by the amount of dirt that comes out of those rugs, even if you don’t have visible stains.

 

Your last home maintenance task of the year is to vacuum the air vents and bathroom exhaust fans throughout the house. This keeps your air clean just as changing your air filters does. And, every few years, you may even want to hire a pro to deep clean your entire system of air ducts. 

Bottom line

Tackling home maintenance may seem overwhelming at first, but a month by month checklist makes it much more manageable. Plus, taking care of your home’s systems throughout the year helps prevent major issues and makes them last longer. Ultimately, a little elbow grease saves time and money in the future by minimizing major repairs or replacements.

 

*If you’re living in one of our homes, be sure to contact us through our online maintenance service request portal about any item that involves replacing fixtures, trimming trees, mulching soil, or inspecting plumbing. We can send a technician to help take care of it for you or guide you through the process.