The seasonal home maintenance checklist

Home maintenance feels endless until you put it on a calendar. Then it’s just a handful of tasks each season — most of them small, and nearly all of them cheaper than the repair they prevent. Here’s a simple rhythm to follow, plus the year-round basics that matter most.

Spring

• Service the AC before summer. Replace or clean filters, keep the outdoor condenser clear of debris, and trim plants back from it. A clean system runs cheaper and lasts longer.
• Check exterior caulk and seals. Sealing gaps and adding weatherstripping pays for itself quickly in energy savings.
• Clean gutters and look for water intrusionafter the winter — standard good practice to keep water away from the roof and foundation.

Summer

• Clean the dryer vent. Lint buildup is the leading cause of dryer fires. Clear the lint trap every load and have the full duct cleaned at least once a year.
• Keep up the exterior— seal the deck, check sprinklers, watch for pests. (Sensible seasonal upkeep, even where it’s not a hard rule.)

Fall

• Service the heating system before winter. Have a professional check the furnace, connections, and heat exchanger so it runs safely when you need it.
• Seal air leakswith caulk and weatherstripping — a cost-effective way to cut heating bills and stay comfortable.
• Have the chimney inspected. Fireplaces and vents should be checked at least once a year for soundness and buildup before you start burning.
• Winterize outdoor faucets and sprinklers, and clean the gutters again before the leaves and snow.

Winter

• Prevent frozen pipes.Seal drafts near plumbing, insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces, and keep the heat on during cold snaps — a burst pipe is one of the most expensive failures a home can have.
• Watch for ice dams on the roof and keep an eye on areas prone to leaks.

Year-round basics (the ones that matter most)

• Test smoke alarms every month, replace the batteries at least once a year, and replace the whole alarm 10 years after its manufacture date.
• Test carbon-monoxide alarms monthlytoo, and replace them on the manufacturer’s schedule — typically every 7 to 10 years, often sooner than smoke alarms.
• Change HVAC filtersevery month or two during heating and cooling season. It’s the cheapest thing you can do to keep the system efficient and avoid early failure.
• Set the water heater to 120°Fand flush the tank periodically — it slows corrosion, saves energy, and is safer.
• Know where your main water shutoff is before you ever need it in a hurry.

You don’t have to do all of it in a weekend. Put the seasonal items on the calendar, keep the year-round basics on autopilot, and the house mostly takes care of itself — quietly preventing the failures that turn into big bills.