Home maintenance
Seasonal home maintenance checklists
A little upkeep each season prevents most unpleasant surprises. Pick a season for a practical checklist written for US homes, with what you can do yourself and when to hire a pro.
Choose a season
- March to May
Spring
A spring home maintenance checklist for US homes: check the roof and gutters, keep water off the foundation, book the AC tune-up and start the sprinklers.14 tasksOpen the checklist - June to August
Summer
A summer home maintenance checklist for US homes: keep the AC and humidity in check, paint in dry weather, and get ready for hurricane and wildfire season.15 tasksOpen the checklist - September to November
Fall
A fall home maintenance checklist for US homes: service the furnace, have the chimney inspected, seal drafts, protect pipes from freezing and test for radon.15 tasksOpen the checklist - December to February
Winter
A winter home maintenance checklist for US homes: keep pipes from freezing, use generators and heaters safely, watch for ice dams and keep alarms working.14 tasksOpen the checklist
How to use these checklists
- Months are a guide only. Start each list when the season actually arrives where you live, and read the regional notes.
- Tasks marked DIY are ones most homeowners can do. Leave the others to a qualified, insured professional.
- Tick tasks off as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser only, and you can print a paper copy.
- Where a task cites a timing or frequency, it comes from the official US guidance listed under Sources.
Stay safe: leave roof work, gas appliances, electrical work and anything near power lines to qualified, insured professionals.
Sources for our seasonal home maintenance checklists
Timings and frequencies quoted in these checklists come from these official US sources.
- A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home · US Environmental Protection Agency
- Maintenance checklist for heating and cooling equipment · ENERGY STAR
- Floods · Ready.gov (FEMA)
- WaterSense: Sprinkler Spruce-Up · US Environmental Protection Agency
- Protect your family from sources of lead · US Environmental Protection Agency
- Smoke alarms · US Fire Administration (FEMA)
- Heat safety · National Weather Service
- Hurricanes · Ready.gov (FEMA)
- Wildfires · Ready.gov (FEMA)
- Heating fire safety · US Fire Administration (FEMA)
- Carbon Monoxide Information Center · US Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Radon · US Environmental Protection Agency
- Cold weather safety: before the storm · National Weather Service
- Winter weather · Ready.gov (FEMA)
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