Guides / The Complete Home Maintenance Schedule (Season by Season)
Homes don't fail suddenly; they fail quietly, one skipped filter and one clogged gutter at a time. This is the full calendar — what needs attention monthly, seasonally, and annually, and which jobs are worth calling a pro for.
Check HVAC filters (replace every 1–3 months — see the filter guide below), test smoke and CO detectors, clear range-hood and bathroom fan grilles, and run water in rarely-used drains to keep traps from drying out.
Service the air conditioner before the first heat wave — techs book out fast in early summer. Clean gutters after the last freeze, inspect the roof for winter damage, check exterior caulking, and service the lawn equipment.
Flush the water heater (annually — summer is a convenient time), inspect deck and fence stain, check irrigation heads, and clean the dryer vent run if you haven't in the last year — lint restriction is a leading cause of dryer fires.
Furnace tune-up before the first cold snap, gutter cleaning after leaf drop, winterize exterior faucets and irrigation, check weatherstripping, and have the chimney swept if you burn wood.
Watch for ice dams, keep the water heater's area clear, check attic ventilation, and test the sump pump before spring melt. Deep-freeze nights: open cabinet doors on exterior-wall plumbing and let vulnerable taps drip.