HomeAIQ

Home Maintenance Schedule by Season

The routine checks that prevent the expensive surprises — organized by season so nothing slips.

Most five-figure home repairs start as neglected fifty-dollar tasks: a clogged gutter becomes a foundation leak, a dirty furnace filter becomes a dead blower motor. This schedule covers what to do each season on a typical single-family home. Adjust for your climate — and if you'd rather have reminders land on your phone automatically, that's exactly what HomeAIQ does.

Spring

• Service the air conditioner before the first heat wave — clean or replace filters, rinse the outdoor condenser coils, and clear vegetation at least 2 feet around the unit.
• Clean gutters and downspouts after the last freeze; confirm downspouts discharge at least 4–6 feet from the foundation.
• Inspect the roof from the ground with binoculars: lifted or missing shingles, damaged flashing, moss.
• Check exterior caulking and paint around windows, doors, and trim; touch up before summer sun bakes cracks open.
• Test the sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit before spring rains.
• Re-activate outdoor faucets and irrigation; watch for leaks from pipes that froze over winter.

Summer

• Replace HVAC filters — every 60–90 days normally, monthly if you run the AC hard or have pets.
• Flush the water heater (once a year): drain a few gallons to remove sediment that shortens its life.
• Clean the dryer vent duct all the way to the exterior — lint buildup is a leading cause of house fires.
• Inspect decks and fences; reseal wood every 2–3 years.
• Check washing machine hoses for bulges or cracks; replace rubber hoses every 5 years (braided stainless lasts longer).
• Test GFCI outlets in kitchens, baths, garage, and outdoors using the test/reset buttons.

Fall

• Have the furnace or boiler serviced before the first cold snap — a tune-up is far cheaper than a no-heat emergency call in January.
• Clean gutters again after the leaves drop.
• Winterize outdoor plumbing: disconnect hoses, shut off and drain exterior faucets, blow out irrigation lines where winters freeze.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries; replace detector units older than 10 years (7 for CO).
• Check weatherstripping on doors and windows; a $10 roll of foam pays for itself in one heating season.
• Have the chimney inspected/swept if you burn wood.

Winter

• Replace the furnace filter monthly during heavy heating use.
• Watch for ice dams on the roof edge — icicles often mean heat is escaping into the attic; add insulation or ventilation.
• Keep the water heater and pipes warm: insulate pipes in unheated spaces, and know where your main water shut-off is before a pipe bursts.
• Run ceiling fans clockwise on low to push warm air down.
• Deep-check the basics indoors: tighten loose handles, re-caulk tubs and showers, test the garage door auto-reverse.

The hard part isn't knowing — it's remembering

Every homeowner has read a list like this. The difference between homes that age well and homes that surprise their owners is a system: knowing what you have, when it was last done, and what's due next.

More guides

• How long do home appliances and systems last?
• The new homeowner checklist: your first 30 days