The Home Maintenance Checklist

Every task a house actually needs — what to do, how often, and why it matters. Organized by month and season, free to print, written to be done rather than admired.

By season

Spring18 tasks Summer15 tasks Fall26 tasks Winter14 tasks

By month

January5 tasks February4 tasks March5 tasks April8 tasks May5 tasks June6 tasks July5 tasks August4 tasks September8 tasks October11 tasks November7 tasks December5 tasks

How often should you…

Replace the HVAC filterEvery 90 days Test smoke and CO detectorsEvery month Replace detector batteriesOnce a year Clean the guttersTwice a year — spring and after leaf drop Flush the water heaterOnce a year Clean the dryer vent ductOnce a year Test GFCI outletsEvery 3 months Vacuum the refrigerator coilsEvery 6 months Clean the dishwasher filterEvery 2 months Inspect washing machine hosesEvery 6 months Test the sump pumpTwice a year — before wet seasons Shut off and drain outdoor faucetsEvery fall before first freeze Have the chimney sweptOnce a year if you burn wood Lubricate and test the garage doorEvery 6 months Exercise the main water shutoffOnce a year Inspect tub and shower caulkEvery 6 months Check toilets for silent leaksOnce a year Inspect the roof from the groundTwice a year and after big storms Inspect and clean the deckOnce a year Check weatherstripping and caulkEvery fall Reverse ceiling fan directionTwice a year Walk the foundation after heavy rainOnce a year Winterize the irrigation systemEvery fall before first freeze Winterize lawn equipmentEvery fall Service the AC before summerOnce a year Service the furnace before winterOnce a year Clean bathroom exhaust fansEvery 6 months Seal pest entry pointsEvery fall Defrost the freezer and check sealsOnce a year Degrease the range hood filterEvery 3 months Bleed radiators and check boiler pressureEvery fall Get snow equipment readyEvery fall Wash siding and check paintOnce a year Fill driveway and walkway cracksOnce a year Clean humidifiers and dehumidifiersEvery 3 months in season Trim branches away from the houseOnce a year Check fire extinguishersEvery 6 months

Every page here prints cleanly — press ⌘P (Mac) or Ctrl+P (Windows) for a paper copy.

Gable keeps this list for you.

The Gable app builds your home's maintenance schedule, reminds you when tasks come due, and keeps the record of everything you've done. Coming soon to iPhone.