April Home Maintenance Checklist

8 tasks for April — each with the reason it's on the list. Print it, stick it on the fridge, and cross things off.

• Every 90 daysReplace the HVAC filterA clogged filter makes the blower work harder, raises energy use, and lets dust bypass into the ductwork.
• Every monthTest smoke and CO detectorsDetectors fail quietly — the only way to know one still works is to test it.
• Twice a year — spring and after leaf dropClean the guttersBlocked gutters overflow against the fascia and foundation, which is how a handful of leaves becomes rot, ice dams, and a wet basement..
• Every 3 monthsTest GFCI outletsGFCI outlets protect the wet areas of the house from shock, and their internal mechanism can fail while the outlet keeps delivering power..
• Every 2 monthsClean the dishwasher filterModern dishwashers trap food in a filter you're supposed to rinse — few people know it exists.
• Every 6 monthsLubricate and test the garage doorThe garage door is the heaviest moving object in the house.
• Once a yearWalk the foundation after heavy rainWater pooling against the house is the root cause behind most wet basements and settling cracks.
• Once a yearService the AC before summerA serviced system cools better on less electricity, and technicians have open schedules in spring — not during the first heat wave..

Press ⌘P (Mac) or Ctrl+P (Windows) to print this checklist.

Nearby: March · May · the full checklist