Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Winter is what your house just survived; spring is when you find out how it went. This season is about drainage, inspection, and getting cooling ready before the first hot week.

• 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..
• Once a yearClean the dryer vent ductLint in the exhaust duct is one of the leading causes of house fires, and a choked vent makes every load take two cycles instead of one..
• 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 6 monthsVacuum the refrigerator coilsDust-blanketed condenser coils force the compressor to run longer and hotter, which shows up in the electric bill first and the repair bill later..
• Every 2 monthsClean the dishwasher filterModern dishwashers trap food in a filter you're supposed to rinse — few people know it exists.
• Twice a year — before wet seasonsTest the sump pumpA sump pump spends most of its life idle and is only discovered dead during the storm that needed it..
• Every 6 monthsLubricate and test the garage doorThe garage door is the heaviest moving object in the house.
• Every 6 monthsInspect tub and shower caulkFailed caulk lets shower water into the wall cavity, where it rots framing and feeds mold invisibly.
• Twice a year and after big stormsInspect the roof from the groundOne lifted shingle is a cheap repair; the same shingle after two rainy seasons is a ceiling stain and a mold problem..
• Once a yearInspect and clean the deckDeck fasteners loosen and boards rot from the underside first.
• Twice a yearReverse ceiling fan directionCounterclockwise pushes a cooling breeze down in summer; clockwise on low pulls warm air off the ceiling in winter.
• 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..
• Every 3 monthsDegrease the range hood filterA grease-saturated filter stops capturing cooking exhaust and becomes a fire risk sitting directly over the burners..

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