Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Winter maintenance moves indoors: safety checks, appliances, and the small interior jobs there's finally time for.

• 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.
• 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 monthsInspect washing machine hosesA burst supply hose floods a laundry room in minutes and is consistently among the most common causes of home water damage claims..
• Once a yearExercise the main water shutoffIn a burst-pipe emergency the main valve is the difference between a puddle and a disaster — unless it seized open years ago..
• Every 6 monthsClean bathroom exhaust fansA dust-choked fan can't clear shower moisture, and chronic bathroom moisture becomes ceiling mold and peeling paint..
• Once a yearDefrost the freezer and check sealsFrost buildup steals capacity and makes the compressor run long; a leaking door seal causes both..
• Every 3 monthsDegrease the range hood filterA grease-saturated filter stops capturing cooking exhaust and becomes a fire risk sitting directly over the burners..
• Every 3 months in seasonClean humidifiers and dehumidifiersBoth machines hold standing water, and standing water grows mold and bacteria that the machine then distributes through the house..
• Every 6 monthsCheck fire extinguishersAn extinguisher with a dead gauge is decor.

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