The Ultimate Preventative Home Maintenance Checklist

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Preventative Home Maintenance Checklist By Season

This is the ultimate preventative home maintenance checklist. It will teach you exactly how to take care of your home to keep it happy and healthy for a long time. You will learn why preventative home maintenance is important as well as how often you should perform these tasks.

You will find some great homeowner tips and home maintenance that will help your home function properly for a long time.

Download the full preventative home maintenance checklist and print it out so you can keep it on hand. The checklist is categorized by season so you can easily follow along throughout the year.

How to Take Care of Your Home

The key to taking care of your home is to pay close attention to it. Look out for changes in things like lower appliance performance, or worn out parts.

The more you pay attention to how your house is functioning, the more you will understand how it is supposed to function. That way when something isn’t working the way it should be, you will be able to detect that right off the bat. Then be able to appropriately handle the situation before it gets out of hand.

What is Preventative Home Maintenance?

Preventative home maintenance is routine maintenance that you perform regularly on things like appliances, equipment, plumbing, etc. It helps prevent larger maintenance problems from occurring down the road.

Why is Preventative Home Maintenance Important?

Preventative home maintenance is important in order to keep your house in tip-top shape and highly functional for a long time.

Not only that, but preventative home maintenance can help you save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the long run.

It helps homeowners understand how their house functions, and that way they can plan for larger expenses like a furnace replacement rather than having an emergency replacement done.

Related: First Time Home Buyers Guide

Is Preventative Home Maintenance Necessary?

Preventative home maintenance is necessary if you are looking to save money and avoid headaches down the road. If you don’t take care of your home and appliances they will fail before their average lifespan at times where you least expect them to happen.

If you are looking to have more control over the quality of your home, as well as over your finances, then regularly performing preventative home maintenance is definitely a necessity.

How Often Should I be Doing Preventative Home Maintenance?

There are different times of the year that you should be performing these preventative home maintenance tasks. Some tasks can be performed anytime throughout the year, and others should be performed during specific seasons.

In any case, there are small things that you should be doing regularly every season. The more often you perform some of these tasks the more control you will have over the long-term functionality of your home.

Do I Need a Professional to Perform Preventative Home Maintenance?

You can hire a specialist or professional to perform this routine maintenance on your home, however, there are many tasks that most homeowners are able to do themselves.

The answer to this question will vary between households. Some homes will be easier to service on your own than others. It will also depend on how comfortable you are with performing some of these tasks, especially those things that require more elbow grease than others.

If you are looking to save money on preventative home maintenance, I recommend either watching some “how-to” Youtube videos or calling up a friend who is familiar with how to perform these tasks. The last thing you want to do is damage something and require a specialist to fix or replace it later.

Related: 6 Common Home Buying Myths

How Much Does Routine Home Maintenance Cost?

Preventative home maintenance doesn’t need to be expensive. The whole point of doing these tasks in the first place is to help save money in the long run.

If you hire a professional to do these tasks, it will end up being relatively more expensive than doing them on your own. But hiring a professional will ultimately be cheaper than having an unexpected failure due to lack of proper care to an appliance.

Most preventative home maintenance can be done at low costs. They can usually be performed using tools and other things found in most homes. However, there are some tasks that may require a bit more money, but still less than a full replacement of the equipment.

Related: Things to Stop Paying For

How Much Should I Budget for Home Maintenance?

There are different rules of thumb for how much you should budget for home maintenance. Preventative home maintenance won’t cost you a whole lot, but other maintenance will.

Some experts say to budget 1% of the value of your home per year for maintenance expenses. For example, if your house is $400,000 that would be $4,000 annually or around $330 monthly. This number will be different for every household depending on the size and location.

Some years may be more expensive than others and vice versa. It is important to keep a cash reserve for things like routine maintenance as well as unexpected maintenance.

Seasonal Preventative Home Maintenance Checklist

Monthly Maintenance Checklist

This list is for those tasks that you should perform monthly at your house. The longer you put them off the more frustrating they can become. Especially things like cleaning.

Clean drains. This is actually easier than it sounds. All you need to do is boil a few cups of water, pour that down the drain, dump some baking powder, and then vinegar down the drain. Let it work its magic for a while, then you can use the drain again. This task will help break up all the gunk down the drain. Doing this will help prevent bigger clogs down the road. The harsh chemicals in drain clog removers can damage your pipes over time.
Replace furnace filter (all year round if you have a furnace and central AC). Make sure you understand where the furnace filter is, how to access it, what size the filter is, and how to remove it. You should be doing this monthly. Performing this task will help your furnace function properly and for a long time.
Deep clean bathrooms and kitchen. Deep cleaning your bathrooms and kitchen helps to keep all your appliances and equipment running smoothly and in great shape. It also will prevent pests from wanting to be in your home!
Sweep, mop, and vacuum floors. Similar to keeping your kitchen clean this will help keep away pests. Not only that, but it will allow your flooring to last longer. Carpet that is not vacuumed regularly ends up getting matted down. By cleaning your flooring, you will push off the need to replace it.
Dust. Dusting keeps your furnace from working harder than it needs to. The purpose of a furnace filter is to filter the dust from the air. If there isn’t a lot of dust around then it doesn’t need to work very hard to clean the air. Not only that but dusting regularly is good for keeping allergies at bay.
Inspect fire extinguishers. Make sure your fire extinguishers are in good shape and haven’t expired. That way, if you do happen to have a fire, you can be sure that you have a functioning extinguisher to put it out.

Quarterly Maintenance Checklist

Quarterly maintenance items should be done more regularly than just once a year, but not as often as once a month.

Test smoke alarms and CO detectors. This is the same concept as the fire extinguisher, but you want to be sure that these alarms are working. Whether it is solely a battery-operated alarm or wired in, you should be regularly testing these to ensure they are functioning properly. All you need to do is hit the test button on it.
Run water in less used areas. If you have any unused bathrooms or other plumbing in your house, it is advantageous to regularly run the water to it. Simply flush the toilet or run the water to that area.
Check water softener. If you have a water softener make sure to check it regularly and add more salt to it if needed.
Inspect plumbing for any active leaks. This can be done by simply checking under your sinks, behind toilets, or any exposed pipes in the basement. Keep an eye out for any small drips that could have started recently. The earlier you find a leak, the sooner you can take care of it.
Clean showerheads and shower curtains. There are many remedies for cleaning your showerheads and curtains. This will fight off any build-up or signs of mildew, helping these products to last longer.
Vacuum behind furniture and appliances (fridge, stove, w/d, couches, dressers, etc). Make sure to vacuum often in those hard to reach areas. Even though they are a pain to get to, you will be thankful you did it. Sucking away any out of reach food or dirt will prevent pests and keep things in better shape longer.
Clean air intake for HVAC. Yet another tip to keeping your furnace in great shape. It isn’t always enough to replace the filters, but be sure to clean off the air intake of dust. You can do this either with a vacuum or by using a rag.

Spring Maintenance Checklist

Spring maintenance tasks should be done to prepare your house for the summer. You will see that a lot of these tasks involve getting things ready for the hotter months of the summer. Here are some more spring cleaning resources.

Change water filter in fridge. Changing the water filter helps to keep your water dispenser in good shape for a long time. Each fridge requires a different water filter, but most can be purchased online. Also, this task should be performed every 6 months.
Tighten handles, knobs, racks, etc. This is as good of time as any to go around with a screwdriver and tighten up all of your handles. This can be on cabinets, dressers, other furniture, interior and exterior doors, closets, etc. By keeping everything tightened you will prevent the handles from falling off and possibly breaking.
Check all locks on doors and windows. Make sure all of the locks on your windows and doors are functioning properly. If not, take the necessary steps to fix or replace them.
Clean closets of dirt and debris. Keep your closet floors in nice shape. All you need to do is remove the contents and clean the floors of dirt that may have fallen off your shoes.
Extend gutter downspouts. Make sure to extend your gutter downspouts at least 5 feet away from your foundation. This will prevent water from pooling up around the house and eroding the sides of your foundation. This is an easy weekend task of purchasing the proper gutter extenders and attaching them to the downspouts already there.
Inspect gutters for dents, cracks, and overflow. If you had any ice dams in your gutters over the winter, there could be some damage to them. Inspect your gutters for any signs of damage and then replace them as needed. Gutters are there to prevent water from pooling up around the foundation of your house.
Have air ducts cleaned out. Your furnace was probably working very hard over the winter, so make sure to have the ducts cleaned out. This will ensure a long-lasting furnace. Most people typically have a professional come to clean out the ducts in their houses.
Prepare your cooling system for the summer. Whether you have central AC, a swamp cooler, or a window unit make sure it is set to go for the summer.
Have AC inspected and serviced. This is also a good time to make sure your cooling systems are working properly. Hire a professional to inspect and service your unit so you can be sure it will function properly even on the hottest days!
Inspect lawn care equipment (mower, weed wacker, etc). Our lawn care equipment doesn’t typically get a lot of care. Before the summer comes around, inspect the equipment, clean it as needed, and tune things where necessary.
Turn exterior water faucets back on. Your exterior water faucets should have been shut off over the winter. Now is the time to turn the back on.
Have sprinklers inspected and turned on. Towards the end of springtime is when you want to turn the sprinklers back on. Inspect them for any signs of damage or leaking. The last thing you want is for them to flood your yard.
Remove dead shrubs and plants. Some of the plants may not have survived over the winter. Prepare your lawn and garden for this growing season by removing any dead plants.
Mulch flower beds. Mulch helps plants retain water and it also helps to keep weeds at bay.
Inspect trees for any falling or dead branches. Did any branches take a hard hit from the snow and ice this year? Inspect for any dead branches that could fall and remove them where necessary. It is also advantageous to remove any large branches that hang over your house.
Reseed lawn as needed. If there are any areas of your lawn that look like they need a bit of help, make sure to reseed those patches. You want to do this before it gets too hot. Grass is very delicate and needs plenty of water.
Clean and inspect deck for loose boards and decay. If you have a wooden deck, be sure to inspect it for any damage or decay. Make any repairs as needed to prevent any injuries from happening.
Refinish deck (every few years depending on the finish). This typically doesn’t need to happen every year. Refinishing your deck will help to protect the wood and ensure a long life. Not only that but it will prevent splintering of the wood.
Inspect garage for any pests. Rodents are always looking for a warm space to camp out over the winter. They could have gotten into your garage and made a nice little home in there. Check around for any signs of mice or other pests and have them properly removed.
Clean windows including window tracks. Late spring is a great time to wash your windows. Be sure to clean out the sliding tracks; if you open up your windows often, dirt typically collects in there.
Clean patio furniture for summer. Take out your patio furniture and give it a good rinse off with your hose. If you want to deep clean them, use some eco-friendly soap to scrub the furniture down. That way you get a good clean without harming the environment.
Inspect and prepare pool for summer. If you have a pool, now is the time to inspect it and fill it up for the summer!

Summer Maintenance Checklist

Here is a list of preventative home maintenance to do over the summer. These tasks are all things that are easily performed when the weather is nice and warm.

Check for cracks in windows. Take a stroll around the outside of your house and check your windows for any cracks. The summer is the best time to replace a window because the weather is nice and warm.
Repair or replace broken window screens. The same thing goes with your window screens or screen doors. If you enjoy opening your windows for a bit of fresh air, having intact screens is important. They prevent pests from getting into your house. Some screens can be repaired with a patch, other times they need to be fully replaced.
Inspect siding of home. Walk around your house and look closely at the siding. If you see any chipping, peeling, or other signs of damage be sure to repair, patch, and paint as needed. The paint on your siding helps to protect the actual siding itself. Any chips or peeling of the paint leaves an opening for damage to the integrity of it. The last thing you want is water damage, rotting, or the siding to fall off! If you have stucco, you can patch the cracks easily.
Inspect roof for loose or broken shingles. If you are able, get on a ladder or on top of your roof to inspect for damage to the roof. This includes loose, broken, or missing shingles. Replace shingles as needed or potentially the entire roof if the damage is extensive.
Inspect ceiling for any roof leaks. Another way to check the integrity of your roof is to inspect your ceiling for any signs of leaks. They will start out as small water stains, and if it is an active leak, the stain will grow larger over time. Be sure to repair the leak before it gets out of hand and requires more extensive repairs.
Check caulking and grout in bathrooms and kitchen. Make sure the caulk and grout in your kitchen and bathrooms is still intact. If you see any holes starting to form be sure to replace where it’s needed. Grout and caulk are important to help protect those small crevices from taking in water.
Clean out dryer vent and hose. Depending on your dryer and the room it is in, this could be a simple task for you to take on yourself. Otherwise, you may want professionals to take on the job. Dryer lint is extremely flammable and can cause fires if not removed regularly. Not removing the lint from the vent also makes the dryer work harder and it will fail quicker over time.
Cut back plants that are touching house or power lines. Summer is a great time to do some lawn projects like trimming back trees and bushes that are up against your house or power lines. Plants up against a house will wear down the integrity of the siding quicker. Trees also have very strong roots that could potentially push up against your foundation and cause damage.
Test water heater’s pressure release valve. The pressure release valve is there to keep your water heater from becoming a bomb. Therefore, it is extremely important to make sure that the release valve is operating properly. It is very simple and you can do this yourself by simply placing a bucket at the bottom of the release hose and opening up the valve.
Check driveway and sidewalks for cracks. Look around for any hazards created from cracks in your driveway and sidewalks. Depending on the severity of the crack, you may be able to repair it yourself. But you also may need the help of a professional.
Inspect perimeter of house for any pooling of water. Pooling water around your house can lead to damage to your foundation. Water pooling can be a sign that your gutters are broken, or emptying too close to the house. It can also mean that the land around your house is not graded properly. Professionals say that the land should slope down 6 inches for the first 10 feet from your house.
Wash siding of house. Washing the siding of your house can help it to stay in good condition. This can be done simply with a garden hose with a power washer attachment.
Cover holes/entrances under deck, patio, etc. Inspect around your deck and patio for any entrances where animals could get into. Make sure to cover those so nothing makes a home in there.
Water and weed flower beds and gardens often through summer. Make sure to take good care of your garden by watering and weeding often. Weeds can choke your flowers if not tended to.
Reverse ceiling fans to create a down breeze. If you have ceiling fans in your house, you can reverse its spin in order to create a cooling downward breeze. This can help you to cut back on your AC usage.

Fall Maintenance Checklist

Fall is the time to winterize. It is the time to prepare your house for colder temperatures, especially if you live in a location where it gets below freezing often.

Winterize cooling unit and cover. Whatever your cooling system, make sure to winterize it. It is also good to cover it up to keep it warm and to keep debris from getting in and ruining the appliance.
Winterize sprinklers. Whatever method of winterization you prefer for your sprinklers is fine, just make sure to have them winterized. You don’t want the water to stay there over the winter because it could freeze, expand, and crack the pipes of the sprinkler system.
Turn off and flush exterior water faucets. Make sure to turn off the water to your exterior faucets and drain them so they don’t have water in them over the winter. You can also cover the faucets to help insulate them.
Insulate pipes that are more exposed to cold temperatures. This can be especially important in a vacation home, or when you go away for longer periods of time over the winter. To prevent your pipes from bursting, you can get pipe insulators to help keep them warm.
Have HVAC inspected and serviced. Have a professional come check out your furnace to make sure it is good to go for the winter season. The last thing you want is for the furnace to give out on a very cold night.
Inspect and possibly replace weather stripping around doors and windows. Weather stripping helps seal up your doors and windows. It keeps out cold and hot temperatures, and also keeps out bugs. If you feel a draft coming in, you know for sure you need weather stripping to help seal the cracks. It is very easy to install this yourself.
Clean gutters of debris. Whatever your method, leaf blower or by hand, make sure to clean out your gutters once the majority of your leaves have fallen. If you have a lot of big trees around, you may need to do this a couple of times. This will prevent water and ice from pooling up in the gutters over the winter.
Clean out basement window wells of debris. Clean out your window wells from leaves and debris. This will prevent animals from choosing it as a warm home. You can also install weather guards to go over your window wells. However, make sure they are not locked shut from the outside. They need to open from the inside in case someone were to need to escape from the window in times of emergency.
Clean yard of any lawn debris. Rake the leaves and debris in your yard. There are a few options with what to do with the leaves. Some choose to rake the leaves under bushes and shrubs because it helps to insulate the plants over the winter. Others dispose of the leaves altogether. And others actually just mow over the leaves to add a layer of fertilization to their lawn.
Recaulk around windows and doors as needed. If you see any cracking in the caulk around your windows and doors, be sure to reseal them. Cold air can get in this way if not properly patched up.
Take care of pests and insects as needed. As the weather cools down, pests look for warmer places to make a home. If they find a way to get into your house they will. There are some simple home remedies to get rid of them, but sometimes an exterminator may be needed.
Have fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned. If you like to use your fireplace as a source of heat in the winter, be sure to have it inspected and cleaned. Even if you don’t use it that often, it’s not a bad idea to have it inspected and cleaned out just in case an animal got trapped in there.
Clean out garage of dirt and debris. As the leaves fall they tend to find themselves inside of houses and garages. Take a broom or leaf blower and clean out the debris in the garage to help make it less appealing to pests and critters.
Flush water heater or boiler and remove sediment. To ensure that your water heater lives a long life, you need to flush it once a year to remove sediment build-up. You can have this done professionally, or learn how to do it yourself. Check out this video to be sure to get the job done properly.
Store patio furniture for winter. If you want your patio furniture to look good and last for years, you will need to store or cover it to protect it from the harsh winter weather.
Inspect winter gear and make accessible (shovels, snow blower, clothing, etc). Time to put the lawnmower away and trade it for your snow blower and shovels! Make sure your winter gear is accessible and in good condition. Just like your other lawn care items, they need to be cleaned and possibly tuned.
Stock up on firewood. If you have a wood-burning fireplace that you like to use in the winter, be sure to stock up on firewood and keep it in a dry place. It isn’t recommended to store it indoors because it will attract bugs.
Clean and cover pool. If you have a pool, make sure to properly drain it, clean it, and cover it up for the winter.

Winter Maintenance Checklist

Winter is a good time to do those preventative home maintenance tasks that are indoors.

Look for ice build-up in gutters and around house. Icicles may look pretty hanging off your house, but they may be a sign of an ice dam. Ice dams can tear off gutters and shingles. Heated cables can help prevent ice dams from forming. Getting rid of ice dams can be tricky. I recommend checking this article out if you have this issue at home.
Clean or replace stove hood vent filter. This is a good time of the year to clean the vent filter above your stove. You should do this more often if you cook on your stove regularly.
Deep clean appliances (w/d, fridge, oven, etc). Winter is a good time to deep clean all of your indoor appliances. You can find how to DIY clean these appliances online. You can do them all in one weekend. Deep cleaning your appliances will ensure that they live a long life and function properly. Check out this awesome eco-friendly cleaning product.
Test sump pump. Before the snow starts to melt and more rain starts to fall, you should test out your sump pump to ensure it is working properly. The last thing you want is for heavy rain to fall and flood your basement!
Deep clean all switch plate covers, knobs, handles, etc. To keep everyone from spreading germs, we recommend you take some Clorox wipes and clean all of your heavily touched surfaces. Railings, appliance handles, knobs, keyboards, dresser handles, switch plate covers, etc. If you have white switch plates, they will eventually show the dirt and grime from being touched often.
Inspect and clean bathroom ceiling vents/fans. Your bathroom ceiling fans suck up the air in the room. While they do this they pull in all the dust in the air. Eventually, the fan will collect enough dust to slow it down. Simply remove the fan cover and wipe down the blades.
Inspect toilets for worn-out valves and flappers. Do you have a toilet that seems to run on forever? The flapper may need to be replaced. You will save water by replacing it.
Dust the tops of ceiling fans and other hard to reach places. Ceiling fans collect a lot of dust and need to be cleaned off at least once a year. Winter is a great time to grab your ladder and clean those hard to reach areas.
Shampoo carpets. Getting your carpets cleaned is a great way to keep them in shape. This will remove the crumbs, dirt, and allergens.

This is a pretty extensive list, though there are definitely other preventative home maintenance tasks that you could be doing to keep your house in great shape.

Is there anything that we missed from our Ultimate Preventative Home Maintenance Checklist? Let us know in the comments what else you do to keep your house running well.

Download the Preventative Home Maintenance Checklist Printable

Or pin this article for later so you can know how to keep your house a well-oiled machine!

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Gabe Sanders

February 8, 2020 at 6:55 am

Wow!! What an excellent and comprehensive list. I hope you don’t mind if I send this out to a number of my friends and clients.

Katie Jones
February 10, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Please do! I’m glad you found it helpful and I hope that they find it helpful as well.