Home Maintenance Calendar: A Handy Guide for Your House

Owning a home is a dream come true, but let’s be real, it’s also a lot of work! You need to keep track of constant home repairs and replacements. But, don’t worry, it’s nothing a solid house maintenance calendar cannot fix.

That’s why, we’ve created a practical guide to help you tackle those home maintenance tasks with ease. Our goal is to help you keep your home in tip-top shape (and avoid expensive problems down the road).

Why is a good house cleaning schedule important?

A good maintenance schedule ensures that all your home tasks — right from the most simple ones like cleaning your kitchen sink to time-consuming tasks such as organizing your garage — are easier to tackle. With regular upkeep, you save money, effort, and costly home improvements.

Remember that your home is a big investment — both financially and emotionally. So, maintaining it needs to be a priority. Regular home upkeep doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a good house cleaning schedule and home maintenance calendar in place, you can keep on top of the small and the big stuff. Trust us, your home will run like a well-oiled machine.

Another advantage of sticking to a smart maintenance plan is that you will NOT be waiting for the next disaster to happen. No more overflowing rain gutters, a faulty HVAC system, or a non-functional chimney. That means no more expensive emergency repairs or frantic calls to service technicians.

The truth is that a neglected home may also jeopardize your family’s safety. So, always strive to preserve your home’s value, and keep your loved ones comfortable as well as safe.

Read more: How much should I save for home maintenance

How do I make a home maintenance plan?

Online or offline, you can jot down your regular tasks on the basis of their frequency and seasons. Keep in mind that there’s no black-and-white list; you can do things when and how they work for you and your home.

Want a reliable manager to help you stay on top of your home maintenance game? Kukun’s My Maintenance™ helps keep your house in top shape with recommendations for maintenance tasks and improvements created specifically for your home.

To help you tackle the home maintenance issues, we’ve put together a handy house maintenance calendar — breaking down all the activities into monthly, quarterly, and annual or seasonal categories. So grab a cup of coffee, put on your favorite playlist, roll up your sleeves, and dive in!

Monthly home maintenance checklist

Inspect your HVAC filters, and repair or replace them if required. If you have a small family, and no pets or allergies, you’ll probably need to change filters every 2-3 months. Otherwise, monthly.
Clean your kitchen sink disposal. If it’s dirty, run vinegar ice cubes made at home through the disposal. They will freshen the area and sharpen the blades.
Check your range hood filters. The best DIY hack to clean the filters is by using an auto degreaser mixed with hot water.
Inspect your fire alarm. Replace if it shows visible signs of wear and tear.
Check if there’s any garbage or drainage blockage. Do the needful.
Make sure your power outlets and GFCI outlets are in working condition.
Test all the security locks and deadbolts on your doors and windows.

Quarterly home maintenance

Test your smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors. Generally, most of them have a test button. Press it and see if the alarm sounds go off. If not, replace the existing batteries and test again. Clean the battery terminal if there’s any sign of corrosion.
Check your garage door. Make sure its auto-reverse feature is working fine. You can check by placing a log of wood on the ground; the door should reverse automatically upon hitting the wood. If you have installed photo-electric sensors, check them too by placing something in front of them. They should go back up immediately.
Use the flush in unused toilets such as a guest bathroom. Run water in the bathroom sinks to prevent grime or any build-up.

Biannual home maintenance

Make sure your water heater’s pressure relief valve is working properly. By checking it regularly, you can prevent mineral and corrosion buildup, and leaks. Plus, your hot water heater will run more efficiently.
Give your entire home a deep clean once every six months. Clean your appliances, doors and windows, garage, basement, etc. to prevent any dust build-up.
Replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every six months — sooner if you hear a low battery beeping noise.
Clean your refrigerator coils with a vacuum cleaner. This simple exercise will make sure your appliance is running as efficiently as possible. And, doesn’t drastically increase your energy bills.

Annual or seasonal home maintenance

Annual home maintenance can be broken down into different times of the year. Keep in mind that your house needs to prepare itself for the different seasons. And for that, it needs regular upkeep on your part.

Spring home maintenance

Clean your rain gutters and downspouts. Cleaning gutters will help clear out any accumulated leaves and debris, grime, or sediment from the winter snow.
Check your external drainage. Make sure the slope of the landscaping is such that rainwater or water from any other source flows away from the house and its foundation.
Carry a roof inspection for signs of damage or leaks. Take professional help for any roof repair.
Inspect your house’s exterior thoroughly. Check for any peeling exterior paint, damaged siding, cracks in the foundation, or broken window units and doors. Hire a professional and make the necessary repairs. Keep in mind that even a small hole in your window screen is enough to let in insects and rodents.
Ensure that your air conditioning system is serviced before the summer. If you’re maintaining your HVAC systems yourself, always refer to the user manual for regular maintenance. Keep in mind that central air conditioners are more complex systems than window ACs and are better handled by HVAC experts.
Remove any dead plants and tree stumps from your property. Also, trim the shrubs and bushes around your house. Wayward plants can get into any cracks on the exterior of your home and cause further damage. Also, make sure there are no trees interfering with your electric lines.
Clean your chimney if you have one.
Inspect your fire extinguishers and replace them if needed.

Summer home maintenance

Clean your garbage disposal. A thorough cleaning can keep odors at bay during the hotter months.
Check the tile grout in your bathrooms and kitchen for any damage.
Inspect your plumbing system and identify any leaks in faucets and toilets. Also, check if the water pressure is okay. If not, you might need to fix the aerator.
Give your deck or patio a good washing. See if the deck needs re-staining. Also, check for any problem with the railing, loose boards, or posts. Repair at the earliest.
Clear your dryer vent and other exhaust vents of any blockages or lint.
Clean and reorganize your garage to make more space for your summer projects.
Keep vegetation away from the house to prevent pest infestations and avoid damage from overhanging branches.

Fall home maintenance

Remove fallen leaves and debris to avoid water damage and ice dams in winter.
Make sure there are no sediments and leaks in your hot water heater. This will prolong your heater’s life and increase its efficiency.
Cover your air conditioning systems with a tarp or plastic sheeting till the next season.
Before the cold hits, make sure your home furnace is working properly. Replace the air filters and schedule a tune-up if needed.
Winterize your sprinkler systems.
Check your driveway or pathways for cracks. Reseal the cracks before winter sets in or else water from snow may freeze and expand in the cracks — causing more damage.
Make sure your sump pump is working properly. Especially if you live in a region that gets heavy rainfall and storms.

Winter home maintenance

Clean and inspect your fireplace or wood stove to prevent creosote buildup and fire hazards.
Insulate exposed pipes to avoid freezing and bursting.
Look for overused outlets or frayed wires, especially with holiday lights in play.
Monitor your water heater. Watch for unusual noises or signs of wear as it works overtime during colder months.
Deep clean the basement and check for any mold and mildew.
Clean and inspect your water softener to ensure it’s working properly.

Last thoughts

Owning a home is an adventure, but it comes with responsibilities. Staying on top of regular house maintenance is the key to avoiding expensive problems down the road. A little TLC for your home can save you from big headaches later.

By following this calendar, you’ll ensure your home is safe, efficient, and comfortable year-round.

Here’s to a happier, healthier home!

Written by Ramona Sinha. July 31, 2021

Ramona is the Senior Content Writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. She has written articles covering a broad range of topics, such as real estate, lending and mortgage, finance, business, taxation, home designs, home improvement projects, decor concepts, and more. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depth of her soul.