Following a home maintenance checklist was never this easy!

Seamless home management is not as hard as one would imagine. The trick is to uncover the secrets to maintaining your abode throughout the changing seasons. This invaluable home maintenance checklist, combined with expert guidance, will empower you to tackle any challenge that comes your way. 

And, we promise to make the gargantuan task more manageable with an online maintenance planner that’s handy, quick, and reliable. Read on to know more! 

Just like a regular check-up for your health, establishing a well-defined home maintenance schedule is vital to the well-being of your house. 

By consistently inspecting and caring for your home’s interiors, exteriors, appliances, heating and cooling systems, plumbing, security measures, and electrical setup, you’ll ward off unexpected breakdowns, save precious dollars, and keep your home looking impeccable.

This comprehensive home maintenance checklist will help you coordinate seasonal updates and essential repairs, through a handful of monthly tasks – ensuring that your home remains in top shape. 

If you’re unable to complete the recommended maintenance tasks or home repairs yourself, you can always hire a seasoned professional to ease your burden.

Monthly home maintenance checklist

To stay organized and make home maintenance more manageable, make sure to regularly inspect your home and tackle monthly home improvement tasks. By adhering to a home maintenance checklist every month, you can save both time and money. Our maintenance product app is perfect for keeping your tasks organized.

• Clean the furnace filter to remove dust build-up, making it easier to regulate your home’s temperature and reduce energy bills. And, make your home more energy efficient. 
• Check the water softener. You can add salt if needed.
• Remove mineral deposits by cleaning faucet aerators and showerheads.
• Test smoke alarms, fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and ground-fault circuit interrupters.
• Examine electrical cords, exhaust fans, and other electrical systems for signs of wear and tear.
• Vacuum heat registers and heat vents.
• Ensure that indoor and outdoor air vents are unobstructed.
• Flush out accumulated sediment from the water heater by draining hot water.
• Clean the garbage disposal by grinding ice cubes, then flush with hot water and baking soda.
• Inspect HVAC filters and replace or repair them as needed. Generally, filters should be changed every 2-3 months for a small family without pets or allergies, or monthly otherwise.
• Inspect tub and sink drains for debris and unclog them if necessary.
• Freshen and sharpen the blades of your kitchen sink disposal by running homemade vinegar ice cubes through it.
• Clean range hood filters using a mixture of auto degreaser and hot water.
• Ensure there are no drainage blockages and take necessary action.
• Verify that power outlets and GFCI outlets are functioning properly.
• Test all security locks and deadbolts on doors and windows.

Seasonal home maintenance 

This type of upkeep involves maintenance throughout the year to prepare your house for different seasons. It can be categorized into specific tasks for each season. 

Spring home maintenance

It’s time to get your home ready for spring. Alongside your usual spring cleaning routine, do follow these tips.

• Clean rain gutters and downspouts by raking leaves and removing debris, grime, or sediment from winter snow.
• Inspect external drainage to ensure water flows away from the house and its foundation.
• Conduct a roof inspection for damage or leaks, and seek professional help for repairs if needed.
• Examine the house’s exterior for issues such as peeling paint, damaged siding, foundation cracks, or broken windows and doors. 
• Service your air conditioning unit before summer, following the user manual or consulting HVAC experts for complex systems.
• Remove dead plants, tree stumps, and trim shrubs to prevent damage and ensure there’s no interference with electric lines.
• Clean the chimney if you have one.

Summer home maintenance

You can take advantage of the sun and pleasant temperatures that mark the arrival of summer.

• Check the tile grout in bathrooms and kitchens for any damage.
• Inspect the plumbing system for leaks in faucets and toilets, and ensure adequate water pressure. Repair any issues.
• Wash and maintain your deck or patio. Consider restaining if needed. And, address problems with deck railing, loose boards, or posts.
• Clear the dryer vent and other exhaust vents of blockages or lint.
• Organize and clean your garage storage to create space for summer projects.

Fall home maintenance

The autumn season provides an ideal opportunity to undertake various home maintenance tasks due to the typically dry weather and moderate temperatures. 

• Check the hot water heater for sediment buildup and leaks.
• Cover air conditioning systems with a tarp or plastic sheeting for protection during the off-season.
• Prepare heating systems, home furnaces, and fireplaces for use.
• Winterize sprinkler systems.
• Inspect driveways or pathways for cracks and seal them to prevent water damage from freezing and expansion.
• Ensure the proper functioning of the sump pump, particularly in areas prone to heavy rainfall and storms.

Winter home maintenance

Your home may face challenges during winter due to severe weather conditions. The subzero temperatures can lead to various issues such as frozen pipes and damage to the roof.

• Regularly check the roof for ice dams and icicles, removing them promptly to prevent water damage.
• Verify the condition of caulking in showers and bathtubs.
• Clear showerheads of sediment to maintain optimal water pressure.
• Deep-clean the basement and check for mold and mildew.

How to manage home maintenance, on time? 

Keeping tabs on every type of maintenance can be overwhelming – especially for first-time homeowners. The ideal way to go about it is to organize the tasks with their due dates. 

That is to say, you can prepare a detailed master home maintenance schedule with the help of an Excel spreadsheet. You can use the document to separate each task for every season or area of the house and then add the date it should be completed latest by. 

Read more: How much should you save for home maintenance?

An example of what that spreadsheet might cover can be seen below. Remember to add the tentative timeline for each task.  

Fall season

Spring season

Summer season

Winter season

You can also add other maintenance areas of the home. 

Landscape maintenance 

Now, forget everything we’ve mentioned so far!

Yes, this is the part where we tell you that all this hard work is actually not necessary if you are smart about maintaining your home. By the way, there are several loopholes too in this process. What if you forget to add certain tasks that might not be as important as plumbing or electrical work – but a failure to do them might cost you a lot in the long run? What if you forget to update the to-do list? And, what if you forget the tasks altogether if there’s no one to remind you?

What’s the ultimate solution?

Fortunately, there’s good news for all home dwellers. Kukun My Maintenance will take care of all these tasks for you. It provides a complete maintenance schedule for your home based on the type of house you have, its location, and the local climate. 

The tool organizes and plans all your essential tasks in a calendar form so that you can easily add new ones and see any upcoming tasks during that month. It even recommends what needs to be done. 

And the most amazing thing about this planner is that it reminds you through bi-weekly emails when it’s time to perform a particular maintenance task. So, there’s no need to put reminders on your phone or stress about it for days. My Maintenance will be your alarm!

Want to know more about how to make smart real estate decisions, remodel to get the most ROI, and maintain your home easily? Kukun iHomeManager is what you need!

Written by Ramona Sinha. September 1, 2023

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.