Every year, certain tasks need to be performed around the house. Simple maintenance is necessary to prolong the life of your appliances and house, and problem areas need to be inspected for possible needed repairs. This year checklist covers the major chores and breaks them up into convenient months to do them in.
Winter
January
1. Check the batteries in the smoke alarms and the carbon monoxide alarms, and replace if needed. Also, test the actual alarms after you're sure the batteries are good.
2. Have your fire extinguishers inspected to make sure they work properly.
3. Use homemade or store bought drain cleaner to clean out all the drains in the house. Don't forget the basement drains too!
4. Inspect the filters in your heating system and clean or replace them as necessary.
February
5. Inspect the faucets in your kitchen, bathrooms, basement, et cetera, for leaks and other problems; repair or replace as needed.
6. Inspect and clean out your clothes dryer vent, if needed.
Spring
March
7. Now is the time to take out and clean the storm windows on the outside of your house. Store them away until you need them again in the fall.
8. Inspect your basement or crawl space for water and dampness; repair as needed.
9. Take out and put up your screens on your windows and in your exterior doors.
10. Inspect door locks, latches, hinges, and other hardware on your interior and exterior doors and windows; repair as needed. Also, use oil to lubricate the hinges and all of the other moving parts.
April
11. Replace spark plug in lawn mower and/or garden tractor as well as other lawn equipment.
12. Replace fuel filters, air filters, et cetera, in same.
13. Change oil and lubricate all moving parts of lawn equipment.
14. Inspect belts, lines, et cetera, in lawn equipment and replace as needed.
15. Check the battery in your lawn tractor and either charge or replace.
16. Inspect the blades on your lawn mower and/or garden tractor for damage; replace if needed
17. Sharpen the blades if you don't replace them.
May
18. Open up the air vents in your attic to allow for ventilation.
19. Open up your fireplace damper for ventilation as long as your house does not have central air conditioning.
20. Inspect your basement and/or crawl space for dampness, water, and leakage; repair as needed.
21. Inspect your air conditioning system and clean or replace the filters if necessary.
22. Inspect and clean out your clothes dryer vent, if needed.
Summer
June
23. Check your septic tank system (if applicable) to see if it needs pumped out. Schedule an appointment if needed.
24. Add homemade or store bought energizer to your clean septic tank.
25. Inspect the gaskets around your refrigerator and freezer to ensure they are airtight. If they are not, repair or replace as needed.
26. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean the coils on the back of your refrigerator, if applicable.
27. Inspect your concrete or blacktop driveway, sidewalks, patios, porches, et cetera, for holes, cracks, and other damage, and repair as needed.
July
28. Check the batteries in the smoke alarms again, change if needed. Also, test the actual alarms after you're sure the batteries are good.
29. Inspect the eaves around your home's roof, chimneys, caps, et cetera, for flying insect nests; remove as needed.
30. Inspect and clean out your clothes dryer vent, if needed.
31. Inspect your TV antenna or satellite dish and repair as needed. Also, clean the tree sap, moss, dirt, and other contaminants from your dish.
32. Inspect your decks, steps, open porches, and other wooden structures and repair as needed.
33. Clean and apply a good quality weatherproofing product to decks, steps, and other wooden structures.
Fall
September
34. Inspect the weather-stripping around your exterior doors and windows; replace as needed.
35. Inspect the caulking around exterior windows and doors to keep out drafts; repair as needed.
36. Inspect exterior roof vents and clean and/or repair as needed.
37. Inspect roofing and chimney caps for damage; repair and/or replace as needed.
38. Clean out the inside of your chimney and your fireplace.
39. Inspect the chimney and fireplace for needed repairs.
40. Inspect the entire outside of your house for cracks, holes, and other openings in the siding; repair as needed.
41. Close the air vents in the attic so the heated air in your home doesn't escape.
42. Inspect the attic and the basement in your house for signs of pests such as birds, squirrels, bats, et cetera, and seal cracks and holes where they are entering.
43. Schedule an appointment to have your heating system inspected and cleaned so it's ready for the winter season.
44. Vacuum out heating system registers and ductwork.
45. Pressure wash the outside of your house and garage to remove tree sap, accumulated dirt, and other contaminants.
October
46. Clean leaves, branches, and other debris from roofs.
47. Clean out gutters and downspouts and inspect for leaks and damage; repair as needed.
48. Remove window and door screens and clean. Inspect the screens for tears and holes and repair as needed.
49. If you have window air conditioners, either remove them or cover them with plastic.
50. Drain the water from outdoor faucets and garden hoses and store the hoses away if you live in a cold winter climate.
51. Clean out humidifiers that you use in the winter and replace the filters.
52. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and drain your hot water heater.
53. Trim tree branches around your house that are touching or are near your roof.
