Home maintenance is essential for your home’s upkeep and longevity. Regular inspection of your property’s exterior, appliances, heating and cooling, plumbing, security, and electrical systems will help prevent breakdowns, save money, and keep your home looking its best.
On top of a monthly inspection of your home, it is a good idea to have a fall and spring specific checklist. This is an excellent way to prepare for the upcoming season and keep track of what has been done and what needs to be done.
We get it – life gets busy and it can be difficult to find the time to inspect your home and ensure it’s in tip top shape. But we really want to emphasise on the importance of regular inspection and maintenance. If you skip it, you might end up spending unnecessary time dealing with costly consequences.
Your home may not fall apart necessarily, but for example, you may end up with clogged gutters which can lead to serious water damage.
And let’s not forget about the roof! If you neglect it (which is easy to do since we never see it), by the time you notice any leaks in your home, the damage may already be too extensive. Missing or damaged shingles can easily be replaced – but replacing the entire roof could seriously break the bank.
Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, we want to help you make the process of Fall Home Maintenance & Home Care easy. We’ve put together for you this home care checklist that you can access online or download a PDF. Enjoy, as of course, feel free to customize this list to suit you and your home’s needs.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Exterior
- Inspect roof materials and roof flashing – If necessary, hire an expert to brush off moss buildup from the roof and spray to delay regrowth.
- Clean and inspect gutters and downspouts.
- Inspect siding – if necessary, pressure wash and touch up siding and trim with paint
- Inspect caulking and re-caulk if necessary.
- Inspect foundation for cracks, moisture and insects.
- Clean debris away from your home, utilities and other structures.
- Rake leaves and aerate the lawn to improve drainage.
- Trim trees and shrubs away from your home.
- Inspect decks, steps and rails for loose or damaged boards and raised nails.
- Clean space between boards on decks, walkways and steps.
- Pressure wash walkways and patios and mend cracks and gaps in the driveway and walkways.
- Drain water from outdoor faucets and pipes. Remove outdoor hoses.
Interior
- Seal cracks and gaps in windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping; replace if necessary.
- Clean window and door screens.
- Swap old, drafty windows for more energy-efficient models.
- Have fireplace professionally inspected.
- Clean the carpets.
Heating and Cooling
- Clean ceiling fan blades.
- Clean bathroom exhaust grills and fan blades.
- Have heating system serviced before winter begins?
Appliances
- Tune up major home appliances.
- Inspect water heater’s temperature relief valve for leaks.
- Replace smoke detector batteries. Vacuum around smoke detector and sensor.
General Maintenance
- Perform the monthly general maintenance tasks.
Download the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist PDF
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
Exterior
- Inspect roof materials and roof flashing.
- Clean and inspect gutters and downspouts.
- We recommend booking a roof cleaning and gutter cleaning appointment 2 to 3 months after the initial roof cleaning done.
- Inspect siding, walkways and path for moss and algae buildup that may have grown over the rainy months – Pressure wash if necessary.
- Inspect foundation cracks for moisture and insects.
- Inspect vents and other protected areas for bird and insect nests.
- Inspect weather-stripping around doors and windows. Repair if necessary.
- Clean windows and door screens. Repair and replace damaged screens.
- Inspect caulking and re-caulk if necessary.
- Clean debris away from your home.
- Trim trees and shrubs away from your home.
- Inspect decks, steps and rails for loose or damaged boards and raised nails.
Interior
- Inspect walls and ceilings for cracks, bows, sags and leans.
- Inspect dishwasher for leaks.
- Clean range fan blades and housing.
- Clean and test refrigerator door gasket.
- Vacuum refrigerator coils.
- Clean washer’s water inlet filters. Inspect hoses for leaks.
- Vacuum lint from dryer ducts and surrounding areas.
- Polish wood furniture, and dust light fixtures.
Plumbing
- Inspect sinks and plumbing shut-off valves for leaks.
- Test toilets for stability and inspect for leaks.
- Inspect caulking around sinks, showers and bathtubs. Re-caulk if necessary.
Electrical
- “Exercise” circuit breakers.
- Check for frayed appliance cords.
General Maintenance
- Perform the monthly general maintenance tasks.
Download the Spring Home Maintenance Checklist PDF
General Home Maintenance: Monthly
Safety
- Inspect fire extinguishers to ensure they are fully charged.
- Test smoke detectors.
- Test ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).
Heating and Cooling
- Clean or replace air filters when the system is in use for heating or cooling.
- Vacuum heat registers, vents and radiators.
- Listen to your system for unusual noises.
Appliances
- Drain water from the bottom of the water heater.
- Grind ice cubes to clean garbage disposal. Flush with hot water and baking soda.
- Clean dishwasher strainer and spray arm.
- Clean rang fan’s grease filter.
- Clean frost-free refrigerator’s drain and drain the pan.
Plumbing
- Pour water down unused drains.
- Clean debris from sinks and tub drains. Inspect tub drain’s rubber seal. Rinse.
- Clean faucet aerators and shower heads.
Download the Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist PDF
We would be more than happy to be a part of helping you maintain your home. We get to see every nook and cranny of each individual house when we window clean, pressure wash and gutter clean, so we are able to let the owner’s know of any repairs or extra maintenance that may have gone unnoticed.
