An Essential Checklist for Seasonal Home Maintenance

For most people, a house is their biggest investment in a lifetime. Caring for a house and meeting its needs is just as important as sealing a deal to get it. Just like a car that needs regular oil changes, a house needs an upkeep schedule that keeps it from falling apart.

However, most homeowners only realize the importance of home maintenance when a gutter overflows, the roof leaks, toilets won’t flush, or the cooling system fails to provide thermal comfort. According to Murphy’s law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

This article will discuss the annual home improvement you can do to make sure your house runs like a well-oiled machine.

Spring

Springtime is a busy time for homeowners. The damage inflicted by winter is often so extensive that deep cleaning is required. Owing to tradition, cleaning this time of the year has come to be called “spring cleaning.”

Clean out the gutters. Sediment from winter rains or water and leaves from fall may accumulate and clog the gutter. A clogged gutter can damage your roof, siding, and foundation. Clean your gutters and check for damage. Using a water hose, see if they drain well.

Maintain window screens. Check your window screens for damage. Repair or replace damaged window screens.

Inspect the exterior. Check for any cracks in the foundation, peeling paint, damaged siding or shingles, and anything you can see that would require repair.

Service your HVAC system. Schedule a biannual check-up and servicing with your HVAC contractor. You need those air conditioners and ventilators up and running for the summer.

Inspect the roofing. Check the roofing for any signs of damage or leakage. Check shingles, vents, and flashing for damage and get them repaired accordingly.

Summer

Summer is usually the time when you focus on the exterior of the house. The good weather makes it ideal for intensive repairs.

Maintain the lawn. Summer is the time to pull out your lawnmower and give the plants growing in your lawn a once-over. Make sure there aren’t any trees growing close to the electric lines. Check for plants growing in the cracks.

Check the garage. Garages are usually overlooked in the harsher seasons. In summers, deep clean your garage and oil garage chains, doors, and all door hinges. You may also want to see if any parts of your garage need repair. Mostly, it’s the doors that suffer the most damage and need repair. It is better to call a professional in case of a garage door repair because they can identify the issues and fix them easily.

Fix insect problems. Summer is the ideal time for insects to come out to play. Keep cobwebs clear and take care of any spiders, ants, or moths that you find. If you notice termites growing inside your walls, call a professional.

Check the deck or patio. Give your outside deck a good washing and check for any loose boards or posts that may need repair or restain.

Inspect the plumbing. Inspect your plumbing and look for any leaks. To improve the water flow of the faucet, clean the aerator.

Clean window wells. If you have a basement, it is important to clean your window wells annually to remove sediments, animals, or leaves from last fall.

Fall

The main goal of homeowners during fall is to prepare their house for the winter.

Service your heating system. The most important task is to get your heating system reading for winter. Check and replace air filters, make sure your heating vents are open, and check the thermostat. Call a professional for biannual service.

Test your sump pump. Pour water down the sump pit until the pump turns on.

Winterize your A/C system. Remove and store window unit air conditioners. Winterize your A/C system in case you have central air conditioning.

Clean the chimney. Chimneys are an absolute winter essential, so make sure you unclog your chimney of any dirt accumulation or fall debris so that you can spend a warm night by the fireplace the next season.

Install storm windows. If you’re from areas of North America, installing storm windows for winters would be a wise decision. These are mounted outside or inside the main glass window to protect the house from stormy winds.

Winter

As opposed to summer, winter is your time to do long-term projects and any interior modifications that you wanted to do. The focus of winter is to do damage control.

Check for ice dams. Regularly check the gutters and lower roofs for ice dams and icicles. Eliminate as much as you can as they are heavy enough to damage the house and people standing beneath.

Clean the basement. Winter is the time to focus on your basement. Like garages, basements tend to be overlooked. Inspect it, clean it, fix it.

Check the lawn for flooding. Make sure your lawn is not pooling with water and eliminate any risk for interior flooding.

Inspect loose screws. Check and repair door locks, deadbolts, knobs, and racks.

If key areas of your house are neglected for too long, they can develop foundational issues that are a hazard to both you and your family. It also means long hours of repair and wasted money. Make sure you maintain your house annually to live a long, healthy life there.