The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist for Every Season

To retain and improve a home’s value, you need to maintain its multiple aspects properly, be it the façade, heating and cooling system, electrical appliances, or security system. Whether you want to sell your property at a decent price in the future or attract suitable tenants, keeping your house in shipshape both in terms of aesthetics and functionality can do the trick. Here is a seasonal home maintenance checklist that will minimize the need for major repairs, prevent breakdowns, and keep big expenses at bay. 

Summer 

The warm season is ideal for tackling outdoor jobs and undertaking preventive measures for the remaining year. 

• Garden: Water plants, mow the lawn, and remove weeds and dead trees. Trimming bushes and hedges is an integral part of summer upkeep maintenance too. Make sure the sprinkler system is working fine and check for leaky valves, faulty timers, or clogged lines. 
• Patio or deck: Inspect these for loose boards, and if required, seal the surface after cleaning. Every few years, apply a water seal on your deck’s underside to prevent rotten joists. 
• Exhausts and vents: Check if the bathroom exhaust and dryer vents are blocked due to bird nests or lint. Clean the kitchen’s exhaust fan too. 
• Doors and windows: Clean these thoroughly, check for cracks, and apply sealant and insulation to prevent dirt, bugs, and moisture from getting inside and keep utility bills low. Make sure the windows and doors lock properly and oil the hinges and chain of the garage door. 
• Siding: Harsh weather can negatively impact your property’s siding. So, your summer house maintenance checklist must include carrying out necessary repairs before leaks develop and cause termite infestation, mold growth, and structural weaknesses. 
• Leaks: Check if water is leaking around dishwashers or toilets. In bathrooms and kitchens, seal the tile grout so that water doesn’t seep through and damage the floors and walls. 

Fall 

This season, characterized by moderate temperatures and falling leaves, is the best time to brace for winter with these upkeep maintenance tips. 

• Yard: Aerate and fertilize your lawn and garden and spray a weed preventer too. Stash away any outdoor furniture, rake dry leaves, and drain sprinkler systems and outdoor hoses. Cover exposed pipes, and if you have a pool, drain, clean, and cover it. 
• Heating systems: Make sure your fireplace and furnace are in good working condition. Clean your chimney and change the air filters of the furnace. Assess your HVAC system’s vents and ducts to make sure there is no obstruction.   
• Cracks and gaps: If your property’s exterior or foundation has any cracks or gaps, seal them to prevent heat loss. Replacing drafty windows and re-caulking around all the windows and doors ensures energy efficiency and is an important part of the fall home maintenance checklist. Fix cracked or replace missing tiles on the roof too. 
• Gutters: Gutters often get clogged with dry leaves during fall, which makes it difficult for them to channel away water properly. So, clean gutters as well as downspouts. 
• Miscellaneous: Apply a coat of paint on your exterior siding and trim. Clean carpets, replace batteries in carbon monoxide detectors, and fine-tune major appliances. Check water heaters for leaks and remove lint buildup from your dryer’s exhaust duct. 

Winter 

The winter house maintenance checklist includes tips to battle plummeting temperatures, heavy winds, snow, and ice. 

• Pipes: Water, on freezing, can expand and cause your pipes to crack. And if the problem goes unnoticed, once the ice thaws, your pipes might burst and flood the property. Hence, insulate them, and on very cold nights, allow a faucet to drip slightly so that the water keeps flowing. 
• Roof, gutters, and basement: After snowstorms, check your roof, gutters, and downspouts for damages or buildup of snow and debris. When the snow starts melting, check the roof and basement for leaks. 
• Kitchen: If your kitchen’s air filter and exhaust hood seem to have a lot of buildup, clean them thoroughly. Also clean the refrigerator, vacuum the coils, and empty and clean the drip pans in the freezer. 
• Driveways and walkways: A crucial part of the home maintenance checklist during winter is the clearing of snow from walkways and driveways. This can prevent accidental slips and stop water from seeping into the home’s foundation once the snow starts to thaw. 

Spring 

With winter on its way out, your upkeep maintenance regime must include the following.   

• Roof and gutters: Check if your roof, chimneys, or gutters are damaged by hailstorms or heavy snowfalls. Are there any cracked or missing shingles? Also make sure the gutters are not blocked by debris. 
• Air conditioning: Examine your cooling system and ensure no debris is clogging the condenser coils. Get your ACs serviced and make sure the ducts don’t have any obstruction. 
• Exterior paint: Paint your house afresh or carry out touch-ups if the paint is chipping, flaking, or peeling in places. This way, exposed surfaces won’t get damaged during summer. 
• Greenery: If a tree doesn’t sprout new leaves or appears to have dead branches, get it trimmed. Prune shrubs for better growth. Clean your yard, spread fresh mulch, and make sure your sprinkler system has ample coverage. 
• Plumbing: As part of the spring home maintenance checklist, check if all the faucets and irrigation mechanisms are working properly. Remove mineral deposits from showerheads and faucet aerators. Inspect the caulking used for sinks, baths, and showers, and flush or drain the water heater. 

Routine Maintenance 

Besides following season-specific tips for your property’s functionality and visual appeal, there are things you can do regularly to reduce the need for major repairs or overhauls. As a part of routine maintenance, check your HVAC system every month, wash and disinfect garbage bins, and keep drains clean. Test fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, check the building’s exterior for cracks or damages, watch out for insects, and track utility bills to spot instances of energy inefficiency. 

Consult Experts 

Maintaining a house throughout the year can be challenging, especially when you have a busy lifestyle, live far from the property, or lack the necessary skills. While the seasonal home maintenance checklist shared above can guide you broadly, hiring the experienced and reliable professionals at Guardian Property Management can put your mind at ease and save you a lot of money. From end-to-end project supervision, emergency services, and capital improvements to repairs, lawn care, and contractor management, you can avail various services anywhere in the Greater Twin Cities. 

Call Guardian Property Management on 651-287-2011 or send an email to info@guardianprop.com to schedule a consultation today.