Regular maintenance is crucial to keeping your home in great shape throughout its lifetime. Inspecting your appliances, HVAC, exterior, appliances, security, electrical, and plumbing systems will prevent the need for constant repairs, saving you money and keeping your home aesthetically appealing. As a property owner, you could be wondering how to keep your home in good condition throughout the seasons. We created a seasonal home maintenance checklist to help you schedule your repairs, cleaning, and updates. We also arm you with several monthly tasks you can use to keep your home in tip-top condition.

Seasonal Upkeep Checklist

Spring

Traditionally, Spring has been considered a time for deep cleaning, termed ‘spring cleaning. During this season, you should thoroughly go over your entire house, moving furniture and paying attention to the hard-to-reach points in your property. Here are a few areas that need your close attention in Springtime:

Indoors

• Check up and service your HVAC system.
• Drain Your Boiler
• Inspect your plumbing for leaks
• Ensure your sump pump drains properly
• Inspect your smoke and CO detectors

Outdoors

• Inspect your roof, driveway, and chimney for signs of damage
• Clean your gutters
• Get a fresh coat of paint if it currently shows signs of peeling or chipping
• Remove storm windows, replace them with screens
• Inspect the attic for leaks

Summer

While summer is always regarded as the season to play outside and enjoy your home, there are a few chores that you’ll need to perform. If you address these few areas, you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the sun and beers.

• Clean the fridge thoroughly to keep it running smoothly
• Check your home’s drains for the presence of leaks
• Remove lint from your washer/dryer
• Grease the track and chains in your garage door
• Replace batteries in all detectors
• Replace faucet and showerhead washers where necessary
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood, fan and replace filters of worn out
• Prune trees and shrubs

Winter

With temperatures below the freezing point, winter can be harsh on your property. Frozen pipes and roof damage are salient features of winter weather, so you need to get your property ready to prevent winter harm. To keep your home winter-ready, check off the following items from your home upkeep checklist:

• Cover the AC unit
• Test your Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
• Inspect your roof, gutters, and downspouts for storm damage
• Check your basement for leaks when it’s thawing
• Remove buildup in showerheads by soaking them in vinegar
• Clean the garbage disposal
• Clean your dryer’s vent
• Check bathrooms, sinks, and toilets for leaks
• Reverse your ceiling fans
• Clean and vacuum the coils behind your fridge
• Install a leak detector to prevent damage from flooding

Fall

With dry and moderate temperatures, fall is the best season to work on your home maintenance projects. Before working on any maintenance tasks, you should properly inspect your home’s interior and exterior for any signs of damage that may require professional. Here are some tasks you can perform to keep your home in prime shape during the fall season:

• Inspect the fireplace for damage & hazards
• Drain and insulate exterior plumbing in readiness for winter
• Paint the exterior side and trim
• Repair cracks and gaps on your driveway
• Repair/Replace siding
• Clean your dryer vent
• Fix exterior door hardware
• Replace old windows with energy-efficient models
• Re-caulk windows and doors
• Rake leaves and mow the lawn
• Have a professional inspect your forced-heating system
• Install storm windows
• Check and refill fire extinguishers
• Inspect & clean chimneys and flues
• Trim trees shrubs and branches that overhung your house
• Inspect the deck

Monthly Upkeep Tasks

To stay on top of your maintenance schedule and make your house easier to manage, you should inspect your home monthly and complete these upkeep tasks. Following this checklist every month will save you tons of repair costs.

• Inspect your tub and sink, unclog if debris is present
• Test your safety systems and detectors
• Vacuum heat vents and register to clear debris
• Clean the garbage disposal using water, baking soda and ice-cubes
• Remove mineral deposits from faucets and showerheads by cleaning thoroughly
• Clean your furnace filter/ replace if needed
• Inspect electrical cables, sockets, and switches, replace if worn out
• Thoroughly clean your dishwasher to improve its efficiency
• Clean tubs, showers, and sinks to keep your plumbing working properly
• Clean and disinfect trash cans
• Go over your utility bills to determine whether you need to replace appliances or adjust your usage habits

With the tips listed in this article, you can keep your home in great shape throughout all seasons. It is, however, advisable to have a licensed contractor inspect your home annually to make sure you don’t miss anything. Aspen Home Improvements has been helping clients in  Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland give their homes the curb appeal they deserve. Contact us today to discuss all your home improvement needs.

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