HousehandJanuary Winter
Just the monthly checks this month.
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
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Home maintenance checklist, by monthHousehand · househand.james-krupnik.workers.dev
Free printable home maintenance checklist, by month
Everything a typical house needs, month by month: the quick checks you do every month, the seasonal jobs in the month they belong, and the ones that just run on a timer. Print it on one or two pages, or tick it off in your browser.
Every month
Five minutes each. They are in every month's box below too, so you can tick them off.
Month by month
February Winter
Just the monthly checks this month.
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
March Spring
- Test the sump pump every 3 months if you have one
- Service the lawn mower once a year if you have one
- Inspect for termites and pests once a year
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
April Spring
- Service the air conditioner once a year
- Switch ceiling fan direction every 6 months
- Check the sprinkler system once a year if you have one
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
May Spring
- Clean the gutters every 6 months
- Inspect the roof once a year
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
June Summer
- Test the sump pump every 3 months if you have one
- Seal the deck every 2 years if you have one
Just the monthly checks this month.
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
July Summer
Just the monthly checks this month.
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
August Summer
- Inspect and sweep the chimney once a year if you have one
Just the monthly checks this month.
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
September Fall
- Service the furnace or heat pump once a year
- Test the sump pump every 3 months if you have one
- Check exterior caulk and weatherstripping once a year
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
October Fall
- Switch ceiling fan direction every 6 months
- Winterize outdoor faucets once a year if you have one
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
November Fall
- Replace alarm batteries once a year
- Clean the gutters every 6 months
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
December Winter
- Test the sump pump every 3 months if you have one
Just the monthly checks this month.
Monthly: Alarms Extinguishers GFCIs Dishwasher filter
Year-round, on a timer
These are not tied to a season. Start them any time, then repeat on the interval.
| Task | How often | Why | Log |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top up water softener salt if you have one | every 2 months | Without salt the softener runs but stops softening, and scale builds up in pipes and appliances. | Last done: ____________ |
| Change HVAC filter | every 3 months | A clogged filter makes the system work harder, costs more to run and shortens its life. | Last done: ____________ |
| Check for leaks under sinks | every 3 months | A slow drip does its damage long before anyone notices a puddle. | Last done: ____________ |
| Clean range hood filter | every 3 months | Grease in the filter is a fire risk and stops the fan clearing smoke. | Last done: ____________ |
| Replace whole-house water filter if you have one | every 6 months | A spent filter stops filtering and slows water pressure through the whole house. | Last done: ____________ |
| Replace fridge water filter if you have one | every 6 months | Old filters stop filtering and can slow the ice maker. | Last done: ____________ |
| Lubricate the garage door | every 6 months | A noisy door is wearing out. A door that does not reverse is a safety hazard. | Last done: ____________ |
| Flush the water heater | once a year | Sediment on the bottom of the tank wastes energy and wears the tank out early. | Last done: ____________ |
| Inspect washing machine hoses | once a year | A burst washer hose can release hundreds of gallons an hour. | Last done: ____________ |
| Recaulk tubs and showers | once a year | Gaps let water into the wall behind the tile, where it rots quietly. | Last done: ____________ |
| Clean refrigerator coils | once a year | Dusty coils make the compressor run longer and hotter. | Last done: ____________ |
| Clean the dryer vent | once a year | Lint in the vent is a leading cause of house fires, and it makes every load take longer. | Last done: ____________ |
| Check the water heater anode rod | every 3 years | The anode rod corrodes so the tank does not. A $30 rod can add years to a tank. | Last done: ____________ |
| Pump the septic tank if you have one | every 3 years | An overfull tank pushes solids into the drain field, which is far more expensive to fix than the tank. | Last done: ____________ |
| Replace smoke alarms | every 10 years | Smoke sensors lose sensitivity with age, even when the test button still works. | Last done: ____________ |
General guidance for a typical Northern Hemisphere home; your manufacturer's instructions come first. Free from househand.james-krupnik.workers.dev
Househand reminds you when each one is due
Paper works until it goes on the fridge and stays there. The Househand app keeps the same checklist and tells you when each job comes due, based on when you last did it.
- A reminder when a job is due, not on a fixed date
- A history of what you did and when
- The same schedule as this site, optional tasks and all
The app is not in the stores yet. Until it is, track your house in the browser: same schedule, same rules.
Checklists by season
How often should you…?
Every task on the checklist has its own page: how often, how to do it, and why it matters.
Safety
Heating & cooling
Plumbing & water
- How often should you flush your water heater?
- How often should you check a water heater anode rod?
- How often should you check under your sinks for leaks?
- How often should you inspect washing machine hoses?
- How often should you recaulk a bathtub or shower?
- How often should you test a sump pump?
- How often should you pump a septic tank?
- How often should you change a whole-house water filter?
- How often should you add salt to a water softener?
Kitchen & appliances
Outside & yard
- How often should you clean your gutters?
- How often should you inspect your roof?
- How often should you check exterior caulk and weatherstripping?
- When should you winterize outdoor faucets?
- How often should you check your sprinkler system?
- How often should you lubricate your garage door?
- How often should you seal a deck?
- How often should you service a lawn mower?
- How often should you inspect for termites?
About this checklist
The seasonal months are for the Northern Hemisphere: the air conditioner before the heat, the furnace before the cold, outdoor faucets before the first freeze. Optional tasks only apply to some homes, such as a septic tank, a sump pump or a wood deck; untick the box above to leave them off the printout.
This is general guidance for a typical home. Your manufacturer's instructions, and local codes, come first. For gas, electrical and roof work, use a licensed professional.