Monthly home maintenance checklist, plus a month-by-month plan
There are two ways to think about monthly home maintenance, and you want both. The first is the short list of small tasks that genuinely repeat every month. The second is a month-by-month plan that takes the bigger seasonal jobs and spreads them across the year, so you are never facing a wall of work at once.
This guide covers both: the true monthly tasks, then a simple home maintenance schedule by month.
The true monthly tasks
These take fifteen minutes total and catch the small problems before they grow.
- Check the HVAC filter and replace it when it looks gray.
- Run water in sinks, tubs, and floor drains you rarely use, so traps do not dry out.
- Look under sinks and around appliances for drips, stains, or damp spots.
- Test the garbage disposal with cold water, and clean it with a citrus peel.
- Wipe the range hood filter and confirm bathroom fans pull air.
- Do a quick walk for anything new: a stain on the ceiling, a crack, a sticking door.
Set these on a repeating monthly reminder and they become automatic.
A home maintenance schedule by month
Here is the bigger picture, one focused job or two per month. Adjust the timing to your climate, since a northern winter and a southern one arrive on different schedules.
January
Watch for ice dams and frozen pipes. Test carbon monoxide detectors. Tackle an indoor decluttering project while it is cold out.
February
Check the basement and crawl space for moisture from snowmelt. Inspect caulk and grout in bathrooms. Plan the year’s bigger projects and budget.
March
Book the air conditioner service before the spring rush. Test the sump pump before the rains. Inspect the roof and gutters for winter damage.
April
Clear gutters and downspouts. Reseal exterior caulk and check the foundation. Turn outdoor faucets back on and check for freeze damage.
May
Service the lawn and outdoor equipment. Inspect and clean the deck. Check window screens and weather stripping.
June
Reseal or restain the deck and fence in dry weather. Flush the water heater. Check for pests and wasp nests around the eaves.
July
Repaint bare exterior wood. Pressure wash siding and walkways. Keep the air conditioner condenser clear and the filter fresh.
August
Check the attic for heat and moisture. Inspect plumbing hoses on the washer. Clean the dryer vent fully.
September
Service the furnace before the cold. Clean the gutters as leaves begin to fall. Seal drafts around windows and doors.
October
Drain outdoor faucets and the irrigation system. Have the chimney swept. Reverse ceiling fans and finish sealing the house.
November
Test all detectors and replace batteries. Insulate exposed pipes. Stock up for winter storms.
December
Keep walkways clear and salted. Watch humidity on windows. Enjoy the slow season and get your home records in order.
The honest problem with a monthly plan
A month-by-month schedule is a great idea that almost nobody keeps by hand, because remembering the right task in the right month, every month, is exactly the kind of thing memory is bad at.
That is the job HomeAlmanac does. It takes a plan like this one, fits it to your specific home and climate, and surfaces the right task at the right time, then quietly tracks what you have done. You get the benefit of a month-by-month schedule without having to be the one who remembers it.
Pick the cadence, set it once, and let the year take care of itself.