Seasonal

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Spring is when you find out what winter did to your house. A careful walk-around now catches the loose shingle, the split pipe, and the clogged downspout while they're still small, cheap fixes.

When to do it

Start once the last hard frost has passed and the ground has dried out enough to walk the yard without sinking in. Book anything that needs a professional, mainly the A/C service, early in the season. HVAC companies fill up fast after the first warm week.

Look for winter damage

• Scan the roof from the ground with binoculars for missing, cracked, or lifted shingles and for damaged flashing around the chimney and vents.
• Check the attic ceiling and the top-floor ceilings for water stains, a sign of ice dams or a leak that showed up during the thaw.
• Clean the gutters of winter debris and reattach any sections that sag or have pulled away from the fascia.
• Confirm downspouts still discharge at least 4–6 feet from the foundation, and that the soil around the house still slopes away from it.
• Walk the foundation and look for new cracks, crumbling mortar, or gaps where siding meets trim.
• Check the driveway and walkways for frost heave and new cracks. Sealing small cracks now keeps water from widening them next winter.

Turn the water back on carefully

• Reopen the shut-off valves to the outdoor faucets, then turn each faucet on and check the wall inside for drips. A pipe that froze and split over the winter often only leaks once water is flowing.
• Reconnect hoses and check them for cracks.
• Start the irrigation system slowly, one zone at a time, and look for broken heads, geysers, or soggy patches that point to a cracked line.
• Test the sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit before spring rain and snowmelt arrive. It should switch on, empty the pit, and shut off.
• Check the basement or crawl space for dampness, musty smells, or efflorescence (white, chalky deposits) on the walls.

Get ready for cooling season

• Schedule the annual A/C or heat-pump service before the first heat wave.
• Replace the HVAC filter. It has been working all winter.
• Take any winter cover off the outdoor condenser and clear leaves and debris for 2 feet around it.
• Switch ceiling fans to spin counter-clockwise so they push air down and make the room feel cooler.
• Vacuum the refrigerator coils. A fridge has to work harder once the kitchen warms up.

Windows, doors, and safety

• Wash windows and swap storm windows for screens. Patch or replace torn screens before bug season.
• Check weatherstripping and exterior caulk around windows and doors, and redo any that cracked or pulled loose over the winter.
• Test every smoke and carbon-monoxide detector and replace batteries as needed. If your area changes the clocks in spring, that weekend makes a good reminder.
• Clean the dryer vent duct and the outside flap. Lint and nesting birds both block it.
• Look for signs of pests waking up: ant trails, termite mud tubes along the foundation, or droppings in the attic and garage.

Yard, deck, and outdoor gear

• Rake up leftover leaves and debris, and wait until the soil is dry before heavy yard work so you don't compact it.
• Tune up the lawn mower: sharpen or replace the blade, change the oil, and replace the spark plug and air filter. Start the season with fresh fuel.
• Trim shrubs and branches so they're at least a foot away from the siding and well clear of the roof.
• Inspect the deck for loose boards, popped nails or screws, and soft spots. Sprinkle water on the boards: if it beads, the finish is still good; if it soaks in, plan to clean and reseal once the weather stays warm and dry.
• Clean the grill, check the propane hose for cracks, and test the connections with soapy water before the first cookout.

Make spring automatic

None of this is hard. It's just easy to forget, because each item comes around only once a year. Add your home to Upkeepery and it turns this list into scheduled tasks, with reminders that arrive at the right point in spring, so next year the checklist comes to you.