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Home Maintenance Checklist: Monthly, Seasonal and Yearly Jobs

VNCNT Labs · Updated October 23, 2026 · 5 min read

Most expensive home repairs start as a skipped five-minute job: a clogged filter, a dryer vent full of lint, a water heater nobody has drained in years. This checklist sorts the routine jobs by how often they come up, with the recommended intervals from ENERGY STAR, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Fire Administration where they exist.

Monthly

Check the HVAC air filter. ENERGY STAR recommends checking it every month and changing it at least every three months. A dirty filter slows airflow and makes the system work harder. Homes with pets, smokers or a lot of dust usually need changes closer to monthly in peak heating and cooling season.
Test smoke alarms. NFPA's guidance is to test every smoke alarm once a month using its test button.
Test carbon monoxide alarms the same way, if you have fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage.
Clean the garbage disposal and range hood filter. Grease builds up quickly in a hood filter. Most metal mesh filters can be soaked in hot, soapy water or run through the dishwasher.
Look under sinks for drips or damp cabinet floors. A slow leak is cheap to fix and expensive to ignore.

Every load of laundry

Clean the dryer lint filter. The U.S. Fire Administration advises cleaning the lint filter before and after each load. It also lists failure to clean as the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.

Every three months

Replace the HVAC filter if you haven't needed to sooner.
Flush a little sediment from the water heater. The Department of Energy suggests draining a quart of water from a tank water heater every three months to remove sediment that reduces efficiency. Follow your heater's manual.
Run water in unused sinks, tubs and showers so drain traps don't dry out and let sewer gas in.
Clean the dishwasher filter if your model has a removable one.

Every six months

Test the water heater's temperature-and-pressure relief valve. The Department of Energy's water-heating fact sheet suggests checking it every six months. With a bucket under the discharge pipe, lift the lever briefly. Water should flow out and stop when you let go. If it doesn't, call a plumber.
Vacuum bathroom exhaust fan grilles and check that the fan still pulls a tissue against the grille.

Spring

Schedule a cooling tune-up. ENERGY STAR recommends a contractor check of the cooling system each spring, before the heat arrives and contractors get busy.
Clean gutters and downspouts after trees finish dropping seeds and blossoms, and make sure downspouts carry water away from the foundation.
Walk the outside of the house. Look for damaged shingles, peeling paint, cracked caulk around windows and doors, and soil that slopes toward the foundation.
Check the sump pump before the wet season by pouring water into the pit and making sure it switches on and drains.
Clean the outdoor AC unit. Clear leaves and debris and keep plants about two feet away so it can breathe.

Summer

Clean refrigerator coils. Dusty condenser coils make the fridge run longer. Unplug it and vacuum the coils (behind or under the unit) once or twice a year.
Inspect the deck, fence and outdoor stairs for loose boards, popped nails and soft wood.
Check window and door screens before bug season peaks.

Fall

Schedule a heating tune-up. ENERGY STAR recommends a contractor check of the heating system each fall.
Clean gutters again once most leaves are down.
Shut off and drain outdoor faucets and disconnect hoses before the first hard freeze, so water trapped in the pipe can't freeze and split it.
Have the chimney inspected before you light the first fire of the season if you burn wood.
Reverse ceiling fans to run clockwise at low speed, which pushes warm air down from the ceiling.
Check weatherstripping on doors and windows for drafts.

Winter

Watch for ice dams along the roof edge after snow. They're usually a sign of heat escaping into the attic.
Keep the furnace intake and exhaust vents clear of snow if your furnace vents through a side wall.
Know where your main water shut-off is, and make sure it turns. If a pipe bursts, this is the one thing you need to find fast.

Once a year

Clean the dryer vent duct. USFA recommends cleaning the vent and exhaust duct at least once a year, and more often if drying times get longer.
Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms that use replaceable batteries, or when they chirp.
Look at the dates on your alarms. NFPA says to replace smoke alarms when they're 10 years old. CO alarms have their own replacement dates set by the manufacturer, commonly 5 to 7 years. The manufacture date is printed on the back.

Every few years

Inspect the water heater anode rod every three to four years, as DOE suggests. Replacing a worn rod can add years to a tank.
Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks when the caulk cracks, peels or stays moldy after cleaning.
Reseal grout, decks and driveways as the product label recommends.

If you rent

Renters usually aren't responsible for the furnace or roof, but the small recurring jobs often fall to you: filters (if accessible), lint traps, alarm tests, drains, fridge coils. Check your lease, report leaks right away, and keep a dated note of when you reported each problem.

How to keep track

The jobs themselves are easy. Remembering when each one is due is the hard part, because the intervals range from every laundry load to once a decade. Whatever you use, a paper log, a calendar or an app, record the date you actually did each task, not the date it was due. That way the next due date counts from the real last time.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I change my HVAC filter?

ENERGY STAR recommends checking it monthly and changing it at least every three months. Change it sooner if it looks dirty, especially during heavy heating or cooling use or if you have pets.

How often should smoke alarms be tested and replaced?

NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms monthly and replacing them when they're 10 years old. Replace carbon monoxide alarms according to the manufacturer's instructions.

How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends cleaning the vent and exhaust duct at least once a year, and the lint filter before and after every load.

Should I flush my water heater?

The Department of Energy suggests draining a quart of water from a tank water heater every three months to remove sediment. Check your manufacturer's instructions first, and be careful: the water is hot.