Most expensive home repairs start as ten-minute jobs nobody remembered. A clogged filter strains the heating system, a slow drain becomes a blockage, and a dead alarm battery is only discovered when it matters. This calendar lays the whole year out by season, so each job lands in the month when it actually helps. Heating is tested in September, before you need it.
Outdoor taps are drained before the first frost, and gutters are cleared after the leaves have fallen, not before. Work through your current season and tick off each month's short jobs as you go; your progress saves as you work. Most tasks take 10 to 30 minutes, need only basic supplies, and prevent the breakdowns, leaks, and bills that come from waiting until something fails.
The short version: 72 tasks, about 23.8 hours in total if you do it in one go — and every task can be ticked off in the checklist above as you finish it. The full list is written out below, so the page still works printed or saved.
Spring (March–May)
- March: Replace the HVAC filter and note the size on the unit in marker for next time
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Replacement HVAC filters - March: Test every smoke and CO alarm with the test button and replace any alarm older than 10 years
~15 min · Easy · Needs: 9V / AA batteries (alarms) - March: Clear the gutters of winter storm debris so spring rain drains away from the walls
~45 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - March: Walk the roof line from the ground with a flashlight at dusk and note slipped or missing shingles
~15 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - March: Run every little-used drain for two minutes and clear slow ones with a drain brush
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Drain cleaner or drain brush - March: Check window and door seals for winter cracks and press a fresh bead of silicone caulk where gaps show
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Silicone caulk - April: Turn the outdoor taps back on and check each one and its indoor shutoff for leaks
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - April: Clean window screens with a vacuum brush and patch any hole smaller than a coin with a screen patch
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Vacuum - April: Vacuum dust from the fridge coils and the back vent to cut running costs before summer
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Vacuum - April: Flush the washing machine dispenser drawer and wipe the door gasket dry to stop mildew smell
~15 min · Easy - April: Tighten loose door handles, hinges, and cabinet knobs throughout the house
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Basic tool kit - April: Take a meter reading and photograph the meters for your records
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Notepad for meter readings - May: Service or test the air conditioning before the first hot week and rinse the outdoor unit clear of leaves
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Vacuum - May: Inspect silicone seals around the bath, shower, and kitchen sink and re-caulk any blackened or lifting sections
~35 min · Medium · Needs: Silicone caulk - May: Clean the bathroom extractor fan cover and vacuum dust from the blades so it clears steam properly
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Vacuum - May: Check garden hoses for splits, connect each one, and replace any washer that drips at the tap
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Basic tool kit - May: Lubricate stiff door hinges and locks with WD-40 and wipe off the excess
~15 min · Easy · Needs: WD-40 or hinge lubricant - May: Pour a bucket of water down the floor drain in the utility area to refill the trap and block sewer smells
~5 min · Easy
Summer (June–August)
- June: Flush the air conditioner condensate drain line with a cup of white vinegar to prevent summer blockages and leaks
~15 min · Easy - June: Inspect the deck or balcony boards, railings, and fixings and tighten anything that wobbles
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - June: Seal pest entry points around pipes and vents with caulk, focusing on gaps wider than a pencil
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Silicone caulk - June: Run the dishwasher empty on its hottest cycle and clean the filter under the bottom spray arm
~15 min · Easy - June: Test ground-fault outlets in the kitchen and bathroom with their test buttons and reset each one
~10 min · Easy - June: Check the water heater for rust, drips, and a working pressure relief valve lever
~15 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - July: Replace the HVAC filter at mid-summer, when dust and pollen load is at its highest
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Replacement HVAC filters - July: Vacuum the tumble dryer vent hose and the lint housing to cut fire risk and drying time
~25 min · Medium · Needs: Vacuum - July: Clear slow bathroom drains with a drain brush before hair buildup becomes a full blockage
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Drain cleaner or drain brush - July: Inspect washing machine hoses for bulges and cracks and note their age for replacement at five years
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - July: Check attic or loft vents are unblocked so hot air escapes and roof timbers stay dry
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - July: Wipe ceiling fan blades and confirm the direction pushes air down for cooling
~15 min · Easy - August: Do the mid-year alarm test on every smoke and CO alarm and vacuum dust from each cover
~15 min · Easy · Needs: Vacuum - August: Inspect grout and caulk in the shower for gaps that let water behind tiles during peak daily use
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Silicone caulk - August: Check window latches and locks while windows are in daily use and tighten loose screws
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Basic tool kit - August: Take a meter reading, photograph the meters, and compare use against the same month last year
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Notepad for meter readings - August: Clean the range hood filters in hot soapy water to restore extraction during heavy cooking months
~20 min · Easy - August: Walk the exterior walls and note peeling paint, cracked render, or damp patches to fix before autumn rain
~25 min · Easy
Autumn (September–November)
- September: Test the heating system for 30 minutes before you need it and note any cold radiators or odd noises
~30 min · Easy · Needs: Furnace/boiler service contact - September: Book the annual furnace or boiler service now, before the winter rush fills every diary
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Furnace/boiler service contact - September: Replace the HVAC filter at the start of heating season so airflow is not restricted
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Replacement HVAC filters - September: Test smoke and CO alarms again before heating appliances run daily, when CO risk rises
~15 min · Easy · Needs: 9V / AA batteries (alarms) - September: Check window and door draft seals in the evening with a lit candle and replace flattened strips
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - September: Bleed radiators at the top valve until water runs clear, starting with the coldest radiator
~25 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - October: Clear the gutters again after leaf fall so autumn rain does not overflow into the walls
~45 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - October: Drain and disconnect garden hoses and store them coiled under cover before the first frost
~20 min · Easy - October: Shut off and drain outdoor taps from the indoor valve so standing water cannot freeze and split the pipe
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Basic tool kit - October: Inspect the roof and flashing from the ground after autumn storms and note lifted tiles or debris
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - October: Reverse ceiling fans to push warm air down and wipe dust from the blades first
~15 min · Easy - October: Lubricate garage door hinges, rollers, and the lock with WD-40 before cold makes them stiff
~20 min · Easy · Needs: WD-40 or hinge lubricant - November: Check under every sink with a flashlight for slow drips and tighten compression fittings by hand
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - November: Insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces with foam sleeves before the coldest weeks arrive
~35 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - November: Clean the oven and range hood properly before holiday cooking puts both under heavy load
~40 min · Medium - November: Check the chimney or flue has been swept this year before regular fires start, and book it if not
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Furnace/boiler service contact - November: Run a drain brush through the kitchen sink drain to clear grease before holiday cooking adds more
~15 min · Easy · Needs: Drain cleaner or drain brush - November: Test exterior lights and replace bulbs so paths and steps are lit on dark evenings
~15 min · Easy
Winter (December–February)
- December: Replace the batteries in every smoke and CO alarm as the annual change, whatever the test button says
~15 min · Easy · Needs: 9V / AA batteries (alarms) - December: Check pipes on exterior walls on the coldest night and open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air reach them
~10 min · Easy - December: Replace the HVAC filter at mid-winter, when the heating runs longest each day
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Replacement HVAC filters - December: Wipe condensation from windows each morning this month and check sills for early mold spots
~15 min · Easy - December: Check the fire extinguisher gauge and the first-aid kit, and replace anything used or out of date
~15 min · Easy - December: Take a year-end meter reading and photograph the meters for your annual records
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Notepad for meter readings - January: Bleed radiators again at mid-winter if tops feel cold, and check the boiler pressure afterwards
~25 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - January: Run every little-used tap and drain for two minutes to keep traps full and water fresh after holiday trips
~15 min · Easy · Needs: Drain cleaner or drain brush - January: Inspect the attic or loft with a flashlight for roof leaks, damp insulation, and daylight through tiles
~25 min · Medium · Needs: Flashlight - January: Check bath and shower seals again after a month of long hot showers and re-caulk any lifting edges
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Silicone caulk - January: Vacuum refrigerator door seals and heat vents so the hardest-working systems run efficiently
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Vacuum - January: List every repair you noticed this winter and book quotes now, while trades are quieter than spring
~20 min · Easy · Needs: Notepad for meter readings - February: Test the water heater pressure relief valve and check the base for rust or pooled water
~15 min · Easy · Needs: Flashlight - February: Clean the washing machine filter and run a hot empty cycle to clear detergent buildup
~20 min · Easy - February: Check window frames for condensation damage and touch up flaking paint before spring damp arrives
~30 min · Medium · Needs: Silicone caulk - February: Tighten stair handrails, banister fixings, and loose floorboards with the basic tool kit
~25 min · Medium · Needs: Basic tool kit - February: Order replacement HVAC filters and alarm batteries so March jobs start with supplies in hand
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Replacement HVAC filters - February: Walk the exterior after winter and list cracked paths, broken fences, and gate hinges needing oil
~20 min · Easy · Needs: WD-40 or hinge lubricant
Pro Tips
- Put each season's six-per-month jobs on your phone calendar on the first Saturday of the month. A date you can see beats a list you meant to check.
- Write the HVAC filter size and the alarm battery type on a card taped inside the utility cupboard. Every replacement then takes one trip to the store, not two.
- Photograph meter readings instead of only writing them down. The photo timestamps itself and settles billing disputes in seconds.
- Keep one small maintenance box with caulk, WD-40, batteries, a drain brush, and a flashlight. Most jobs on this calendar fail at the 'finding the supplies' step, not the task itself.
- If a job is the landlord's, like boiler servicing in most rentals, do the check anyway and send the result in writing. A dated note protects you if it later fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I really change an HVAC filter?
Every one to three months in a typical home, and monthly if you have pets or allergies. This calendar schedules changes in March, July, September, and December as a minimum rhythm. Check the filter between changes; if it looks gray and matted, replace it early.
Which of these jobs are a renter's responsibility?
Renters usually handle alarm batteries, filters where the lease allows access, drains, and reporting problems early. Owners handle heating systems, roofs, gutters, and pipework. Check your lease, and report anything structural in writing as soon as you spot it.
What should I do first if I have missed a whole season?
Do the safety jobs today: test alarms, check for leaks under sinks, and confirm the heating works. Then pick up the calendar at the current month instead of backfilling everything. One season missed is recoverable; a burst pipe or failed alarm is not.
Why does the month matter for jobs like gutters and heating?
Timing is the prevention. Gutters cleared before leaf fall still overflow in November, and heating tested in December fails when you need it most. Each job here is placed just before the weather or season that makes it necessary.
More Checklists and Guides
- All Home Checklists & Calendars — the full set in one place
- Pantry Organization Checklist — A one-session project: audit, zones, labels — and a restock system that keeps it done.
- Garage Organization Checklist — Zones by how often you use things, heavy low and light high — and one goal: the car fits.
- Pair the January maintenance month with a declutter reset
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