Spring Home Maintenance
In spring, focus on freshening up your home and protecting your property against the season's strong winds and rains.
Outdoor Tasks:
- Clean gutters and downspouts. Learn how to maintain your gutters.
- Inspect roof and chimney for cracks and damage.
- Touch up peeling or damaged paint. Watch our video for ideas on troubleshooting exterior paint problems.
- Wash all windows, inside and out.
- Install screens on windows and doors.
- Clean outdoor furniture and air out cushions.
- Service your lawn mower.
- Fertilize your lawn.
Indoor Tasks:
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks forward.
- If your basement has a sump pump, test it by dumping a large bucket of water into the basin of the sump pump. This should activate the sump pump. If it does not switch on or if it's not pumping water, it may need to be serviced by a professional. Also, check for and remove any debris and make sure there are no leaks.
- Wash and change seasonal bedding.
- Dust blinds and vacuum curtains throughout your house.
- Clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and throw away outdated food, medicine and cosmetics.
Summer Home Maintenance
In fall, prepare your home and yard for cooler temperatures, falling leaves and more hours spent indoors.
Outdoor Tasks:
Outdoor Tasks:
- Clean gutters and downspouts. Get information on maintaining your gutters.
- Inspect roof and chimney for cracks and damage.
- Rake leaves and shred to use as mulch or dispose of them based on local guidelines.
- Close or install storm windows.
- Remove hoses from spigots and drain and store indoors, coiled and flat.
- Store outdoor furniture and cushions.
- Test snow blower and have it professionally serviced if necessary.
- Rake Leaves
Indoor Tasks:
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the fall. See our carbon monoxide detector buying guide. Learn more about detecting and preventing carbon monoxide.
- Check windows and doors for weather-tightness and install weather stripping where it's needed. Check out our tips on weather stripping windows and doors.
- Have furnace professionally inspected.
- If needed, set traps for rodents.
- Dust blinds and vacuum curtains throughout your house.
- Clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and throw away outdated food, medicine and cosmetics
Fall Home Maintenance
In fall, prepare your home and yard for cooler temperatures, falling leaves and more hours spent indoors.
Outdoor Tasks:
Outdoor Tasks:
- Clean gutters and downspouts. Get information on maintaining your gutters.
- Inspect roof and chimney for cracks and damage.
- Rake leaves and shred to use as mulch or dispose of them based on local guidelines.
- Close or install storm windows.
- Remove hoses from spigots and drain and store indoors, coiled and flat.
- Store outdoor furniture and cushions.
- Test snow blower and have it professionally serviced if necessary.
- Rake Leaves
Indoor Tasks:
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the fall. See our carbon monoxide detector buying guide. Learn more about detecting and preventing carbon monoxide.
- Check windows and doors for weather-tightness and install weather stripping where it's needed. Check out our tips on weather stripping windows and doors.
- Have furnace professionally inspected.
- If needed, set traps for rodents.
- Dust blinds and vacuum curtains throughout your house.
- Clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and throw away outdated food, medicine and cosmetics
Winter Home Maintenance
In winter, enjoy energy-efficient warmth and the fruits of your home-maintenance labors. Use this time of the year to thoroughly clean and care for your home's interior while taking a few precautionary measures on the outside.
Outdoor Tasks:
- Walk around your home's exterior and check the crawl space vents located at the foundation. Close any that are open.
- Protect your central air conditioning unit with a cover, and remove and store window air conditioners.
- Clean and store garden tools.
- Move snow shovels and snow blowers to a convenient spot.
Indoor Tasks:
- Change or clean furnace filters. Consult manufacturer instructions for your furnace to determine how frequently the filters should be replaced. See our tips on choosing a home air filter and information on cleaning and replacing HVAC filters.
- Clean kitchen appliances inside and out, including refrigerator coils.
- Maintain clean drains by adding one-half-cup baking soda followed by one-half-cup white vinegar. After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water.
Good advice from Lowe's
