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Spring home maintenance checklist
The short answer
Spring maintenance is about water and cooling: clean the gutters, inspect the roof after winter, service the AC before the first heat wave, check every place water can enter, and test the systems that protect the basement. Done in two weekends, this list prevents the most common summer emergencies, which are an AC dying in July and water arriving where it should not.
Work the list top down, literally: roof and gutters first, then walls and water, then systems, then yard. Each item is cheap in spring and expensive as an emergency in season, when every contractor's phone rings at once.
Check items off and date them. A dated list becomes your home's maintenance record, which buyers love and future you needs.
Roof, gutters, exterior
- Walk the roof line from the ground: missing shingles, sagging areas, flashing gaps
- Clean gutters and downspouts, flush them, confirm water exits away from the foundation
- Inspect attic after a rain for stains or damp insulation
- Wash mildew off siding, check caulk at windows and doors, touch up bare wood
- Check the foundation for new cracks and grade soil so water slopes away
Water and plumbing
- Test the sump pump: pour in water and watch it cycle
- Look under every sink and around the water heater for slow leaks
- Flush a few gallons from the water heater drain valve to slow sediment
- Check washing machine hoses, replace rubber hoses showing bulges
- Turn exterior faucets back on slowly and check for freeze cracks inside the wall
Systems and safety
- Book the AC tune-up before the first hot week, when schedules are open
- Replace HVAC filters and clear the outdoor unit's airflow
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, replace batteries or expired units
- Clean the dryer vent line, not just the lint trap
- Service the garage door: test the auto-reverse and balance
Questions homeowners ask
How long does the full list take?
Two weekends at a relaxed pace for most homes, plus the AC appointment. Most items are 15 to 45 minutes each.
What if I only do three things?
Gutters, AC service, and the sump pump test. Water out, cooling ready, basement protected.
Should I hire out the whole list?
Handyman services sell spring packages for a few hundred dollars. For two-story roof and gutter work, hiring out is the safe call.