A seasonal home maintenance schedule you'll actually follow

Home maintenance isn't hard; it's just easy to forget until something fails. Breaking it into a seasonal rhythm turns a daunting list into a few small tasks four times a year.

Spring

• Service the AC / cooling system before the first hot week.
• Check and replace HVAC filters.
• Inspect the roof, gutters and exterior drainage after winter.

Summer

• Test smoke and CO detectors; replace batteries.
• Clean refrigerator coils and check door seals.
• Check for plumbing leaks under sinks and around the water heater.

Fall

• Service the heating system before you need it.
• Flush the water heater to clear sediment.
• Seal gaps and check weatherstripping before cold weather.

Winter

• Check the HVAC filter again — it works hardest now.
• Look for ice, damp or draughts and address them early.
• Review which warranties expire soon and plan any end-of-year purchases.

The trick to actually following a schedule is not relying on memory. Record each appliance with its own service interval and let the reminders come to you — the calendar does the remembering.

Your Home Docket keeps all of this in one place — every appliance, its warranty, its service history, and a reminder before the next service is due, shared with your whole family. It's free. Create yours in a couple of minutes.