A spring home maintenance checklist should start with whatever winter may have broken. Walk the outside looking at the roof, gutters and foundation, turn the outdoor faucets and sprinklers back on and watch for leaks, and book the air conditioner's tune-up before the first hot week. After that come filters, alarms, window screens, the deck and the lawn mower.
Time it to your weather, not the calendar. The outdoor water checks wait until the risk of a hard freeze has passed, while the inside jobs can start any time.
The checklist at a glance#
| Priority |
Job |
Why it's on the list |
| First |
Walk the outside: roof, gutters, foundation, steps |
Winter damage turns into leaks in spring rain |
| First |
Turn on outdoor faucets and irrigation, check for leaks |
Pipes and sprinkler parts crack in a freeze |
| Soon |
Book the AC or heat pump tune-up |
Contractors fill up once it gets hot |
| Soon |
Check the HVAC filter, test smoke and CO alarms |
Quick and easy to forget |
| Before warm weather |
Clean window screens, check windows open |
You'll want them open soon |
| Before warm weather |
Inspect and wash the deck, bring out furniture |
Loose railings and soft boards show up now |
| Before the first mow |
Service the mower |
Repair shops get busy in spring |
Walk around the outside#
Do this on a dry day with binoculars if you have them. From the ground, look for:
- Missing, cracked or lifted shingles or tiles, and anything that's slipped near the ridge or around the chimney.
- Gutters that sag, have pulled away from the fascia, or have plants growing in them.
- Streaks or damp patches on the walls under the gutters. NHBC's homeowner guide points out that wet patches below gutters can mean the gutter or downpipe is blocked.
- Downspouts that empty right next to the foundation, and soil that has settled so it slopes toward the house.
- Cracked steps, loose handrails and fence panels that moved in winter storms.
Then go back out during the next proper rain. Overflowing gutters and puddles against the house are much easier to spot while they're happening. Roof repairs and anything above a single-story ladder height are jobs for a roofer. If the gutters need clearing, the gutter cleaning guide covers how often and how to do it safely.
Turn the outdoor water back on and check for leaks#
Open the indoor shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet, then turn on the faucet and let it run for a minute. If the faucet split in a freeze, this is when you find out: a frost-free faucet with a cracked pipe can leak inside the wall or into the basement rather than outside, so have someone look indoors while you test it.
If you have sprinklers, EPA WaterSense recommends a spring "sprinkler spruce-up" to check whether winter damaged the equipment or lines. Run each zone and walk it. Look for broken heads, geysers, soggy patches that point to a leaking line, and heads that water the driveway instead of the grass. Reset the controller for spring rainfall instead of restoring last summer's schedule.
While you're thinking about water, the same EPA page suggests checking toilets for silent leaks at least once a year. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait 10 minutes without flushing, and if color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking.
Get the cooling ready#
ENERGY STAR's maintenance checklist recommends a pre-season check of the cooling system in spring and the heating system in fall. Book the AC or heat pump service now, before the first heat wave fills every technician's schedule. Things you can do yourself:
- Check the furnace or air handler filter. ENERGY STAR's spring savings advice is to check it every month and change it at least every three months, or sooner if it looks dirty. The HVAC filter guide explains how to pick the right size and rating.
- Clear leaves, grass clippings and plant growth from around the outdoor unit.
- Find the condensate drain line and make sure it isn't blocked. ENERGY STAR notes that a plugged drain can cause water damage inside the house.
Leave anything behind a panel, including refrigerant, electrical connections and coil cleaning, to the technician.
Safety checks to tie in#
Spring is also a good time for the jobs that otherwise drift. Test the smoke and CO alarms, and look at the manufacture date on the back while you're up there. Clean the dryer vent duct if it's been a year. Check fire extinguisher gauges.
Windows, screens, deck and yard#
Open every window to check it moves freely and latches, and look for torn screens before the bugs arrive. Screens that have gone gray with dust come clean with a soft brush and soapy water.
Outside, check the deck or patio for loose boards, wobbly railings and sunken pavers before anyone uses it heavily. The deck and patio guide covers spring cleaning and when wood needs refinishing. Get the lawn mower serviced before the grass needs its first cut, so a mower that won't start doesn't land in the repair shop queue in May.
Sort what you found into two lists#
By the end you'll have a mix of real repairs and cosmetic jobs. Put anything that lets water in or could hurt someone at the top: an active leak, a loose handrail, a sagging gutter. Painting, power washing and garden projects can wait. Take photos of any damage, which helps when you're getting quotes, filing an insurance claim or reporting it to a landlord.
Most of this list repeats every year, and the fall version is in the winter preparation checklist. Setting both up as yearly reminders in ChoreLists.com means you don't have to rebuild the list from memory each time.