Seasonal checklist
Winter home maintenance checklist
Stuck inside anyway, so it's the indoor and safety jobs' turn. The detectors, the valves, the quiet leaks. Small things that matter most on the worst possible day.
Check under-sink pipes & supply lines for leaks
Every 6 monthsWater damage is the #2 home insurance claim.
Clean dryer vent
Every 12 monthsLint is the top cause of dryer fires.
Flush water heater
Every 12 monthsSediment shortens its life and saps efficiency.
Replace detector batteries
Every 12 monthsA dead detector is just a wall ornament.
Test smoke & CO detectors
Every 6 monthsThe alarm that has to work when it counts.
Test sump pump
Every 6 monthsThe day you need it is a bad day to find it dead.
Check fire extinguisher
Every 12 monthsUseless if it's empty when the pan catches.
Check toilets for silent leaks
Every 12 monthsA silent leak quietly runs up the water bill.
Clean washing machine
Every 3 monthsClears the gunk that makes clothes smell.
Inspect washing machine hoses
Every 12 monthsA burst hose floods the laundry in minutes.
Lubricate & test garage door
Every 12 monthsA snapped spring is a heavy, dangerous fix.
Replace fridge water filter
Every 6 monthsOld filters stop filtering anything.
Run & test backup generator
Every monthAn untested generator won't start in the outage.
Test for radon
Every 24 monthsInvisible, and the #2 cause of lung cancer.
Test GFCI outlets
Every monthThe thing that cuts a shock near water.
Test main & fixture shut-off valves
Every 12 monthsSeized valves are useless in a burst-pipe panic.
Vacuum refrigerator coils
Every 6 monthsDusty coils make the fridge work harder.
Don't want to keep this list in your head?
Add these to Grumpty once and it tracks the dates, grumbles when each one's due, and sets the next occurrence the moment you mark it done.
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