The Complete Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Swap out furnace and AC filters after a winter of heavy use. Clogged filters force your system to work harder, raising energy bills and shortening equipment life. Use the correct MERV rating for your system.

Remove leaves, debris, and dirt from around the outdoor AC unit. Trim vegetation back at least two feet. Rinse the fins gently with a garden hose to restore airflow before summer cooling season starts.

Have a licensed technician inspect refrigerant levels, clean evaporator coils, check electrical connections, and test the thermostat. Annual service catches small problems before they become expensive mid-summer breakdowns.

Walk the perimeter of your home and look for cracked, warped, or loose siding. Check paint and caulking around windows and doors. Freeze-thaw cycles can open gaps that let moisture into wall cavities.

Winter grime, mold, and mildew accumulate on outdoor surfaces. A thorough pressure wash restores appearance and prevents slippery buildup. Re-seal wood decks after washing for best protection.

Check caulk around windows, door frames, and where siding meets trim. Cracked or missing caulk lets in moisture and drafts. Replace deteriorated weather stripping on exterior doors to maintain your home's envelope.

Remove leaves, twigs, and sediment from gutters. Flush downspouts with a hose to verify they drain freely. Clogged gutters cause water to back up under shingles and can damage fascia boards and your foundation.

From the ground or a ladder, look for missing, cracked, or curling shingles. Check flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights. Identify problems now before spring rains turn a small leak into interior water damage.

If you disconnected hoses and shut off outdoor spigots for winter, turn the supply back on and check for leaks. Frozen pipes can crack without showing damage until water flows again.

Drain a few gallons from the tank to remove sediment buildup. Sediment reduces heating efficiency and can cause rumbling noises. This five-minute task can extend your water heater's life by years.

Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit to verify the pump activates and drains properly. Spring snowmelt and rain put basements at peak flood risk. A failed sump pump can mean thousands in water damage.

Change the oil, replace spark plugs, sharpen mower blades, and check the air filter. Equipment that sat all winter needs fresh fuel and a clean carburetor to start reliably when you need it.

Turn on each zone and walk the property. Look for broken heads, misaligned spray patterns, and leaking connections. Adjust timers for spring watering schedules to match your lawn's needs.

Feed your lawn once soil temperatures reach 55 degrees F consistently. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other weeds. Timing is critical — too early is wasted, too late is ineffective.

Press the test button on every smoke and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Replace batteries even if they still beep — spring and fall battery changes are the industry standard. Replace units older than 10 years.

Press the test and reset buttons on GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations. These outlets protect against electrical shock — a failed GFCI is a safety hazard that is easy to overlook.

Vacuum debris from window tracks and clear weep holes at the bottom of window frames. Blocked weep holes prevent water drainage and can cause sills to rot. Lubricate sliding tracks with silicone spray for smooth operation.

Check around your foundation, dryer vents, cable entry points, and utility pipes for gaps where insects and rodents can enter. Seal openings with caulk, steel wool, or expanding foam before warm-weather pests become active.