Is this the same checklist as the app?

It uses the app’s ready-made home jobs: HVAC filter, smoke detector test, gutter cleaning, water heater flush and HVAC service. The checklist below adds seasonal and room-by-room jobs, and the schedule maker lets you add your own.

Choose Print the checklist. The print stylesheet leaves out the form and the app panel and prints the jobs by area with a tick box and the next due date.

Some jobs are the landlord’s: the annual gas safety check, the boiler service if the landlord provides the boiler, and repairs to the structure. Ask before you climb a ladder or open anything you do not own.

How often should the smoke alarms be tested?

Once a month, and the whole alarm is replaced 10 years after its manufacturing date. The app’s default is every 6 months; change it to every month if you want the monthly test in your schedule.

Should I clean the gutters myself?

Only if you can do it safely from the ground or a stable ladder with someone else there. Never work near power lines, and call a professional for a tall or steep roof.

Home maintenance checklist: by season and by room

By season

A home has a rhythm. The spring and autumn lists are the big ones; summer and winter are mostly checks. If a job depends on the weather where you live, move it a few weeks rather than skipping it.

Spring

Clear the gutters after winter and check the downspouts run away from the house.
Service the cooling side of the HVAC system before the first warm spell.
Test the smoke alarms and replace the backup batteries.
Check the roof, flashings and any cracked sealant after the frost.
Wash the windows and check the seals and drains.
Sort the shed and garden tools; sharpen the mower blade.

Summer

Change the HVAC filter more often if the system is running all day.
Check the water heater for leaks and listen for rumbling sediment.
Clear weeds from paths, gutters and the edges of the roof.
Check the outside taps, hoses and irrigation for leaks.
Touch up exterior paint and treat any wood that is going grey.

Autumn

Clean the gutters again after the leaves fall.
Book the boiler service before the heating season.
Drain and flush the water heater if it is due.
Check the loft insulation and draught-proof the doors and windows.
Test the heating and bleed the radiators.
Store garden furniture and drain the outside taps before the first frost.

Winter

Keep the gutters and drains clear of leaves and ice.
Test the smoke alarms monthly and check the carbon monoxide alarm as the maker says.
Watch for condensation and damp, and ventilate the bathroom and kitchen.
Check the boiler pressure and the condensate pipe in freezing weather.
Clear snow from vents and keep the outdoor HVAC unit clear.

By room

Room-by-room is a practical way to notice a problem: a drip under the sink, a seal that has gone black, a radiator that never gets hot. Walk the home with the list once a season.

Kitchen

Clean the extractor filter when it looks greasy.
Check the fridge and freezer door seals.
Run a dishwasher cleaning cycle as the manufacturer recommends.
Check under the sink for leaks and tighten a dripping tap.

Bathroom

Clean the extractor fan and check it clears steam.
Check the sealant around the bath and shower.
Test the toilet for a running cistern.
Clear the drain of hair and soap residue.

Living areas and bedrooms

Test the smoke alarms and check the carbon monoxide alarm.
Vacuum the radiators and behind the furniture.
Check the windows open, close and lock properly.
Turn the mattresses and wash the curtains and bedding.

Hall, stairs and loft

Check the stair handrail and any loose floorboards.
Test the doorbell and the outside lights.
Check the loft for leaks, pests and insulation that has moved.
Look at the fuse box and label any circuit you do not know.

Outside

Clear the gutters, downspouts and drains.
Check the roof from the ground with binoculars; do not climb on it.
Treat the deck, fence and shed.
Check the paths and steps for loose slabs and moss.

The five jobs in the app’s home schedule

The app offers five ready-made home jobs: HVAC filter change every 3 months, smoke detector test every 6 months, gutter cleaning every 6 months, water heater flush every 12 months and HVAC service every 12 months. Each is a default, not advice. The sourced ranges are on the how often pages, and the schedule maker lets you change any interval.

If you only do five things, make them these: test the smoke alarms, keep the gutters clear, change the filter, have the boiler or HVAC system serviced, and check for leaks under the sinks and around the water heater. They are the ones that prevent the expensive damage.

Home maintenance checklist

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