August home maintenance checklist

By Pau Cozar Navas · Last reviewed October 2026 · Tasks from the HouseByMonth calendar

August is still summer for most of the country, but the coldest zones are already preparing for winter. Homes in the South and the mid-Atlantic have nothing beyond the monthly checks. From Chicago north, the heating season is close enough to start planning.

August tasks by climate zone

Climate zone	Tasks this month
Zone 1 (very hot) Miami, Honolulu, Key West	Only the monthly checks
Zone 2 (hot) Houston, Phoenix, Orlando, Dallas	Only the monthly checks
Zone 3 (warm) Atlanta, Nashville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles	Only the monthly checks
Zone 4 (mixed) Washington DC, New York City, St. Louis, Seattle	Only the monthly checks
Zone 5 (cool) Chicago, Denver, Boston, Salt Lake City	Get the chimney inspected and swept (if you have fireplace or wood stove)
Zone 6 (cold) Minneapolis, Fargo, Burlington (Vermont), Helena	Get the chimney inspected and swept (if you have fireplace or wood stove) Check caulking and weatherstripping
Zone 7 (very cold) Duluth, Caribou (Maine), Anchorage	Schedule a heating tune-up (if you have gas or oil furnace, boiler (radiators or radiant heat), heat pump) Check caulking and weatherstripping
Zone 8 (subarctic) Fairbanks and interior Alaska	Schedule a heating tune-up (if you have gas or oil furnace, boiler (radiators or radiant heat), heat pump) Disconnect hoses and protect outdoor faucets Check pipe insulation in unheated areas Winterize the sprinkler system (if you have sprinkler / irrigation system) Inspect the roof

Not sure of your zone? Find it by ZIP code, or build your calendar to see only the tasks that fit your home.

What to focus on

Zones 1 through 4 have no seasonal tasks in August. The heaviest work in those zones comes in spring and fall.

Zones 5 and 6 get the chimney inspected and swept if the home has a fireplace. Creosote buildup can catch fire, and booking before the first cold night is easier than waiting (chimney guide). Zones 6 and 7 also check caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors (winterizing guide).

Zones 7 and 8 schedule a heating tune-up if the home has a furnace, boiler or heat pump. A technician inspects the burner, heat exchanger, gas connections and controls before you need the heat. The tune-up schedule guide explains why early booking helps.

Zone 8 starts its full fall routine now. Disconnect hoses and protect outdoor faucets, check pipe insulation in unheated areas, winterize the sprinkler system and do the fall roof inspection. Water left in a hose or faucet can freeze, split the pipe inside the wall and flood the house when it thaws. See preventing frozen pipes and winterizing sprinklers.

Every month

Keep the routine going: test the smoke and CO alarms (alarm guide) and look at the HVAC filter, which may be working hard after a summer of cooling (filter guide).

Read the July checklist or skip ahead to September, or use the calendar to see your zone.

Want every task on one schedule? Build your free maintenance calendar for your ZIP code and add it to your phone.