July home maintenance checklist
July is the lightest month of the year for most American homes. In zones 1 through 6, the calendar has nothing beyond the two monthly checks. Only the coldest zones have real work, because their heating season comes back sooner than anywhere else.
July 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 | Only the monthly checks |
| Zone 6 (cold) Minneapolis, Fargo, Burlington (Vermont), Helena | Only the monthly checks |
| Zone 7 (very cold) Duluth, Caribou (Maine), Anchorage |
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| Zone 8 (subarctic) Fairbanks and interior Alaska |
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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
If you live in zones 1 through 6, there are no seasonal tasks this month. That is a feature of the schedule, not something missing. Use the time to keep the AC filter clean and the alarms tested.
Zones 7 and 8 get the chimney inspected and swept if the home has a fireplace. Creosote that builds up inside the chimney can catch fire, so book a professional inspection and cleaning every year, well before your first fire. Booking in summer keeps it far ahead of the heating season. The chimney guide explains what the visit covers.
Zone 7 also checks basement humidity and sets ceiling fans to summer mode. Zone 8 has a longer list because summer is so short. Restart the sprinkler system, test well water and handle the septic inspection if it is due (septic guide). It is also time to check caulking and weatherstripping, sealing gaps around windows and doors before winter. The winterizing guide covers how to find drafts.
Every month
July's only universal jobs are the monthly ones: test the smoke and CO alarms (alarm guide) and check the HVAC filter during peak cooling season (filter guide).
Look back at June, ahead to August, or open the calendar for your full-year schedule.
Want every task on one schedule? Build your free maintenance calendar for your ZIP code and add it to your phone.