HouseByMonth · housebymonth.com

HouseByMonth

Spring home maintenance checklist, by climate

By Pau Cozar Navas · Last reviewed October 2026

Missing, cracked or curling shingles Lifted shingles let water in. Flashing Rusted or loose metal around chimneys, vents and skylights. Gutters Sagging or pulling away. Check from the ground with binoculars, and from the attic (water stains, damp spots, daylight through the roof deck). Leave the roof itself to a roofer.
Start spring by checking what winter did to the roof, flashing and gutters.

Spring maintenance has two jobs: find whatever winter damaged, and get the house ready for the cooling season. In Florida that starts in February; in northern Minnesota it waits until May. The table shows the spring window for your climate zone and the tasks that fall inside it.

Not sure which row is yours? Find your climate zone by ZIP code.

Climate zoneMonthsTasks in that window
Zone 1 (very hot)February to AprilSchedule an AC tune-up; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Check basement humidity; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Inspect and clean the dryer vent; Flush the water heater; Service the pool equipment
Zone 2 (hot)January to MarchSchedule an AC tune-up; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Inspect and clean the dryer vent; Flush the water heater; Service the pool equipment
Zone 3 (warm)February to AprilSchedule an AC tune-up; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Test the sump pump; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Inspect and clean the dryer vent; Flush the water heater; Open the pool
Zone 4 (mixed)March to MaySchedule an AC tune-up; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Test the sump pump; Check basement humidity; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Flush the water heater; Set ceiling fans to summer mode; Open the pool
Zone 5 (cool)March to MaySchedule an AC tune-up; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Test the sump pump; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Flush the water heater; Open the pool
Zone 6 (cold)April to JuneSchedule an AC tune-up; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Test the sump pump; Check basement humidity; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Set ceiling fans to summer mode; Open the pool
Zone 7 (very cold)April to JuneSchedule an AC tune-up; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Test the sump pump; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Open the pool
Zone 8 (subarctic)May to JulyGet the chimney inspected and swept; Clean the gutters; Start up and check the sprinkler system; Inspect the roof; Test the sump pump; Septic inspection (every 3 years); Test your well water; Check caulking and weatherstripping

Equipment tasks (pool, septic, sprinklers, chimney) only apply if your home has them. The calendar filters them for you.

The tasks that matter most

Check the roof and gutters for winter damage. Snow, ice and wind loosen shingles and bend gutters. Look from the ground, clear the gutters, and make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation. See how often to inspect your roof and when to clean your gutters.

Test the sump pump before the thaw and spring rains. Pour water into the pit and watch the pump start and drain it. A pump that fails during the wettest weeks of the year means a flooded basement. Keep your hands dry and stay clear of the plug and outlet while you test, and if the pump doesn't run or the outlet looks damaged, call a plumber or electrician.

Book the AC tune-up before the first hot spell. Technicians are easier to schedule before the cooling season begins. See the tune-up schedule.

Restart the sprinkler system slowly. Turn the water back on gradually, run each zone and fix broken heads and leaks before summer watering. See when to winterize sprinklers.

Handle the every-few-years jobs. Spring, once the ground has thawed, is a practical time for a septic inspection and for testing well water. See how often to pump a septic tank.

Flush the water heater. Draining sediment keeps a tank heater quieter and more efficient. See how to flush a water heater.

Every month, all year

Two checks don't wait for a season: test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and check the HVAC air filter. See how often to change your HVAC filter.

For a complete plan that covers every month and only includes the equipment your home has, use the free HouseByMonth calendar.

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