Maintenance by month · Last checked: October 21, 2026

December home maintenance checklist Freeze watch and holidays

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Timing depends on where you live. Freeze-related jobs are tied to your area's average first and last frost dates: look up your frost dates or ask your local National Weather Service office or Extension service.

This month

• ☐ Keep garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage. On very cold nights, drip faucets and open sink cabinets. [12] Guide → If you find a problem →
• ☐ Check holiday lights and cords for damage before you plug them in. Turn them off at bedtime or when you leave, or put them on a timer. [7] [9] [10] If you find a problem →
  • ☐ No frayed wires or broken sockets
  • ☐ Outdoor lights and cords marked for outdoor use
  • ☐ Outdoor lights plugged into a GFCI
  • ☐ No overloaded outlets
• ☐ Update your home inventory (Home inventory page): add new purchases with photos, model and serial numbers, price and date. Keep a copy away from home. [20] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Year-end review: look back at your Appliance Record, Consumables & Replacement Parts log, Outdoor Power Equipment page and this year's monthly pages.
  • ☐ Set phone or calendar reminders for every "next due" date
  • ☐ Note anything that broke or needed a pro, and who fixed it
  • ☐ Restock filters and batteries you'll need next year

Every month

• ☐ Check the HVAC filter. Change it if it looks dirty, and at least every 3 months. [1] [2] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Press the test button on every smoke alarm. [3] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Check CO alarms the way the maker's instructions say. [5]
• ☐ Test GFCI outlets: press TEST, then RESET. [8] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Look under sinks and around the water heater and toilets for drips. [15] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Clean the dryer lint filter every load. [11] If you find a problem →

Done by: ____________   Year: ______   Notes: ______________________________________

← November · January → · How-to fixes · Appliance Record

Sources (fetched and checked October 21, 2026)

1. ENERGY STAR, Heat & Cool Efficiently
2. ENERGY STAR, Maintenance Checklist
3. U.S. Fire Administration, Smoke Alarms
5. U.S. Fire Administration, Carbon Monoxide Safety flyer (PDF)
7. U.S. Fire Administration, Holiday Fire Safety
8. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, GFCI Fact Sheet (PDF)
9. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Holiday decorating safety tips (2019 release)
10. Electrical Safety Foundation International, Outdoor Decoration Safety Tips
11. Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Clothes Dryer Care
12. American Red Cross, Preventing & Thawing Frozen Pipes
15. U.S. EPA WaterSense, Home Maintenance (leaks)
20. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, What You Need to Know When Filing a Homeowners Claim