Maintenance by season · Last checked: October 21, 2026

Summer home maintenance checklist June–August

🖨 Print this page All months & seasons

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.

June Heat and humidity

• ☐ Keep indoor humidity below 60% (30-50% is ideal). A humidity meter helps. [13] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Find the AC condensate drain line and make sure it's flowing, not clogged. [2] [27] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Peek into the crawl space or basement for damp spots or musty smells. [13] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Condensation on windows, walls or pipes? Find the source and dry it quickly. [13] If you find a problem →

July Hottest stretch

• ☐ Check the HVAC filter more often while the AC runs hard. [2] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Gently rinse dirt off the outdoor AC coils (power off first). [28] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Clean the refrigerator coils if your model needs it. [29] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Make sure the dryer's outside vent flap opens and you can feel air when the dryer runs. [11] [6] If you find a problem →

August Late summer: plan for fall

• ☐ Check humidity and damp spots again, especially in closets and the crawl space. [13] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Book a fall check-up for your heating system before the rush. [2]
• ☐ Check weatherstripping on doors and windows. Replace any that are cracked or flat. [26] [25] If you find a problem →
• ☐ After summer storms, look over the roof, gutters and fence from the ground.
• ☐ Make a fall to-do list and budget.

Every month, all season

• ☐ 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 →

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)
6. U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fire Safety flyer (PDF)
8. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, GFCI Fact Sheet (PDF)
11. Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Clothes Dryer Care
13. U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
15. U.S. EPA WaterSense, Home Maintenance (leaks)
25. U.S. Dept. of Energy, Insulation and Air-Sealing Essentials
26. U.S. Dept. of Energy, Weatherization Job Aids: Install Weatherstripping on an Exterior Door (PDF)
27. Lennox, AC Drain Line Clogged? Here's What to Do
28. Bryant, How to Clean AC Coils
29. Whirlpool Product Help, How and When to Safely Clean the Condenser Coils