Maintenance by season · Last checked: October 21, 2026

Winter home maintenance checklist December–February

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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.

December Freeze watch and holidays

• ☐ 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

January Deep winter

• ☐ Cold-snap habits: let a cold faucet on an outside wall drip, open sink cabinets so warm air reaches the pipes, and keep the thermostat the same day and night. Away from home? Leave the heat at 55°F or higher. [12] Guide → If you find a problem →
• ☐ Find your main water shutoff valve, make sure it turns, and tag it so anyone can find it fast. If you find a problem →
• ☐ Keep dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace vents clear of snow and debris. [5] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Space heaters: keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed. [4]
• ☐ Test your home for radon. Testing is the only way to know your level. [14]

February Late winter: get ready for spring

• ☐ Test the sump pump (if you have one): slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit. It should start on its own and drain quickly. [24] If you find a problem →
• ☐ Read your homeowners policy. It doesn't cover flooding. Flood insurance through the NFIP usually takes up to 30 days to start, so buy it well before you need it. [19] [17]
• ☐ Clean gutters and make sure downspouts carry water away from the house. [23] If you find a problem →
  • ☐ Every downspout attached and clear
  • ☐ Splash blocks or extensions in place, pointing away from the foundation
  • ☐ Water lands at least 5 feet from the house
• ☐ Make a short list of spring projects and get quotes early. Book the cooling-system check-up for spring, before contractors get busy. Ideas: [2]
  • ☐ Exterior painting or staining (deck, fence)
  • ☐ Roof or gutter repairs
  • ☐ Cooling-system check-up
  • ☐ Driveway or walkway repair
  • ☐ Tree trimming
  • ☐ Pressure washing
  • ☐ Caulking
  • ☐ Landscaping

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
4. U.S. Fire Administration, Heating Fire Safety
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
14. U.S. EPA, Radon
15. U.S. EPA WaterSense, Home Maintenance (leaks)
17. FEMA / NFIP FloodSmart, Buy a Flood Insurance Policy
19. Ready.gov, Floods
20. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, What You Need to Know When Filing a Homeowners Claim
23. U.S. Dept. of Energy, Building Science Education: Stormwater Gutters and Downspouts
24. WAYNE Water Systems, Submersible Sump Pump owner's manual (PDF)