Home & family
Home maintenance calendar for the whole year
A year of seasonal home checks laid out from January 1, from smoke alarm tests and heating service to gutters and the emergency kit, one small job at a time.
What’s inside
Home maintenance year· 13 items
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
7 days after the the start of the year
- Press the test button on each alarm
- Replace batteries if the alarm asks for them
- Note the expiry date printed on each alarm
Check the fire extinguisher and first-aid kit
21 days after the the start of the year
- Extinguisher gauge in the green and expiry date checked
- First-aid kit restocked
Book the heating or HVAC service
45 days after the the start of the year
Booking early in the year is usually easier than in the fall rush.
Replace or clean air filters
75 days after the the start of the year
Spring outside check
100 days after the the start of the year
- Gutters and downspouts cleared
- Outdoor faucets and hoses checked after the cold
- Fences, paths and steps looked over
Check window and door seals
130 days after the the start of the year
Clean the dryer lint path and extractor fans
160 days after the the start of the year
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms again
182 days after the the start of the year
Replace or clean air filters again
240 days after the the start of the year
Fall outside check
290 days after the the start of the year
- Gutters cleared after the leaves fall
- Outdoor faucets drained or covered if you get frost
- Garden furniture stored
Run the heating once before the cold sets in
300 days after the the start of the year
Check the emergency kit
330 days after the the start of the year
- Flashlight and spare batteries
- Water and long-life food dates
- Copies of key phone numbers on paper
Note this year's repairs for next year
350 days after the the start of the year
Add anything that broke this year as a new item in this template, so next year's version knows about it.
One year, spread thin
Home upkeep fails because it is invisible until it isn’t. This template gives each job a day in the year, counted from January 1, so you only ever see one or two at a time. Alarms get tested twice, six months apart. Filters are changed in spring and late summer. Outside checks come after the worst of each season, when you can actually see the damage.
Every job is a plain task on its day. Doing it yourself and booking someone count the same: complete it once it’s handled.
Adapting it to your home
- Southern hemisphere? Apply it with July 1 as the date, and the seasons line up.
- Some jobs belong on a fixed day every year. Open that task and set Every year as its repeat, then delete it from the template.
- Renting? Keep the alarm, filter and emergency kit jobs, and turn the rest into “report to the landlord” tasks.
This template doesn’t tell you how to do any repair. For gas, electrics, roofs and anything you’re unsure about, call a qualified professional.
An honest tip
If you apply it mid-year with January 1 as the date, the earlier jobs show up as Carried over. That’s fine: treat them as a catch-up list and do the alarm test first. Or pick today as the date, and the year simply starts now.