Spring home maintenance checklist
Updated September 27, 2026 · 2 min read
Spring is inspection season. Winter is when damage happens — frost, ice, snow load and damp — and spring is when you can see it and fix it while it is still small. Work through this list once the snow has gone and the ground has dried up.
Check for winter damage
- Roof and flashing: look for tiles that have moved, cracked or blown off, and check around the chimney and roof vents.
- Gutters and downpipes: ice can bend brackets and pull joints apart. Clean out what the winter left behind.
- Facade and foundation: cracks, flaking paint and damp patches near the ground are signs water is getting where it shouldn't.
- Windows: check the putty and paint on wooden frames, and clean the drainage holes in the bottom of the frames.
Water and ventilation
- Turn outdoor taps back on and check the pipe inside the wall for leaks the first time you use them.
- Clean ventilation filters and air vents after a winter of closed windows.
- Clean the outdoor unit of an air source heat pump — remove leaves and dirt so air can pass freely.
- Test the smoke alarms. Many people do it when the clocks change, twice a year.
Deck, garden and outdoor spaces
- Wash the deck and check the boards for rot and loose screws; oil or stain it when the wood is dry.
- Check fences and gates for posts that have moved with the frost.
- Service the lawn mower: sharpen the blade, change the oil and spark plug if it has a petrol engine.
- Clean garden furniture and check the barbecue — gas hoses and connections in particular.
Keep track of what you found
An inspection is only useful if you remember what you saw. In HomeTendr, turn each check into a yearly recurring task, and add what needs fixing as a one-off task assigned to someone in the household.
Tip: when you repair or replace something bigger — a new roof, a repainted facade — log it as a renovation with the date, cost and photos. It pays off the day you sell the house.