Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist

A house looks after itself reasonably well for the first couple of years after a big refurbishment, and then it starts to drift. Paint chips, silicone goes mouldy, gutters clog, draughts appear, rubber seals perish. A small amount of work spread across the year is much less effort than trying to catch up with a year of neglect in one weekend. This calendar sets out what is worth doing each month in an average UK home.

January: Insulation and heating

January is the coldest month and the best time to notice where the heat is escaping. Cold spots on walls, condensation forming on windows, rooms that take longer to warm up. Walk round the house with the heating on and feel for draughts around doors, windows, loft hatches, and letterboxes. Check the loft insulation is at least 270mm deep; anything less is below current recommendations and worth topping up. This is also a good month to book a boiler service if the system is showing its age.

February: Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Test every smoke alarm in the house by pressing the test button. Do the same for any carbon monoxide alarms. Replace batteries in any non-sealed alarm. Any alarm older than 10 years should be replaced entirely; the sensors degrade even if the test button still works. Make a note of the install date on the alarm itself with a marker pen so you know when to replace it next.

March: Garden tidy and outdoor inspection

As the weather starts to improve, walk round the outside of the house. Check fences for loose posts and panels after winter winds. Look at the pointing on brick and stone walls for gaps or crumbling mortar. Clear leaves and debris from drains and gullies. Check gates open and close properly. Sweep patios and paths. This is the month to tackle fence repairs before the first growth of climbing plants makes them harder to reach.

April: Gutters and downpipes

Gutters need a second clear in spring, particularly in parts of the country with heavy tree cover. Winter storms bring down twigs and moss, and the spring rain can expose any blockage quickly. Check downpipes flow freely by running a hose into the gutter. Look at the joints for signs of leaking. Any gutter that is sagging needs its brackets tightened or replaced.

May: Outdoor paintwork and woodwork

May is the ideal month for outdoor painting. Temperatures are warm enough for paint to dry properly, but not so hot that it skins over before brushing out. Check the condition of the front door, window frames, bargeboards, fascias, soffits, fence panels, and garden furniture. Touch up any flaked or peeling paint with a primer and a matching topcoat. Rub down any rusted metalwork (gate hinges, railings) with a wire brush and treat it before repainting.

June: Window catches and locks

Windows get used more in the summer, and this is the month that any faulty catch, handle, or lock tends to become obvious. Test every window opens and closes smoothly. Lubricate hinges and sliding tracks with a dry PTFE spray (not WD-40, which attracts dirt over time). Check window locks work and any keys are accounted for. Replace perished rubber seals on UPVC windows before they let in draughts in winter.

July: Pressure washing and outside cleaning

The hottest, driest month is the right time to pressure wash patios, paths, decking, and driveways. Remove moss and algae before it makes surfaces slippery in autumn. Be careful not to direct a high-pressure jet at pointing between stones or bricks; it can strip out old mortar. For stone patios in the Cotswolds, a low-pressure wash with a stiff brush and a patio cleaner is kinder. This is also a good month to clean the outside of windows.

August: Hedges and borders

Trim hedges back before birds start nesting again in autumn. Check hedges are not growing into gutters, overhanging footpaths, or blocking security lights. Prune shrubs that have finished flowering. Look at the borders for overgrown plants pressing against walls; damp stains behind climbing plants are often the first sign of trouble. A summer prune opens up the walls to air and reduces damp problems later in the year.

September: Gutters again and draught-proofing

A second gutter clear before the main leaf fall starts in October saves you doing it in bad weather later. Check draught strips on doors are still intact; rubber strips perish over a year or two and brush strips get crushed. Replace any that have failed. Check the condition of door thresholds, particularly the front and back door, where water can seep in during heavy rain.

October: Bleed radiators and test heating

Turn the heating on for the first time of the season and let every radiator reach full temperature. Any radiator that is cold at the top has air trapped inside and needs bleeding with a radiator key. Any radiator that is cold at the bottom has sludge and may need a power flush (that is a plumber's job, not a handyman's). Check the boiler pressure is around 1.2 to 1.5 bar when cold. This is also the month to book a boiler service if you have not already.

November: Lagging pipes and chimney sweep

Before the first hard frost, check any exposed pipes are lagged, particularly in the loft, garage, cellar, and against exterior walls. Foam lagging costs a couple of pounds a metre and fits in minutes. If you have a wood burner or open fire, book a chimney sweep before regular use starts; most sweeps have fewer slots after Christmas and prices can rise. Put a bucket of rock salt by the back door for icy paths.

December: Emergency kit and checks before the holidays

The quiet bit between Christmas and New Year is when boilers break down and pipes freeze. A simple emergency kit in the kitchen drawer helps: torch with fresh batteries, candles and matches, a list of emergency phone numbers (boiler cover, electric supplier, insurance), and the location of the mains water stopcock. Test the stopcock actually turns; if it has not been touched in years, it may be seized. A stopcock that does not work is useless in a burst pipe emergency.

Notes on the calendar

The order of this calendar can shift by a month or two depending on where in the country you live and what kind of home you have. Cotswold stone cottages need more attention to pointing and damp. Newbuilds need less outdoor painting but more attention to silicone around bathrooms. Flats need less garden and roof work but more attention to window seals and shared drainage. The principle is the same: a little every month, not a lot at the end of the year.

The bottom line

Most months on this list take under an hour. A couple of them (gutters, outdoor paint, chimney sweep) take a morning. Spread across the year, the total time investment is around 15 to 20 hours, which is much less than the alternative of catching up once everything has gone wrong. Jobs that fall beyond comfortable DIY, particularly anything at height or involving specialist equipment, are what a local handyman is for.