The Complete Florida Home Maintenance Checklist

For most people, a home is the biggest investment they will ever make. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to maintain their homes and real estate investments. Houses don’t typically come with a manual, and it can be difficult to know what to do and when.

Home maintenance confusion is particularly true in West Central Florida, where the combination of the sun, humidity, insects, and severe weather can wreak havoc on houses. Setting up a schedule for home maintenance - such as replacing HVAC filters every month and checking your roof for problems quarterly - can make the process easier. As a bonus, it allows you to spot relatively minor problems before they become bigger (and more expensive) issues.

At Eaton Realty, our goal is to help our clients achieve their real estate dreams, whether buying a house, renting a house, putting their house on the market, or looking to become a landlord. As former home builders, we also understand the importance of routine maintenance to keep your home in its best possible condition. Reach out today if you’d like to learn more about Tampa real estate from a member of our team.

Learn What You Can Do To Sell Your Home For Top Dollar. Speak With A Tampa Realtor › 813-672-8022

Florida Home Maintenance Schedule

If you’re like most people, you don’t know what exactly you should be doing—or when you should do it—to properly maintain your home. Below, we put together a home maintenance schedule specific to Florida that can help you. Of course, not every item will apply to every homeowner, but it is a good starting point for most people to take better care of their homes.

January

A new year is a time for a fresh start. In January, take some time to get organized by accomplishing the following tasks:

• Go through your appliance and product manuals and make a list of recommended maintenance. Add these to your regular to-do list so that you don’t forget to do anything important—like getting your HVAC system serviced.
• Do a once-over of your cabinetry, doors, windows, and furniture. Check for loose knobs, squeaky doors, and more - and then address any problems that you see immediately.
• Do a home inventory. Go through your house room-by-room and make a list of everything in it (furniture, electronics, appliances, etc.). You can also take photos and videos of each room. This information will be particularly important for insurance claims, given Florida's intense hurricanes and tropical storms.

February

February is a good month to check on the plumbing around your house. This may include:

• Remove and clean the drain traps from under all of the sinks in your house and also clean the drain plugs at this time.
• Check the grout and caulk around tubs, sinks, and showers. If any grout is cracked, chip it out and replace it. If the caulk is mildewed or stained, you can clean it with trisodium phosphate (TSP). If the caulk is still discolored or peeling, remove and replace it.
• Check faucets for leaks and replace washers as needed.
• Go around both the interior and exterior of your house and turn all of the water valves on and off, especially the ones that aren’t used frequently. Operating the valves can prevent them from sticking.
• While you open and close the valves, check for leaks. Look for obvious drips and signs of water damage. If you discover a leak, call a plumber to have it fixed—or, if you’re handy, repair it yourself.
• Flush your hot water tank. Sediment can accumulate in hot water tanks, which can cause clogs. This is especially true in Florida, where the water tends to be “hard.” Flushing your hot water tank can help you avoid these problems.

March

The first day of spring often falls in March, making it a great month for spring cleaning! Here are some tasks you should be doing in March:

• Clean your refrigerator, microwave, and stove inside and out. Remove all trays, drawers, and shelves from the fridge and clean them with a mild detergent.
• Go through your garage and get rid of things that you don’t use. This is particularly important for chemicals like paint thinners or pesticides. You can dispose ofanything you are not using at a hazardous waste dump.
• Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Schedule a gutter cleaning. Clogged gutters can lead to bigger problems, like water damage. Standing water in gutters can also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Do a deep clean of your house. Go through your house room-by-room and clean all the spots that are usually overlooked—like under the cupboards, the baseboards, the walls, and the windows. A deep clean can not only keep your house looking good but also prevent problems like pests.
• Clean your garbage disposal by making ice cubes out of vinegar and running them through the disposal with water.

April

Spring weather often means rain. April is a good time to make sure that your house is appropriately weatherproofed by doing the following:

• Inspect screens for tears or bent frames. Repair and replace all screens as necessary.
• Remove and clean your screens with a soft bristle brush and a mild detergent.
• Clean the exterior of your windows.
• Check the caulking and weather stripping around your house's interior and exterior, including windows and doors. If any caulking is damaged or missing, replace it.
• After a heavy rain, check the crawl space for an accumulation of water or moisture. Find and fix any leaks or gaps in the waterproofing.

May

As summer approaches, it is time to get your house ready for hot weather:

• Check your hose for any leaks or cracks.
• Have the central air conditioning system serviced.
• If you have a swimming pool, inspect and service the pool liner, filter, pump, and other elements.
• Set your thermostat and automatic sprinklers to adjust for the warmer weather.
• Clean your outdoor furniture.
• Make sure that your grill is clean and has a full tank of propane.
• If you have a deck, clean and seal the wood.
• Wash the exterior of your house with your garden hose and a mild detergent. While you may be tempted to use a pressure washer, be mindful that the powerful water jets may damage your home's siding or other elements.

June

In the hot summer months, it’s a good idea to go through a safety checklist:

• Clean your dryer vent from the appliance itself to the exterior vent cap.
• Check your fire extinguishers and replace them if necessary.
• Check your attic to ensure that any fans and vents are operational.
• Test your GFCI outlets by pressing the “test” button on each. You should hear a click, and the outlet should no longer have power. When you press reset, the power should be restored. If the GFCI outlets don’t work properly, call an electrician.
• Check your circuit breakers. Turn each one on and off and make sure that they are functioning.
• Prepare for hurricane season. If you have a generator, make sure that it works and you have a good supply of gas. You should also ensure that you have batteries, flashlights, a weather radio, jugs of water, and nonperishable food.
• Consider how you will protect your windows and doors in a hurricane. This may mean simply fastening shutters or putting up plywood. If you will need wood, you should buy it now.

July

Summer is a good time to make sure that the exterior of your house is in good shape:

• Inspect brick and masonry work for cracks or missing mortar. You can replace these with fresh mortar and concrete caulk for sidewalks.
• If your house is painted, visually check for peeling or cracked paint. If it could use a fresh coat, consider hiring a professional painter.
• Inspect the roof for any loose, missing, or curling shingles. You may need to replace those shingles or have the roof replaced.
• If you have an attic, check under the roof for any signs of water damage or leaks—these are often indicators that it is time to replace your roof.
• Prune trees and shrubs, ensuring the branches are hitting against the house.
• If your driveway has cracks, patch them using epoxy for concrete or asphalt patching, or consider resurfacing the concrete driveway for a smoother finish.
• If you have an asphalt driveway, seal it every other year.
• Inspect the foundation walls for signs of cracks or pest infestations.

August

August is a great month to take care of your appliances:

• Use a vacuum to clean the condenser coils on the back of your refrigerator.
• Clean or replace range hood filters.
• If your refrigerator has a water dispenser, replace the water filter.
• Clean out your dishwasher’s filter.
• Run cleaning cycles for your dishwasher and washing machine using special cleaners to remove any build-up.
• Do a deep cleaning of your washing machine by scrubbing any parts that might get mildew or mold.

September

As cooler weather approaches, you can start to get your home ready by doing the following:

• Have your HVAC system serviced and change the filter.
• Clean and vacuum dust from the exterior vents and cold-air returns.
• Inspect exterior doors and windows for any signs of damage and replace or repair them as necessary.
• Check the exterior of your home for any signs of pest infestation and call an exterminator if necessary.

October

In October, you can continue to get ready for cooler weather:

• Change your thermostats and automatic sprinklers to accommodate cooler temperatures.
• Clean the gutters.
• Inspect the weather-stripping around doors and windows, particularly if there has been a hurricane or tropical storm. Replace or repair as necessary.
• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

November

In November, you can continue to work inside:

• Lubricate the garage door chains and springs per the manufacturers’ directions.
• Check the water supply hoses for the washing machine and replace them if necessary.
• Take a good look at your ceilings, noting any water damage.
• Check your plumbing, including toilets, to ensure it is functioning and there are no leaks.
• Check under sinks and in vanities for any signs of leaks.

December

December is often a busy time, which is why this month has fewer tasks:

• If you use electrical holiday decorations, test them all before installing them.
• Review any family safety plans, such as a hurricane evacuation plan and a fire escape plan. If necessary, purchase supplies—like fire ladders or fire blankets—that can be used in an emergency.
• Check your homeowner’s insurance policy and update coverage as necessary.

Looking to Sell a Home in Hillsborough County? Work with Eaton Realty

Home maintenance isn’t a whole lot of fun, but it can prevent more significant problems from forming. If you spot a leak during a regular inspection, for example, you may be able to fix it for a few hundred dollars (or less) - instead of the thousands that it may cost you in home repairs if you have major water damage. Our checklist can help you stay on top of home maintenance and keep your whole family safe.

Eaton Realty works with clients throughout Hillsborough County who are interested in buying, selling, or renting a house. When you’re ready to sell, we help you prepare, list, and sell your house. Our goal is to make the process as simple as possible, explaining every aspect of the home selling process.

If you want to buy, sell, or rent a house in West Central Florida, we are here to help. Learn more by filling out our online contact form or calling 813-672-8022 to speak to a real estate team member.