Chicago’s extreme seasons — polar vortex winters, humid summers, and freeze-thaw springs — make home maintenance more demanding than almost anywhere in the country. This checklist covers everything Chicago homeowners need to do each season to protect their investment and avoid expensive emergency repairs. Bookmark it, print it, or share it with your property manager.

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist (March–May)

Spring is the most important season for Chicago home maintenance. After winter, you’ll find damage you didn’t know happened.

• ☐ Inspect roof and gutters — Check for missing/damaged shingles, ice dam damage, loose flashing. Clean gutters of winter debris.
• ☐ Check exterior caulking and seals — Inspect around windows, doors, and where siding meets trim. Recaulk any gaps that opened during freeze-thaw.
• ☐ Inspect deck and fence — Look for cracked boards, loose railings, rotted posts. Schedule deck staining before summer.
• ☐ Test sump pump — Pour water into the pit to confirm the float triggers and pump runs. Check battery backup if you have one. April storms are Chicago’s worst flood risk.
• ☐ Check basement for water intrusion — Look for efflorescence (white mineral deposits), staining, or damp spots on walls.
• ☐ Service HVAC — Replace furnace filter, schedule AC service before the summer rush.
• ☐ Inspect driveway and walkways — Fill cracks before they grow. Chicago freeze-thaw splits concrete and asphalt fast.
• ☐ Test smoke and CO detectors — Replace batteries. CO is a year-round Chicago risk due to heating systems.
• ☐ Inspect attic for winter moisture damage — Look for dark staining, frost damage, or signs of ice dam leaks.
• ☐ Repair any drywall or plaster cracks — Winter temperature swings cause interior cracks. Chicago Handyman handles drywall repair throughout the city.

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist (June–August)

• ☐ Check window and door screens — Repair or replace damaged screens before mosquito season peaks.
• ☐ Inspect exterior paint — Look for peeling, bubbling, or fading. Summer is ideal for exterior painting; winter moisture causes paint failure.
• ☐ Clean dryer vent — Lint buildup is a leading cause of house fires. Clean annually, more often if you do heavy laundry.
• ☐ Test GFCI outlets — Kitchen, bathrooms, garage, and outdoor outlets should trip and reset properly.
• ☐ Inspect and clean ceiling fans — Clean blades, check wobble, reverse direction for summer (counterclockwise pushes air down).
• ☐ Check garage door balance and safety reverse — Place a 2×4 under the door; it should reverse when it contacts it.
• ☐ Inspect foundation perimeter — Ensure soil grades away from the house (6″ drop in the first 10 feet). Add soil if settled.
• ☐ Clean and seal tile grout in kitchen and bathrooms to prevent moisture penetration.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist (September–November)

Fall prep is critical in Chicago — anything you miss now you’ll pay for in winter.

• ☐ Service furnace — Schedule a furnace tune-up before the first cold snap. Chicago furnaces work hard; maintenance extends life and prevents carbon monoxide risk.
• ☐ Drain and shut off exterior hose bibs — Must be done before first freeze or pipes will burst. Chicago’s first hard freeze typically hits late October.
• ☐ Clean gutters after leaves fall — Clogged gutters cause ice dams and fascia rot. Clean in late November after most leaves are down.
• ☐ Inspect and weatherstrip doors and windows — Chicago heating bills are high; air sealing pays back fast. Check window seals and weatherstripping.
• ☐ Caulk exterior penetrations — Seal around utility entry points, cable penetrations, and where pipes enter the house.
• ☐ Test sump pump again — Fall rain events can saturate soil before freeze. Confirm pump is working.
• ☐ Trim trees near the house — Branches that overhang the roof or contact the house can damage it during winter ice storms.
• ☐ Check attic insulation — Chicago requires R-49 in attics for energy code. Low insulation dramatically increases heating costs.
• ☐ Inspect roof before winter — Replace any damaged or missing shingles before snow and ice make it worse.

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist (December–February)

• ☐ Keep cabinet doors open during polar vortex events — Pipes along exterior walls need warm air circulation when temperatures drop below -10°F.
• ☐ Monitor for ice dams — Long icicles from gutters signal an ice dam. Use a roof rake to clear snow within 3 feet of the eave.
• ☐ Clear snow from around HVAC exhaust vents — High-efficiency furnaces and water heaters vent through PVC pipes at ground level that can become buried in snow.
• ☐ Check for frost on interior window corners — Indicates air leakage and heat loss. Seal in spring.
• ☐ Test smoke and CO detectors — Windows sealed shut in winter mean CO from faulty heating equipment has nowhere to go.
• ☐ Inspect basement walls during thaw periods — Mid-winter thaw events (common in Chicago) stress foundations. Look for new cracks or seepage.

Annual Tasks (Any Season)

• ☐ Flush water heater (removes sediment, extends life)
• ☐ Test all GFCI and AFCI breakers
• ☐ Check attic and crawlspace for pest activity
• ☐ Inspect and lubricate door hinges and locks
• ☐ Clean refrigerator coils (under/behind unit)
• ☐ Deep clean range hood filter
• ☐ Inspect stair railings and balusters for looseness
• ☐ Check cabinet doors and drawer slides for adjustment

Chicago Home Maintenance Services

If your seasonal walkthrough turns up more repairs than you want to tackle yourself, Chicago Handyman handles the most common home maintenance tasks throughout Chicago and suburbs. Here’s what we do most:

• Drywall repair and patching
• Ceiling fan installation
• Security camera installation
• Attic ladder installation
• Deck staining and sealing
• Fence repair
• Gutter repair
• Cabinet repair