Short answer: Fifteen minutes a month, plus one or two bigger jobs.
Real answer: Every Seattle home needs a short monthly round: test the alarms and check the filters. Add a few seasonal jobs timed to our weather. October is for the roof, gutters and outside faucets, before the November rains. The dry summer is for paint, decks and siding.
This month's list
What does your Seattle home need this month?
It opens on this month. Pick your home and what it has. You get this month's tasks, your time, who to call, and a printable year. Nothing you enter leaves this page.
Every month (about 15 minutes)
Only this month
Timing is for the Seattle area. Your home may need more. Follow the maker's manual for any appliance. Sources: NOAA, ENERGY STAR, American Red Cross, U.S. Fire Administration, Seattle Public Utilities, CSIA, Washington Department of Health.
I run this calendar on every home I own. Small jobs each month keep the work manageable, and the jobs with a deadline get done on time. This page replaces my six month-by-month posts from 2024, now in one place with all twelve months.
Same thing, other names: home maintenance calendar, monthly home maintenance checklist, seasonal home maintenance checklist, home maintenance schedule, printable home maintenance checklist.
Seattle weather
Seattle’s weather sets the calendar
The wet half
Seattle gets about 39 inches of rain a year, and most of it falls from October to March. November is the wettest month, at 6.31 inches (NOAA).
So the big outside jobs happen before October. Clean gutters, a sound roof and caulked trim decide whether that rain stays outside.
Bars: average inches of rain. Copper bars and the number above them: nights at or below 32°F. Sea-Tac, 1991–2020.
The freeze nights
Sea-Tac averages about 7 nights at or below freezing in December and in January. Hoses, outside faucets and sprinkler lines can burst on those nights. Get them ready in October.
The dry window
July gets 0.60 inches of rain on average. July and August are the window for paint, stain, caulk and decks, which need dry wood and dry nights.
Every month
Every month: the 15-minute round
Timeframe About 15 minutes, once a month
Alarms
Press the test button on every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm once a month. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years (Red Cross). Glance at the fire extinguisher gauge while you walk by (USFA).
Filters
ENERGY STAR says to check the furnace or heat pump filter every month (ENERGY STAR). A dirty filter raises the bill and wears the equipment out early. Vacuum mini-split screens and purifier pre-filters on the same day.
The rain walk
From October to March, walk around the house in a hard rain once a month. Look for gutters that overflow, downspouts that pull loose and a blocked street drain.
Month by month
The Seattle home maintenance calendar, month by month
Each month lists only that month’s jobs. Add the monthly round on top. Skip anything your home doesn’t have.
January
The coldest, darkest month. Inside jobs, fresh filters and a check under the house.
- Walk the house in a hard rain. Look for overflowing gutters, a loose downspout and a blocked street drain.
- Change the furnace filter. Write the date on the frame. During smoke season, go up to MERV 13 if the system allows. How to change a furnace filter (if you have: furnace or ducted heat pump)
- Replace the air purifier's main filter. Swap the main filter and the pre-filter for the year. How to clean an air purifier (if you have: air purifier)
- Change the compost bin filter. The carbon filter in the counter bin stops the smell.
- Deep clean the microwave. Steam a bowl of water and lemon for 3 minutes, then wipe.
- Every 5 years: book a whole-house inspection. January makes the date easy to remember. Mark the year on your calendar. Inspections
- Check the crawlspace after a cold or wet spell. Look for standing water, wet insulation, damp wood and droppings. (if you have: crawlspace)
- Be ready for a cold snap. Below freezing: open sink cabinets on outside walls and let a faucet drip.
February
Trees are dormant. Prune now, and clean the fridge while you’re stuck inside.
- Walk the house in a hard rain. Look for overflowing gutters, a loose downspout and a blocked street drain.
- Be ready for a cold snap. Below freezing: open sink cabinets on outside walls and let a faucet drip.
- Prune trees while they're dormant. Big cuts on a Seattle lot go to a registered tree service. (if you have: big trees over the roof)
- Deep clean the fridge. Empty it, wash the shelves, and vacuum the coils underneath or behind.
March
The clocks change and spring jobs line up. Book the plumber now, while it’s cheap.
- Walk the house in a hard rain. Look for overflowing gutters, a loose downspout and a blocked street drain.
- Deep clean the dishwasher. Clean the filter, then run a hot cycle with descaler. How to deep clean a dishwasher
- Deep clean the washing machine. Run the clean cycle, wipe the gasket and leave the door open to dry. How to clean a washing machine
- Polish the hardwood floors. Clean first, then a thin coat of polish made for your finish. How to polish hardwood floors
- Battery day for the alarms. On clock-change weekend, swap batteries in alarms that take them. How to test the alarms
- Look over the outside caulk and paint. Cracks and bare wood get fixed in the dry months ahead.
- Book plumbing jobs now. Spring is the cheapest time for plumbers. Summer costs the most.
April
The first dry spells. Roof, gutters and pests, before the bugs wake up.
- Change the furnace filter. Write the date on the frame. During smoke season, go up to MERV 13 if the system allows. How to change a furnace filter (if you have: furnace or ducted heat pump)
- Book plumbing jobs now. Spring is the cheapest time for plumbers. Summer costs the most.
- Start pest prevention. Trim plants off the siding, seal gaps and book a pro before insects are in full swing. Seattle pest finder
- Clean the roof and gutters, then treat moss. Trees over the roof mean a spring clean too. Zinc moss treatment needs 48 dry hours. (if you have: big trees over the roof)
May
The garden and sprinklers wake up. Book the cooling service before the first hot week.
- Book plumbing jobs now. Spring is the cheapest time for plumbers. Summer costs the most.
- Prep the garden beds. Pull weeds, add compost and mulch before you plant. How to prep garden beds (if you have: garden beds)
- Start up and test the sprinklers. Turn the water on slowly, run each zone and fix leaks. Book the yearly backflow test. How to start up sprinklers (if you have: sprinkler system)
- Book the cooling check-up. Heat pump or AC service before the first hot week, when techs get busy. What a service visit covers (if you have: furnace or ducted heat pump or mini-split heads)
June
Long, dry days. Water heater, siding and windows, and smoke season supplies.
Timeframe About 90 minutes, once a year
- Deep clean the washing machine. Run the clean cycle, wipe the gasket and leave the door open to dry. How to clean a washing machine
- Flush the tankless water heater. Descale it with vinegar and a pump. Once a year at least. How to flush a tankless (if you have: tankless water heater)
- Drain sediment from the tank water heater. Follow the maker's manual. Check the floor for wet spots and rust. (if you have: tank water heater)
- Soft wash the siding. Low pressure and a mild cleaner. High pressure forces water into the walls. How to clean siding
- Wash the windows. Screens out, glass and tracks clean, screens back in.
- Get ready for smoke season. Buy MERV 13 filters and a HEPA purifier before the first smoky day.
July
The driest month, 0.60 inches of rain on average. Paint, decks and the dryer vent.
Timeframe Three dry days in a row
- Change the furnace filter. Write the date on the frame. During smoke season, go up to MERV 13 if the system allows. How to change a furnace filter (if you have: furnace or ducted heat pump)
- Clean and seal the deck. Pick three dry days in a row. Stain needs a dry board and a dry night. (if you have: wood deck)
- Clean the dryer vent to the outside. Pull the duct, brush it out and check that the outside flap opens.
- Touch up outside paint. Dry weeks only. Full repaint every 5 to 10 years, sooner on the rainy side.
- Check the sprinklers for leaks. A wet spot that never dries is a leak. Water deep, less often. (if you have: sprinkler system)
August
Still dry. Caulk and fans, before the rain returns.
- Clean and seal the deck. Pick three dry days in a row. Stain needs a dry board and a dry night. (if you have: wood deck)
- Touch up outside paint. Dry weeks only. Full repaint every 5 to 10 years, sooner on the rainy side.
- Re-caulk windows and trim. Dry wood takes caulk best. Cut out the cracked bead first. Caulk around a toilet
- Test the bath fans and the whole-house fan. Tissue test: the grille should hold a square of tissue. Add a timer if needed.
September
Heat, chimney and weeds, before the cold.
- Book the heating service. Furnace or heat pump, before the cold. Keep the receipt or sticker. What a service visit covers (if you have: furnace or ducted heat pump or mini-split heads)
- Get the chimney inspected before the first fire. Inspected yearly, swept when it needs it. Check the cap and spark screen. (if you have: fireplace or wood stove)
- Put down weed prevention. September stops the winter weeds before they root. (if you have: garden beds)
October
The rain is back. Roof, gutters, faucets and sprinklers, all before the first freeze.
Timeframe Book the roof crew in September; October fills up
- Walk the house in a hard rain. Look for overflowing gutters, a loose downspout and a blocked street drain.
- Change the furnace filter. Write the date on the frame. During smoke season, go up to MERV 13 if the system allows. How to change a furnace filter (if you have: furnace or ducted heat pump)
- Clean the roof and gutters before the November rains. Plus the yearly moss treatment. With no trees nearby, every 2 to 3 years can do.
- Disconnect hoses and cover outside faucets. Shut the inside valve to the faucet if you have one, then drain it.
- Blow out the sprinklers. Before the first freeze. Shut the water off and drain or blow out each zone. How to winterize sprinklers (if you have: sprinkler system)
- ShakeOut day: drill and refresh the kit. Drop, cover and hold on. Restock water, batteries and meds. Check the water heater strap.
November
The wettest month. Leaves, leaks and the clock change.
- Walk the house in a hard rain. Look for overflowing gutters, a loose downspout and a blocked street drain.
- Check the crawlspace after a cold or wet spell. Look for standing water, wet insulation, damp wood and droppings. (if you have: crawlspace)
- Clear leaves from gutters, downspouts and the street drain. The big leaf drop lands after the October cleaning. (if you have: big trees over the roof)
- Put the yard to bed. Rake leaves off the lawn and walks. Store the cushions and the hose. (if you have: garden beds)
- Look for leaks after the first big rain. Ceilings, window corners, the attic and the basement.
December
Cold snaps start. Find the water shutoff, scan for drafts and plan next year.
- Walk the house in a hard rain. Look for overflowing gutters, a loose downspout and a blocked street drain.
- Be ready for a cold snap. Below freezing: open sink cabinets on outside walls and let a faucet drip.
- Do an infrared draft scan. Cold days show heat leaks best. Seal what the camera finds. How to do an infrared scan
- Find and test the main water shutoff. Know where it is before a pipe bursts. Tag it for everyone.
- Degrease the range hood filter. Soak it in hot water and dish soap after the holiday cooking.
- Book next year's spring jobs. Good trades fill their spring calendars early.
Yearly and beyond
Once a year, and every few years
Every year
Some jobs come once a year. The heating and cooling service. The chimney inspection (NFPA 211 via CSIA). The dryer vent (USFA) and a tankless descale (Navien).
If you have a backflow assembly on your sprinklers, Seattle requires a certified tester to test it every year (SPU).
Every few years
Other jobs come every few years. Roof and gutters: every year with trees over the roof, every 2 to 3 years without.
Paint about every 5 years on LP siding and every 5 to 10 years on fiber cement. The rainy side and the top floor wear out first.
On the date printed on the part
Smoke alarms have a manufacture date on the back. Replace them 10 years from that date. Carbon monoxide alarms and water filters also carry their own end dates.
DIY or hire
Do it yourself or hire it out
What I do myself
Alarms, filters, the dishwasher, the washer, the dryer vent and the tankless flush. My how-to videos cover most of them, one job each.
What I hire
The roof and gutters, the heating and cooling service, the chimney, big tree work and the backflow test. In Seattle, a tree service paid to cut live branches 4 inches or larger must be registered with the city.
When trades cost less
Plumbers cost the least from March to May. Fall into early winter is next, before frozen pipes fill their schedules. Summer costs the most.
Copper: best time to book. Light: the busy season.
Condos and townhomes
Condos and townhomes: what’s yours and what’s the HOA’s
Condos
In most condos, the HOA handles the roof, gutters, siding, windows from the outside and the grounds. You still own the alarms, filters, dryer vent, water heater and anything inside your walls.
Your declaration and the resale certificate say who does what (how condo resale certificates work). Report leaks and stains to the manager fast; water damage spreads to your neighbors.
Yours, in most condos
- Smoke and CO alarms
- Filters and fans
- Dryer vent inside the unit
- Water heater and dishwasher
- Caulk in the kitchen and bath
Usually the HOA’s
- Roof and gutters
- Siding and outside paint
- Windows from the outside
- Grounds and trees
- Common pipes and the boiler
Townhomes
Townhome communities vary the most. Some HOAs do roofs and siding, some do only the grounds. Read the declaration before you book a gutter crew.
A rooftop deck needs a cleaning every year. Leaves and grit can send the water somewhere it shouldn’t go.
Sellers and buyers
Selling or buying: the service record matters
Sellers
Buyers ask when the furnace, water heater and chimney were last serviced. A folder of receipts answers in a minute. A blank stare starts a negotiation.
Washington law adds two items at sale, both due before the buyer moves in. The seller must provide at least one smoke alarm (RCW 43.44.110). The seller must also install carbon monoxide alarms to the state code (RCW 19.27.530).
Sample service record
- Sept 2026Furnace service, filter changed, sticker on the unit
- June 2026Tankless descaled, receipt filed
- Apr 2026Roof and gutters cleaned, moss treatment
- Jan 2026Whole-house inspection, report saved
- Oct 2025Chimney inspected, cap and spark arrestor OK
Illustrative example. Keep the real one in a folder or a shared drive.
Buyers
Ask the seller for the service records and the dates on the alarms. Then plan your first year from this calendar. The home inspection tells you where to start.
Your first October matters most. New owners often find out where the gutters overflow during the first big storm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Seattle home maintenance
What home maintenance should I do every month?
Test the smoke and CO alarms, check the furnace or heat pump filter, and vacuum any mini-split or purifier filters. In the rainy months, walk the house once in a hard rain.
Is there a printable Seattle home maintenance checklist?
Yes. Set your home in the tool above, then tap “Print my year.” You get all twelve months for your home, on paper or as a PDF.
When should I clean gutters in Seattle?
In October, before the November rains. With trees over the roof, clean them again in April and clear the leaves that fall in November.
When should I treat roof moss in Seattle?
In a dry spell, with 48 hours of no rain after a zinc treatment. If your downspouts drain straight to a lake, creek or the Sound, skip zinc products; they’re toxic to fish.
How often should I change my furnace filter?
Check it every month and change it when it looks gray, at least every three months. During wildfire smoke, a MERV 13 filter helps if your system can take it.
When should I winterize outside faucets and sprinklers in Seattle?
In October, before the first freeze. Disconnect hoses, cover the faucets, and shut off and blow out the sprinkler lines.
How often should a house be inspected?
I recommend a whole-house inspection every five years, and before you sell. January makes an easy reminder.
How often should a chimney be cleaned?
Inspected every year, cleaned when the sweep says so. With light use, a cap and a spark arrestor, mine gets cleaned every three years.
What maintenance is the HOA’s job in a condo?
Usually the roof, gutters, siding, outside of the windows and the grounds. Your declaration has the final word.
The bottom line
Fifteen minutes a month keeps the alarms and filters honest. The rest is timing. Do outside work in the dry months, and get the roof, gutters and faucets done before the October rain.
Bookmark this page. Each month has its own link, and the tool always opens on this month.
Related: Seattle pest finder, what grows in Seattle, mini-split care and cost, hot tub maintenance, Seattle repair costs and getting a house ready to sell.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, monthly precipitation and nights at or below 32°F
- ENERGY STAR, Maintenance Checklist, check the filter monthly; cooling check in spring, heating in fall
- American Red Cross, Fire Safety Equipment, test alarms monthly; replace smoke alarms every 10 years
- U.S. Fire Administration, Fire Extinguishers, pressure gauge and condition checks
- U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fire Safety, lint filter, vent and outdoor flap
- Seattle Public Utilities, Weather Preparedness, hoses, outdoor faucets and pipe insulation
- Seattle Public Utilities, Backflow Assembly Testing, yearly test by a certified tester
- Washington Department of Ecology, Copper and Zinc in Urban Runoff (Pub. 17-03-018, 2017), moss control products as a zinc source
- Stream Team (Thurston County utilities), Protecting Our Water When Removing Moss, zinc sulfate and water bodies
- Seattle SDCI, Tree Protection Code, registered tree service providers
- Chimney Safety Institute of America, Homeowner Resources, NFPA 211: inspect at least once a year
- Navien, How to Descale Tankless Water Heaters, descale at least once a year
- U.S. EPA, Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality, MERV 13 filters and portable air cleaners
- UW Emergency Management, 2026 Great ShakeOut (Sept. 23, 2026), October 15, 2026 at 10:15 a.m.
- RCW 43.44.110, smoke detection devices; seller duty at sale
- RCW 19.27.530, carbon monoxide alarms; seller duty at sale
- Brian Huie, Home Care Advice, how-to videos