A month-by-month home maintenance calendar built for Wasatch Front conditions. Salt Lake County, Utah County, Davis County, Weber County. Our climate is unique: dramatic temperature swings, heavy snow on the east bench, high UV at altitude, hard water, and clay soil that moves seasonally. This calendar reflects all of it.
Use this once per year as a planning tool. Run through it as a sanity check before any season change. Knock out the seasonal items in batches. Hire out what you can’t or won’t DIY.
January — Winter inspection + indoor focus
Cold, snowy, dark. Most outdoor maintenance is impossible. Use January for indoor work.
- Check carbon monoxide + smoke detectors. Furnace is running hard. CO incidents spike in January. Test every detector. Replace batteries.
- Inspect furnace filter. If you’re on 1-inch filters, replace monthly during heating season. 4-inch filters every 3-4 months.
- Run ceiling fans in reverse (low speed, clockwise). Pushes warm air down from the ceiling. 5-10% heating savings.
- Bleed radiators if you have hydronic heat. Trapped air = cold spots.
- Drywall + paint touch-ups. Heating season is dry; paint cures faster. Great time for indoor cosmetic work.
- Check attic insulation depth. Should be R-49 minimum in our climate. Add if needed before next winter.
February — Pre-spring prep
Still cold, but days lengthen. Start prepping for spring.
- Inspect ice dams (especially east bench). If you’ve had ice damming, plan for soffit + roof ventilation work in spring.
- Check basement for moisture. Snow melt is starting. Catch foundation seepage early.
- Schedule pre-listing walkthrough if listing in spring. April and May are the peak listing months. Book contractors now or they’ll be booked solid.
- Touch up interior trim. Doors, baseboards, casings take heating-season wear.
March — Snow melt + early outdoor
Snow is melting. Foundation, gutters, and roof take the brunt of seasonal transition.
- Walk the foundation perimeter. Look for new cracks, water staining, or sinkholes near downspouts.
- Clean gutters after the last snow. Winter debris + ice damage are common. Make sure downspouts drain at least 5 ft from foundation.
- Inspect roof from the ground (or with binoculars). Look for missing shingles, lifted flashing, damaged ridge cap.
- Check exterior caulking around windows + doors. Freeze-thaw cycles tear caulk in our climate.
- Test sprinkler system briefly. Most systems aren’t ready to fully start yet, but a quick test reveals broken heads, leaks, or controller issues.
- Plant cool-season grass repair. Bare spots in lawn fix easily in March-April moisture.
April — Full spring activation
Last freeze risk passes mid-late April for most of the Wasatch Front. Time to fully activate exterior systems.
- Full sprinkler system start-up. Test every zone. Check for leaks, broken heads, water-clock programming.
- Power-wash exterior. Driveway, walkways, deck, siding. Removes winter grime + algae.
- Deck inspection + stain refresh. Push on every board. Look for rot at the ledger (where deck attaches to house). Restain south- and west-facing decks every 2 years.
- Fence inspection. Winter wind + snow load loosens posts. Re-set anything wobbly.
- Service AC (or schedule it). Tech availability is good in April. Wait until June and you’ll be on a 3-week waitlist when your AC fails in a heat wave.
- Replace HVAC filter for cooling season.
- Inspect window screens. Holes + tears from winter. Re-screen now, before flies show up.
May — Pre-summer polish
Listing peak. Outdoor weather is finally reliable.
- Exterior paint touch-up. Fascia, trim, garage door, front door. UV at altitude burns paint faster than you’d expect.
- Hose bib inspection. Freeze damage from winter shows up when you turn them on. Check for leaks inside the wall.
- Outdoor lighting check. Replace burned bulbs. Add motion sensors if not already.
- Landscape mulch refresh. Visual impact + weed suppression.
- Pre-listing walkthrough if listing in summer. Summer listings move fast in Utah — but only if the punch list is done before photos.
June — Summer maintenance baseline
Hot, dry, high UV. Maintenance focus shifts to heat management and shade.
- Inspect AC operation during a hot day. Check vent temps. Listen for unusual noises.
- Reverse ceiling fans (counter-clockwise) to push air down for cooling.
- Check refrigerator + freezer seals. Bad seals waste energy in summer heat.
- Test pool / hot tub equipment if applicable.
- Inspect attic temperature. If attic is over 130°F, you need ventilation work. Heat shortens roof life dramatically.
July — Mid-summer check
Mostly enjoy the season. A few items.
- Trim trees away from roof. Branches scraping shingles is a common roof-damage cause. Inspector will flag if branches touch the house.
- Inspect deck stain. South-facing decks may need a mid-summer recoat if heavily used.
- Replace HVAC filter. Pollen + dust accumulate fast.
- Test smoke alarms (quarterly habit).
August — Pre-fall transition
End of summer. Plan ahead for fall + winter prep.
- Schedule fall maintenance package. Tech availability is great in August. October/November they’re slammed.
- Inspect window weatherstripping. Replace anything cracked or compressed.
- Garage organization. Get summer toys out, winter gear ready.
September — Fall maintenance kickoff
Temperatures cool. First frost risk emerges by late month. Time to prep for winter.
- Gutter clean (first round). Maple + cottonwood drop early on the bench. Clear before the first storm.
- Inspect chimney + clean if needed. Schedule certified sweep before October if you burn wood.
- Furnace inspection + tune-up. Tech availability is still good. Address any issues before first cold snap.
- Replace HVAC filter for heating season.
- Caulk + weatherstrip exterior doors + windows. Energy savings + comfort.
- Inspect insulation. Attic + crawl space. Add if R-value is below current standard.
October — Pre-freeze final push
Last chance before the snow flies. Critical month for winterization.
- Sprinkler winterization (blowout). Mid-October is the sweet spot. Skip this and you’ll have broken pipes by January.
- Disconnect garden hoses. Drain + store. Insulate hose bibs.
- Final gutter clean after most leaves have dropped. Trapped wet leaves = ice dams.
- Inspect roof one last time. Replace any damaged shingles. Re-caulk flashing.
- Furnace filter for the season. Stock 2-3 spares.
- Test smoke + CO detectors. Heating season starts the CO risk window.
- Reverse ceiling fans (clockwise, low speed) for heating.
- Inspect attic ventilation. Blocked vents cause ice dams.
November — Snow-ready check
Snow is here or imminent. Final winterization items.
- Snow shovels, salt, blowers in place. Easy to forget until the storm hits.
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages, exterior walls.
- Check exterior lighting timers. Days are short. Lighting matters for safety.
- Inspect garage door operation. Cold weather stresses springs + openers.
- Bring outdoor furniture in or cover. Snow + freeze ruins wood, fabric, metal.
December — Holiday + maintenance polish
Cold, dark, decoration-heavy. Maintenance focus is mostly observation.
- Watch for ice dams. Form during freeze-thaw cycles. East bench homes are highest risk.
- Watch for foundation seepage. Snow melt around the house should drain away, not toward.
- Snow load on roof. Heavy wet snow can damage older roofs. Roof rake the eaves if accumulation is heavy.
- Replace HVAC filter (mid-month).
- Test smoke + CO detectors.
- Schedule January indoor work. Plan for what you’ll knock out during the indoor-focused weeks.
Annual costs at typical pace
If you stay on top of this calendar, annual maintenance spend looks like:
- HVAC filters + light bulbs: $80-150
- Sprinkler winterization + spring start: $120-180
- Gutter cleaning (2x): $300-400
- HVAC service (1-2x): $180-350
- Deck restain (every 2 years): $400-800 / 2 = $200-400 annualized
- Caulk + weatherstrip: $50-100
- Minor handyman items: $200-500
Annual total: $1,100-$2,000 for a typical Wasatch Front home. Skip this and you’ll pay $5,000-$15,000+ in deferred maintenance repairs when systems fail.
About Handyman Jacks
We do annual maintenance packages for Wasatch Front homeowners who’d rather not track all this themselves. Licensed Utah General Contractor #14195166-5501. Fully insured. Background-checked techs. 1-year labor warranty.
Want a one-visit annual maintenance package? Call or text (801) 895-2084. We come once a year (or twice — spring + fall), knock out the entire seasonal list in 4-6 hours, and you’re set for the next round.
Related: Pre-Listing Repair Priorities · East-Bench Wasatch Front Maintenance Checklist · Exterior Services