Pacific Northwest Home Maintenance Checklist by Season

The PNW climate is hard on houses in specific ways. Hitting these checks each season keeps small issues from becoming big ones.

Spring (March–May): Clean gutters after the last winter storm. Inspect roof for missing shingles or moss buildup. Check exterior caulk around windows and doors and re-caulk where it's cracked. Service the lawn mower. Have HVAC serviced before summer.

Summer (June–August): The dry window is your best chance for exterior paint touch-ups, deck cleaning and staining, pressure-washing siding (low pressure to avoid driving water under siding), and fence repairs. Trim trees and shrubs back at least 3 ft from the house.

Fall (September–November): Clean gutters AGAIN (most important PNW chore — the rain is coming). Drain and shut off outdoor faucets. Service the furnace, replace filters. Check weatherstripping on exterior doors. Reverse ceiling fans to clockwise for warm-air recirculation.

Winter (December–February): Watch for ice damming after rare snow events. Run bathroom fans during showers to manage humidity (PNW homes are notorious for winter mold problems). Inspect under sinks and around toilets monthly for leaks — slow leaks are easier to catch when nothing else is going wrong.