Annual Home Maintenance Checklist for St. Louis Homeowners

How to use this checklist

Generic maintenance lists ignore the two things that define home upkeep here: expansive clay soil that moves with moisture, and a climate that delivers ice storms and 100-degree heat indexes in the same calendar year. The timing below reflects local seasons, not a national template.

Print it, or set four calendar reminders for the first weekend of March, June, September, and December.

Spring, March through May

Foundation and drainage first, because this is the wet season. Walk the perimeter after a heavy rain and look for pooling within 6 feet of the wall, downspouts discharging at the foundation, and soil that has settled to create a slope toward the house. Correct grade so it falls roughly 6 inches over the first 10 feet. Clean gutters after the maple and sycamore seed drop.

Test the sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit; confirm it starts, discharges, and shuts off. Check the discharge line outlet is clear and directs water well away from the house. Then schedule the AC tune-up in April or early May, before the first heat advisory fills every schedule in the metro.

Also inspect exterior caulk and mortar joints for freeze damage from winter, check window wells and their covers, and look at the roof from the ground for lifted or missing shingles after spring storms.

Summer, June through August

Humidity management is the theme. Check filters monthly, keep the outdoor condenser clear of grass clippings and mulch with about two feet of clearance, and rinse the condenser fins gently with a hose from the inside out if they look matted.

Pour a cup of distilled vinegar into the condensate cleanout every month or two to prevent algae clogs, and confirm any condensate pump is cycling. Watch basement humidity and run a dehumidifier if it stays above about 55 percent, which limits mold and protects stored belongings.

During extended dry spells, water the soil at the foundation perimeter slowly and evenly to limit clay shrinkage. Check the crawlspace if you have one, and inspect for wasp nests in dryer and bath vents.

Fall, September through November

Schedule the furnace tune-up in September or October. Replace filters, test the thermostat through a full heat cycle, and clear the PVC intake and exhaust terminations on high-efficiency furnaces. Test every smoke and CO alarm and replace alarm units older than 7 to 10 years.

Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off and drain the interior valve for each hose bib unless the bib is frost-free and properly pitched. Clean gutters again after the oaks finish dropping, usually mid-to-late November here. Seal exterior gaps where pipes and wiring penetrate the rim joist, which is both a pest and a freeze issue.

Have the chimney inspected before first use if you burn wood, and check that the sump pump backup battery still holds a charge before winter storms.

Winter, December through February

Frozen pipes are the expensive local failure. Insulate supply lines in unheated basements, crawlspaces, and garages. During a hard freeze, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and let a pencil-thin trickle run from the fixture farthest from the meter.

Keep the heat at 55 degrees or higher when away. Know where your main water shut-off is and confirm it turns. After heavy snow, check that the furnace exhaust and dryer vent are not blocked and that ice dams are not forming at the eaves.

This is also the right season to check the attic. Look for frost on the underside of the roof deck, which indicates warm humid air escaping from the living space, and for insulation that has been compressed or displaced.

Every few years

Flush the water heater annually or at least every two years given regional water hardness, and test the temperature and pressure relief valve. Replace washing machine hoses with braided stainless every five to seven years. Have the sewer lateral camera-inspected every three to five years if you own an older home with a clay lateral or mature trees in the yard.

Have the electrical panel inspected if the home still has a fuse box, aluminum branch wiring, or a panel brand with known defect history. And keep a written log with dates and costs; it is genuinely useful at resale and for warranty claims.