Rhode Island home maintenance checklist
Spring.
Clean the gutters
Scoop out leaves and grit, then flush with a hose. Watch for water sheeting over the edge — that's a clog telling on itself.
Inspect the roof
Walk the perimeter with binoculars. Look for missing shingles, curled edges, or debris around vents and flashing.
Service the AC
Swap the filter. Hose down the outdoor condenser fins (power off first). Clear a two-foot radius of leaves and weeds.
Reseal exterior wood
Drop water on your deck. If it beads up, you're good. If it soaks in, time to clean, dry, and reseal.
Wake up the yard
Service the mower, reconnect hoses, rake beds. Plant things before the heat sets in.
Build a hurricane kit
A week of water, batteries, a crank radio, cash, copies of insurance papers in a waterproof bag. Refresh in May.
Trim trees away from the house
Anything overhanging the roof, brushing siding, or near a power line — get it cut back before June.
Rinse exterior metal
Hose off door hardware, light fixtures, AC condenser, railings. Twice a year, more if oceanfront.
Inspect AC for corrosion
Pull the side panels. Look at coil fins and the cabinet base. Coastal-grade coatings extend life 5–10 yrs.
Summer.
Check the irrigation
Run every zone, once. Watch for broken heads, geysers, dry patches, and spray hitting the siding.
Pressure-wash exteriors
Siding, walkways, and the deck, in that order. Use the widest nozzle that still does the job — narrow tips strip paint fast.
Check windows & seals
Run a hand around each frame. Cracked caulk gets a bead of fresh stuff; squished weatherstripping gets replaced.
Walk the pest perimeter
Pencil-width gaps at the foundation, sill plates, and where pipes enter. Seal with copper mesh and expanding foam.
Mow & water smart
Blade on the highest reasonable setting. Water deep and less often, early morning, twice a week.
Stage your storm shutters
Pull shutters from storage, label panels by window, dry-fit hardware. If you use plywood, pre-cut it now.
Fall.
Service the heating
Swap the filter, vacuum around the unit, and test-fire it for twenty minutes. Any odd smells or bangs? Call the pro now, not in January.
Chimney & fireplace check
Before the first fire: damper opens, flue is clear, no nest in the cap. Creosote build-up is a real fire risk.
Winterize outdoor plumbing
Disconnect hoses. Close the interior shut-off for each outdoor spigot, then open the spigot to drain. Insulate exterior-wall pipes.
Clean the gutters (again)
Do this after the last leaves drop. Clear downspouts and direct them away from the foundation.
Stow the outside
Drain the mower fuel or add stabilizer. Cover or bring in the grill. Shake out and store patio cushions.
Walk the property after each storm
Look for lifted shingles, displaced fence panels, water marks on ceilings, and clogged storm drains.
Attic insulation audit
R-49 or better. Look for compressed batts, daylight at the eaves, and missing baffles at the soffits.
Buy a roof rake
Telescoping aluminum, 16+ ft. Stage it by a door before the first storm.
Seal the driveway
Asphalt sealer every 2–3 yr; concrete sealer on a 5-yr cycle. Do it before the first thaw cycle.
Winter.
Watch for ice dams
Big icicles along the eaves mean warm air is escaping into your attic. Real fix: attic insulation. Urgent fix: roof rake.
Mind the indoor humidity
Aim for 30–50%. Below 30, add a humidifier. Above 50, run the bath fan longer and crack a window.
Hunt drafts & drips
Hold a candle near window edges on a breezy day — the flame tattles. Listen for toilets that cycle on their own.
Manage snow load
Rake low-slope and flat roofs after big snows. Keep a path to every exit and to the gas meter.
Rinse the garage floor
Hose off the floor whenever the temp gets above freezing. Salt eats concrete and rebar.
Safety.
Test smoke & CO detectors
Smoke alarm on every level and outside every sleeping area. CO alarm near every bedroom. Press the test button.
Fire extinguishers & escape plan
One ABC-rated extinguisher in the kitchen, one near the furnace, one in the garage. Pressure gauge in the green. Walk the escape plan with everyone.
Know the shut-offs
Water main, gas meter, and electrical panel. Everyone in the house should know where each one is and how to operate it in the dark.
Hank's four golden rules
- Water is the enemy. Nine out of ten expensive problems start with water going somewhere it shouldn't.
- Small, often, beats big, rarely. A Saturday every season saves a month of regret later.
- Know what you can't do. Roofs, gas lines, main electrical — call the pro. No prize for bravery here.
- Write it down. Date the filter. Keep receipts. Future-you will thank present-you.
Your home has 200+ things that need looking after.
This page covers the big-rock seasonal tasks. Your actual home has hundreds more — every appliance, fixture, filter, and warranty on its own clock. I am Home keeps track of all of it for you.
per home
free forever tier
reminders forever
- Every appliance on a schedule. Filters, belts, drain lines, warranty dates — all tracked per serial number.
- Smart reminders, not spam. Weather-aware: pings you before the first freeze, not on a random Tuesday.
- The full home record. Paint colors, model numbers, contractor contacts, manuals — searchable in one place.
- Hank, your AI handyman. Ask "why is the basement smelling musty?" and get an answer that knows your house.
Frequently asked
When does hurricane season run in Rhode Island?
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. In Rhode Island, the practical prep window is May — pull shutters out of storage, top up the kit, and trim trees back from the house. Storms can land outside that window; the dates are about peak likelihood, not a guarantee.
What causes ice dams and how do I stop them in Rhode Island?
Ice dams are an insulation problem disguised as a roof problem. Heat escaping into a cold attic melts snow on the roof; meltwater refreezes at the cold eaves and backs up under the shingles. The real fix is R-49+ attic insulation with clear soffit baffles. The urgent fix during a storm is a roof rake — buy it in October, not after the first 6-inch snow.
How often should I do home maintenance?
A weekend per season — spring, summer, fall, winter — handles 80% of what matters. Layer in monthly safety checks (smoke/CO test, breaker panel glance) and one yearly walk of the big shut-offs (water main, gas, electrical). The pattern that fails homeowners isn't doing too little; it's doing nothing for two years and then trying to catch up at once.
Can I do this checklist myself, or do I need a pro?
Most of it is DIY — gutters, filters, windows, sealants, irrigation, pest perimeter. Hire a pro for: anything on the roof past a quick eyeball with binoculars, gas-line work, the main electrical panel, and any plumbing repair that involves soldering or splicing into a main. There's no prize for bravery on those — the cost of a mistake is much higher than the cost of the call.