The Home Repair Cost Calendar

Heating has run constantly for weeks. Now's when quiet problems show up.

1. Replace HVAC filter

   $10–$25

   If you ran heat daily since October, the filter is loaded. A dirty filter raises heating costs ~5% and strains the blower motor.

2. Inspect caulking at windows and doors

   $6–$15 caulk · $40–$80/window if hired

   Cold snaps open up failed caulk lines. Fix before the next cold week, not after.

3. Book a spring HVAC tune-up

   $150–$250 pro visit

   Spring schedules fill by March. Book now for $20–$40 off off-peak pricing.

Before the snow melts, document what the winter has done.

1. Inspect attic for ice-dam damage

   Free DIY · $200–$400 pro inspection

   Ice dams push water under shingles. Stains on attic sheathing are the early warning.

2. Ground-level roof inspection

   Free with binoculars · $200–$400 roofer inspection

   Missing or lifted shingles are cheapest to replace before spring storms.

3. Check gutters for ice-damage separation

   $20–$60 hardware · $150–$400 for gutter rehang

   Frozen gutters pull away from fascia. Small gaps now become rotted fascia by summer.

The cheapest month for almost every service — contractors have open schedules.

1. Replace smoke + CO detector batteries

   $10–$20 batteries · $25–$60 per new detector

   Daylight Savings is the national reminder. If a detector is >10 years old, replace the whole unit.

2. Clean the dryer vent duct

   DIY $15 brush kit · $100–$200 pro cleaning

   Clogged dryer vents cause ~2,900 house fires per year (NFPA). A clear vent also cuts drying time 20–40%.

3. Check exterior paint and caulk

   $15–$40 paint/caulk · $300–$800 for touch-up work

   Winter lifts paint at joints. Fresh caulk and spot paint prevents wood rot.

Switching seasons. Three systems need waking up, one needs watching.

1. HVAC cooling-side tune-up

   $150–$250 pro visit

   A tech catches low refrigerant, a failing capacitor, or a dirty condenser — all cheap now, expensive in July.

2. Activate the sprinkler system

   DIY free · $50–$150 pro startup

   Broken heads from frost are easier to find and fix when the system first charges.

3. Test the sump pump with a bucket of water

   Free · $250–$600 if a new pump is needed

   Heavy spring rain is coming. A sump pump that fails at 3am costs $3,000 in finished-basement damage.

Before you entertain on the deck, make sure the deck is safe.

1. Check outdoor faucets for frost damage

   $80–$200 for faucet replacement

   Frost-split fittings only leak when water runs. You want to find them in May, not during a July party.

2. Inspect the deck: boards, railings, stairs

   $3–$8 per board · $15–$40 per railing bracket

   Deck collapses cause thousands of ER visits per year. A railing that flexes is the first flag.

3. Vacuum refrigerator coils

   Free DIY · 15 minutes

   Clogged coils make the compressor work harder and cut fridge life. One of the best free-DIY wins of the year.

Before you run the AC daily, check the systems it depends on.

1. Replace weatherstripping at exterior doors

   $8–$25 per door DIY · $80–$150 per door hired

   Cool-air loss from a bad door seal can add $15–$30/month to cooling bills.

2. Attic inspection for roof leaks

   Free DIY · $200–$400 pro if issues found

   Late-spring rain reveals winter damage. Catching a pinhole leak now costs 1/20 of the later ceiling repair.

3. Clean kitchen exhaust fan and range hood filter

   Free DIY · $15 replacement filter

   Grease buildup is a fire risk. A clean filter also moves 2x the air.

Three tasks that extend the life of major appliances.

1. Flush the water heater

   Free DIY supplies · $150–$300 pro

   Annual flushing doubles tank life — from ~8 years to 15+. One of the most overlooked high-ROI tasks.

2. Clean the dishwasher filter and sprayer arms

   Free · 20 minutes

   Most modern dishwashers have a removable filter at the bottom. Cleaning it fixes 80% of 'my dishwasher isn't working' calls.

3. Test garage door balance and auto-reverse

   Free test · $100–$200 pro tune-up

   A door that drops when disengaged has failing springs — dangerous. Auto-reverse failure has killed children.

Quiet month. Use it to get ahead of fall leaf-drop and shorter days.

1. Baseline gutter clean (pre-leaf-drop)

   DIY free · $150–$400 pro

   Clearing summer debris now makes the fall leaf cleaning easier and catches roof-slope problems.

2. Test outdoor lighting and timers

   $5–$15 per bulb · $80–$200 for smart switches

   Daylight drops fast from September. Test motion sensors and timers before you need them.

3. Touch-up exterior paint

   $10–$50 paint supplies

   Last good painting weather before humidity and cooler nights. Small touch-ups prevent big restoration.

Before the first cold snap, verify three safety systems.

1. HVAC heating-side tune-up

   $150–$250 pro visit

   A technician verifies the heat exchanger (CO safety) and gas pressure. Do this before heat is urgent.

2. Chimney / fireplace inspection

   $100–$300 inspection · $200–$500 sweep if needed

   Creosote buildup is the leading cause of chimney fires. Annual Level-1 inspection is the standard.

3. Door sweeps and weatherstripping audit

   $12–$30 per door

   You'll feel the drafts by November. Cheaper to fix now than after the bills arrive.

Last month to do outside work without freezing temperatures fighting you.

1. Seal exterior gaps with caulk and foam

   $10–$40 materials · $200–$400 pro air-sealing

   Pest entry, heat loss, and water infiltration all happen at the same gaps. One afternoon of sealing.

2. Check attic insulation depth

   Free measure · $500–$2,000 to top up

   R-49 is the standard in cold climates, R-38 in mild. Less = higher bills. A tape measure tells you.

3. Gutter clean after leaf-drop

   DIY free · $150–$400 pro

   Ice dams form in clogged gutters. This is the maintenance that prevents the February emergency.

Three tasks that save thousands if a hard freeze arrives.

1. Drain and cover outdoor faucets

   $3–$10 per cover

   A frozen hose bib can split the indoor supply pipe. Replacement after a burst costs $500–$1,500 plus drywall.

2. Blow out sprinkler lines

   DIY with borrowed compressor · $75–$150 pro

   Frozen sprinkler lines crack underground. Irrigation repair is $200+ per head and requires trenching.

3. Sump pump + battery-backup check

   Free test · $200–$400 battery · $250–$600 new pump

   Winter power outages are when sump pumps matter most. A dead backup battery is a flooded basement.

Check that the systems working hardest right now are actually working right.

1. Test every smoke and CO detector

   $25–$60 per new detector

   Heating season is peak CO incident season. Pressing the test button isn't enough — use a can of CO simulator or aerosol tester ($15).

2. Mid-season HVAC filter change

   $10–$25

   A second filter replacement keeps the blower motor healthy through the coldest months.

3. Monitor for ice dams and gutter overflow

   $40–$100 per ice-dam heater cable if needed

   Early ice-dam signs: icicles >6 inches, water stains on interior ceilings, ice sheets on eaves. Caught early = cheap.