April home maintenance checklist
Updated August 2026
April is the exterior month: a dozen jobs that put the outside of the house back in shape after winter, led by resealing the deck, restarting the irrigation system, and filling the cracks that freeze-thaw opened in the driveway. Pick two dry days above 50°F for anything that has to cure, and save the window washing for a cloudy afternoon.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Second gutter pass after budburst | Twice a year | 90 min · DIY |
| Power-wash and reseal the deck | Every 2–3 years | Weekend · $20–40 per gallon |
| Fill and seal driveway cracks | Every 2–3 years | 3 hr · $100–200 DIY |
| Inspect siding and exterior paint for failures | Yearly | 20 min · DIY |
| Aerate and fertilize the lawn | Yearly | 3 hr or $100–250 |
| Test outdoor GFCI outlets with the buttons | Twice a year | 5 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Start the irrigation system and walk every zone | Every spring | 45 min · DIY |
| Book the certified backflow test | Yearly | $50–150 pro |
| Clear two feet around the AC condenser | Every spring | 20 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Wash windows, hose the screens, patch tears | Yearly | Half day · DIY |
| Re-caulk window and door perimeters | Every 2–5 years | 2 hr · DIY |
| Swap in a fresh HVAC filter | Every 1–3 months | 10 min · DIY |
Why these tasks in April
Cure windows drive the April calendar. Deck sealer, driveway crack filler, and exterior caulk all want 50°F or warmer for 24 to 48 hours with no rain, and April is usually the first month that offers those stretches. Irrigation matters now for a different reason: most water utilities require a certified backflow test every year, and testers book solid by May. A deck resealed on schedule every 2–3 years costs $20–40 a gallon in materials, while a deck left to gray and split runs $30–60 a square foot to rebuild. You can weigh those tradeoffs on the maintenance cost calculator, and if March got away from you, the roof and gutter work rolls into this month without penalty.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
How often does a deck need to be resealed?
Every 2–3 years for most sealers, sooner on a south-facing deck with no shade. Test before you buy anything: sprinkle water on several boards, and if it soaks in within a minute instead of beading, the finish is spent. A gallon covers 250–350 square feet on smooth wood and less on rough or weathered boards, so a 300-square-foot deck takes 2 gallons at $20–40 each. Wash it, let it dry two full days, then seal.
What is a backflow test and is it required?
The backflow preventer on an irrigation line keeps lawn water, and whatever fertilizer went with it, from siphoning back into household plumbing. Most water utilities require a certified annual test and mail a notice with a deadline; ignoring it can bring a fine or a shut-off. The test itself takes 15 minutes and costs $50–150. Book it in April, because testers are weeks out once everyone starts their systems in May.
When is it warm enough to seal a driveway?
Pavement needs to sit above 50°F for a full day, with no rain in the following 24 to 48 hours and preferably a cloudy sky so the sealer does not skin over before it bonds. Clean and fill cracks wider than a quarter inch first with rubberized filler, then squeegee the sealer. Two pails cover roughly 500 square feet for $100–200 total, and a sealed driveway holds up 2–3 years before the next coat.
How much clearance does an outdoor AC unit need?
Two feet on all sides and five feet of open space overhead. The condenser sheds heat by pulling air through the fins and pushing it up, so shrubs, fence panels, and stacked patio furniture make it recirculate its own hot exhaust and lose capacity. Cut back growth now, rake out the leaves that blew in over winter, and keep mulch off the base of the pad so air reaches the lower coil.