March home maintenance checklist
Updated August 2026
March is the on-ramp to the busiest maintenance season of the year, and eleven tasks carry it: book the AC tune-up before the phones start ringing, wake up the sump pump before spring rain, and clear five months of grit out of the gutters. Take the outdoor half on the first dry weekend above 50°F and the indoor half on any evening.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Clear winter debris from gutters and downspouts | Twice a year | 2 hr or $150–350 |
| Inspect the roof for cracked or missing shingles | Spring and fall | 20 min · DIY |
| Reconnect hose bibs after the last hard freeze | Once in spring | 15 min · DIY |
| Look for pooling and negative grading at the foundation | Yearly | 15 min · DIY |
| Service the mower: oil, blade, spark plug | Yearly | 45 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Book the annual AC tune-up | Yearly, before June | 5 min call · $75–200 |
| Test the sump pump with a five-gallon bucket | Every spring | 10 min · DIY |
| Replace the HVAC filter | Every 1–3 months | 10 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect the attic for winter leaks and stains | Spring and fall | 15 min · DIY |
| Touch up caulk and weatherstripping that failed over winter | Yearly | 1 hr · DIY |
| Vacuum the bathroom exhaust fan covers | Twice a year | 15 min · DIY |
Why these tasks in March
Timing is the whole argument for March. HVAC companies sit between heating and cooling season right now, so a tune-up runs $75–200 and you get a slot this week instead of waiting two weeks in July. Gutters still packed with winter debris will dump water straight onto the foundation during April storms. And a sump pump that quietly died over the winter only announces itself once six inches of water stands in the basement, which is why the bucket test leads the list. If you only get to three jobs, make them the pump test, the gutters, and the tune-up call. The rest can spread across April and May.
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
When should I schedule an AC tune-up?
March or early April, before the first 90°F day fills the schedule. A standard tune-up runs $75–200 and covers refrigerant pressures, a coil cleaning, capacitor and contactor checks, and condensate line clearing. Book it in July instead and you are competing with every no-cooling emergency in town, which means a longer wait and no discount. Techs also catch weak capacitors in March, when replacing one is a $150–350 scheduled repair rather than an after-hours call.
How do I test a sump pump?
Pour five gallons of water slowly into the pit until the float rises. The pump should start within a few seconds, empty the pit, and shut off cleanly. Then step outside and confirm water is actually leaving the discharge pipe, since a frozen or crushed line is a common failure. Sump pumps last 7–10 years, so if yours is older than that and the basement is finished, budget $400–1,000 for a battery backup unit before spring storms arrive.
Is March too early to clean gutters?
No, but plan on two passes. March clears the winter load of shingle grit, seed pods, and matted leaves so the first spring downpour has somewhere to go. A second pass belongs in April, after budburst drops flower casings and maple seeds. Doing the job yourself takes about two hours with a ladder and gloves; a crew charges $150–350 for a single-story house, more for two stories or a steep pitch.
What should I wait to do until April?
Anything that needs sustained warmth. Driveway crack filler and deck sealer both want 50°F or higher for 24 to 48 hours with no rain, so March applications often fail to cure. Hold off on fertilizing until soil temperatures reach the mid-50s, and wait to reconnect hose bibs until your local last-freeze date passes. Roof work, gutters, the sump pump test, and every indoor task on this list are fine to do in March cold.