Home Maintenance Calendar for Indiana & Michigan

Schedule furnace maintenance in September or October, before the heating season begins. A professional HVAC inspection can catch issues before winter arrives and keep your system running efficiently through the cold Indiana and Michigan winters.

Schedule AC maintenance in April or May, before the summer heat arrives. This ensures your system is ready for humid Indiana summers and gives you time to address any issues before the busy cooling season.

Disconnect and drain garden hoses, then shut off water to outdoor faucets from the interior valve. Open the outdoor faucet to drain remaining water. This prevents frozen pipes and costly water damage during South Bend winters.

Inspect your roof in spring (after winter ice and snow) and fall (before winter arrives). Look for missing or damaged shingles, ice dam damage, and flashing issues. After any major storm with hail or high winds, do a visual check from the ground.

Ice dams form when heat escapes through the roof, melting snow that refreezes at the eaves. Prevent them by ensuring proper attic insulation and ventilation, sealing air leaks between the living space and attic, and keeping gutters clean so meltwater can drain. If ice dams form, use a roof rake to remove snow from the edges and consider installing heat cables as a last resort.

Clean gutters at least twice a year: once in spring after winter weather and once in late fall after most leaves have dropped. If your home is surrounded by trees, you may need to clean gutters three or four times a year. Clogged gutters cause water damage, foundation issues, and contribute to ice dams in winter.

Insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas like crawl spaces, basements, and exterior walls. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses, then shut off water to outdoor faucets. On extremely cold nights, let a faucet drip slightly to keep water moving. Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air reach pipes. If you travel in winter, keep the thermostat at 55 degrees or higher.