Home maintenance checklist and tracker
LastTap Team
The people who make LastTap
Short answer
A home maintenance checklist works when each job has two things next to it: how often it's due and when you last did it. Add yours below. The tracker works out what's next, puts overdue jobs first, and prints a 12-month checklist. Where an official body gives an interval, it's filled in: the US Fire Administration says test smoke alarms every month and replace them 10 years after they were made, and ENERGY STAR says inspect, clean or change your heating and cooling air filters once a month.
In this post
Common jobs (tap to add)
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How often to do common home maintenance jobs
| Job | How often | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Test smoke alarms | Every month | US Fire Administration |
| Replace 9-volt smoke alarm batteries | At least once a year | US Fire Administration |
| Replace smoke alarms | 10 years from the manufacture date (printed on the back) | US Fire Administration |
| Inspect, clean or change the heating and cooling air filter | Once a month | ENERGY STAR |
| Cooling system check-up | Every year, in spring | ENERGY STAR |
| Heating system check-up | Every year, in fall | ENERGY STAR |
| Dryer vent, carbon monoxide alarms, water heater, gutters, fridge water filter | Check the manual or ask the installer | The maker of your appliance |
The last row has no number on purpose. Intervals for those depend on the model and how much you use it, and we couldn't find one official figure that fits every home. The tracker adds them without an interval so you can set your own.
Home maintenance checklist by month
- Every month: press the test button on each smoke alarm; look at the furnace or air conditioner filter and clean or change it if it's dirty.
- Spring: book the cooling system check-up before summer, when contractors get busy.
- Fall: book the heating system check-up before winter.
- Once a year: new batteries in 9-volt smoke alarms. ENERGY STAR suggests tying the check-ups to the clock change in spring and fall so you remember.
- Every 10 years: replace each smoke alarm, counted from the date printed on it.
Print the tracker's 12-month checklist and it fills these in from your own dates: each month shows the day a job falls due, with a box to tick.
Why track "last done" instead of a fixed calendar
A calendar says the filter is due on the first of the month whether you changed it on the 28th or not. A last-done log moves with you: do a job late and the next one is counted from the day you actually did it. That's the idea behind LastTap, and it's why each job here has a Done today button instead of a checkbox for a fixed date.
Use it as a spreadsheet
Export CSV gives a file with Task, Every, Unit, Last done, Next due and Source columns. Open it in Excel or Numbers, or in Google Sheets with File > Import > Upload. Edit it there and bring it back with Import CSV: the columns are matched by name, so you can reorder them.
On your iPhone
We make LastTap, a last-time tracker for iPhone. Add "Changed the filter" once, tap it when you do it, and the widget shows how many days it's been. For jobs around the house without a set interval, our printable last-done chore chart and the days-since counter work the same way.
Questions people ask
What should be on a home maintenance checklist?
The jobs that keep your home safe and your systems working: smoke alarm tests, heating and cooling filters and check-ups, plus the appliances you own, such as the dryer vent, water heater and gutters. The tracker above starts you off with these.
How often should I test my smoke alarms?
Every month, says the US Fire Administration. Replace 9-volt batteries at least once a year and the whole alarm 10 years from its manufacture date.
How often should I change my HVAC filter?
ENERGY STAR says to inspect, clean or change the air filter in your central air conditioner, furnace or heat pump once a month. A filter that still looks clean may not need changing yet.
Can I get this as a spreadsheet?
Yes. Export CSV gives a file that opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets. You can edit it there and import it back.
Is my list uploaded anywhere?
No. It's saved in this browser's local storage on your device. Clearing your browser data or using another browser starts a fresh list, so export a CSV if you want a copy.
Sources: US Fire Administration (FEMA), Smoke alarms; ENERGY STAR, Maintenance checklist. Checked 29 October 2026.
