March Home Maintenance and Safety Checklist

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Spring cleaning is fully underway as the snow melts and the flowers begin to bloom. Read our monthly home maintenance and safety checklist to ensure you’re ready for March.

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1. Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Hold the test button down until you hear a loud siren. If you don’t hear anything, replace the battery. We also recommend replacing your CO detectors and smoke alarms once every decade.

2. Update the outside

Inspect roofing

Look for leaks and missing, damaged, or loose shingles. Ice dams that formed over the winter can damage your roof and lead to expensive repairs down the road.

Test your garage door

Make sure the auto-reverse feature works by placing an object underneath the garage door. If the door doesn’t reverse when it encounters the obstacle, it requires too much force and should be repaired.

If your garage door opener isn't aging so gracefully, consider a smart garage door opener for easier control.

Check exterior damage

Look for leaves or vegetation and clear any debris to make sure water flows freely.

Get your air conditioning system serviced

This will ensure it’s working properly for the hot months to come.

Repair or replace damaged window screens

This will help protect your home from outside bugs and critters. Add door and window sensors for a little extra security.

Clean road salt from entrances

This is important to avoid damaging concrete, asphalt, and wood. Road salt can also damage pets’ feet, so be sure to keep your walkway clear once the snow and ice is gone.

3. Fix up bedroom and living areas

Clean the fireplace

This helps prevent soot accumulation, which could fuel a chimney fire. It’s also smart to make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand to keep near your fireplace.

Check electrical outlets

Ensure they’re not overloaded to prevent an electrical shortage or power outage. Outlet safety covers are also a good step to take when babyproofing your home or keeping curious little fingers away from danger.

Clean carpets

Clean your carpets to remove stains and prevent unhealthy accumulation of soil and dirt. This is also a good way to get ahead of spring allergies by removing pet hair and dander.

Dust baseboards

This prevents dust buildup and makes your home look fresh and clean. Touch up baseboards and doors with paint to prevent chipping and preserve the wood’s integrity. Invest in a robot vacuum cleaner to make the job easier.

Check caulking

Fix caulking on weather stripping and windows to prevent drafts or water from getting in your home. Add a water leak detector under your sink or the hot water heater to prevent pooling and other water damage.

Clean shelves

Reduce dust and dirt accumulation on bookshelves and cabinets.

Clean showerheads

Remove showerheads and clean off sediment and mineral deposits so water flows freely.

Change furnace filters

This will keep airflow unobstructed. If the furnace is clogged, it has to work harder, which will cause it to wear out faster.

Flush hot water heater

Remove sediment so your water heater keeps performing at its best. Sediment buildup makes it harder for the heater to heat the same amount of water.

Vacuum your HVAC system

Cleaning out your HVAC system ensures it operates efficiently.

Clean the washing machine and dryer

This helps remove odors and keeps the machines running smoothly.

Purge junk from your laundry room 

By doing this, you can prevent dust and lint from taking over the space.

Clean your garbage disposal

Keeping the garbage disposal clean prevents unwanted smells and bacteria.

Clean out the pantry

Toss expired food, wipe down all your pantry shelves, and sweep or mop the floor. This will deter bugs from infiltrating the area.

FAQ

Best overall

Check your fire and CO detectors once a month to prevent home fires and annoying false alarms.

It’s also smart to keep your home electronics safe. Make it a habit to change your Wi-Fi password and account passwords online to protect from hackers.

Spring cleaning, pest control, and gardening are all in your future. Check out our full Spring Safety Checklist to get the full story.

Katie McEntire
Written by
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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