· Michael Blair
Maintenance checklists are usually written for a generic climate. Middle Tennessee has particular pressures — humidity, an intense storm season, a short but real freeze risk — and the list that matters here reflects those.
Spring
After the storm season begins: check the roof from the ground for displaced shingles, clear gutters of the maple and oak drop, and check downspout extensions are still positioned.
Service the air conditioning before the first hot week, and check the condensate drain, which is the most common summer failure here.
Summer
Check the crawl space for condensation and standing water, which is when it appears. Watch indoor humidity and confirm the dehumidification is coping.
Inspect exterior paint and caulk while it is dry enough to repair, and treat any carpenter bee holes before woodpeckers find them.
- Spring: gutters, roof check, AC service, condensate drain
- Summer: crawl space, humidity, exterior caulk and paint
- Autumn: heating service, gutters again, disconnect hoses
- Winter: watch for ice at eaves, check attic for condensation
Autumn
Heating service before first use, particularly on gas equipment where the heat exchanger and flue matter. Clear gutters again after leaf fall completes.
Disconnect every garden hose before the first hard freeze, which is the single most common local burst.
Winter
Check the attic for frost or damp on the sheathing, which indicates warm moist house air reaching it. Watch for ice building at the eaves during a freeze-thaw spell.
Test the sump pump and its backup before the wettest months, since late winter is when Middle Tennessee groundwater peaks.