Maintenance · Long Island

A Long Island home maintenance calendar, season by season

Timed to Long Island's actual weather: first freeze, nor'easters, hurricane season, and the small repairs each season tends to bring.

Updated · By Profixter, Lindenhurst, NY · 2 min read

The short answer

The dates that matter most on Long Island are the first freeze, which typically arrives around November 1 in Suffolk and northern Nassau and around November 11 in southern Nassau, and storm season: nor'easters are most frequent from September to April, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November, peaking around September 10. Shut off and drain outdoor faucets before the first freeze, clear gutters after the leaves fall, and do storm checks in late summer.

Fall (September–November): the most important season

  • Before the first freeze: shut off and drain outdoor faucets and irrigation, and disconnect hoses. The Suffolk County Water Authority says outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems are the most common source of winter pipe breaks.
  • After the leaves drop: clear gutters and check downspouts discharge away from the house.
  • Seal the gaps: weatherstripping on exterior doors, caulk around windows, door sweeps.
  • Safety: test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries or expired units.
  • Storm check: loose fence boards, gates and anything in the yard that could become a projectile in a nor'easter.

Winter (December–February)

  • Watch for ice dams and drips at ceilings after snow.
  • Keep pipes in unheated areas (garages, crawl spaces, exterior walls) from freezing.
  • Indoor list season: with more time inside, this is when the inside list gets noticed: sticking doors, trim, touch-ups.
  • Check door and window drafts you noticed in the cold and add them to the spring list.

Spring (March–May)

  • After the last freeze (roughly early April), turn outdoor water back on slowly and look for leaks at the faucet and inside the wall behind it.
  • Walk the outside: fence, deck boards, railings, gate latches, siding and trim after winter storms.
  • Clean or replace HVAC filters and get cooling serviced before the first hot week.
  • Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks; spring is when mildewed caulk gets dealt with.

Summer (June–August)

  • Hurricane prep before the peak: secure loose exterior items, check that gutters and drains are clear, know where your water and electrical shut-offs are.
  • Decks, fences, gates and outdoor furniture.
  • Check window screens and door closers.
  • Look at caulk and grout around tubs and showers before it fails.

Some upkeep belongs to a specialist: furnace and boiler service, and cesspool or septic pumping, which many Suffolk homes need because much of the county is unsewered. Book those with the right professional.

Printable checklist

Long Island seasonal checklist

Freeze dates are typical, not guaranteed: watch the forecast in late October.

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer

Your own items

Small repairs, all year

Seasonal tasks are predictable; the small repairs in between are not. If those show up a few times a year, book a single visit when you need one. If your list refills every few weeks, that's what a recurring handyman membership is for.

Free first visitFreeA 90-minute first visit for new Nassau and Suffolk customers, one per home.One-Time Visit$99Up to 90 minutes for one small job from a set list. No membership.MembershipFrom $149/mo90-minute visits for the running list, booked as often as you need. The plan sets how many can be booked at the same time.Full Day$499About 8 hours for a longer list or a bigger handyman job.

Sources

Related guides

Just bought a house on Long Island? Your first-year checklistFirst week, first month, first year: shut-offs, the inspection punch list, and finding reliable help.How to get a whole honey-do list doneTurn a growing list of small repairs into one or two efficient visits, with a printable punch-list template.Helping a parent keep up with repairs around their homeKeeping one shared list, finding one trusted person, and arranging visits when you don't live nearby.How do you get small jobs done when they're too small for a handyman?Why small repairs are hard to book, and when to bundle, book one visit, use a recurring handyman, or do it yourself.
Next step

When you are ready, pick the way that fits.

One small job: a One-Time Visit. A running list: a membership. New customer in Nassau or Suffolk: start with a free first visit.

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