HOME CARE · PACIFIC NORTHWEST
How to Take Care of a Home in the Rainiest Corner of the Country
PNW homes live or die by water management. Every system, every season, every year. Maintenance here is not optional; it’s the difference between a home that holds its value and one that quietly accumulates expensive surprises. This guide covers what to do and when, broken down by season and by system.
General guidance for typical Portland-area homes. Your home’s systems, age, and site may differ. When in doubt, ask.
THE QUARTERLY RHYTHM
SPRING · MARCH–MAY
Assess the damage, treat the moss.
The rain is easing; now find out what it did. Walk the exterior: look for winter’s new siding stains, peeling paint, and gutter overflow marks. Clean gutters and downspouts (first of the year’s two minimum cleanings). Treat roof moss while it’s actively growing. Spring treatment works best.. Check the crawlspace for standing water or new moisture staining. Test the sump pump if you have one. Service the AC/heat pump before the first warm stretch. Re-screen and open foundation vents if they were closed. Wash the siding (garden hose and soft brush, not a pressure washer against the grain of siding or under laps).
SUMMER · JUNE–AUGUST
The dry window: build, paint, fix.
This is the only season the PNW gives you for exterior projects. Use it. Exterior painting and caulking happen now (dry surfaces, warm nights). Roof repairs, replacement, and skylight work happen now. Deck washing, repairs, and sealing happen now. Fence and gate repairs. Window glazing and weatherstripping replacement. Schedule the sewer scope if one is due: dry season is easiest. Order firewood if you burn; schedule the chimney sweep for early fall before the rush.
FALL · SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER
The big one: everything before the rain returns.
The most important six weeks of the PNW maintenance year. Clean gutters AFTER leaf drop (under firs and cedars, plan on a second pass, as conifer needles fall all season). Confirm every downspout discharges well away from the foundation (extensions or drains, minimum several feet. Walk the roof line (from the ground or a licensed roofer from up top): lifted shingles, flashing gaps, moss regrowth: fall moss treatment is the second application. Service the furnace before first use; replace the filter. Sweep the chimney if wood-burning. Disconnect garden hoses and cover/insulate exterior hose bibs before the first freeze. Check weatherstripping and door sweeps. Test smoke and CO alarms when the clocks change; replace batteries. Close or screen crawlspace vents per your home’s setup.
WINTER · NOVEMBER–FEBRUARY
Monitor, and respect the freeze.
Watch and respond. After major storms, scan ceilings and window heads for new stains, and check the attic if access is easy. During freeze events: drip vulnerable faucets, open cabinet doors on exterior-wall plumbing, know where your main water shutoff is before you need it. Check gutter behavior during heavy rain: overflowing mid-storm means a clog or an undersized run. Watch for ice dams on complex rooflines during rare snow. Keep an eye on crawlspace and basement humidity. Plan next summer’s projects while contractors’ calendars are open.
BY SYSTEM
Roof, Gutters & Moss
Twice yearly minimum
Drainage & Crawlspaces
Spring + fall inspection
Plumbing & Water Heater
Flush yearly; plan ahead
Sewer Lines & Laterals
Scope at purchase; every 3–5 yrs
Heating, Cooling & Filters
Check filter monthly
Siding, Paint & Decks
Paint: 7–10 yrs; decks: 2–3 yrs
The Year at a Glance
Full checklist + PDF download
LIFESPAN TABLE: WHAT THINGS LAST HERE
| COMPONENT | TYPICAL PNW SERVICE LIFE |
|---|---|
| Composition roof | 20–30 years |
| Metal roof | 40+ years |
| Exterior paint (wood siding) | 7–10 years |
| Tank water heater | 8–12 years |
| Tankless water heater | 15–20 years |
| Furnace | 15–20 years |
| Heat pump | 12–15 years |
| Deck stain/seal | 2–3 years |
| Galvanized supply pipes | At/past end of life in most homes |
Ranges assume maintenance; shade, slope exposure, and installation quality move every number.
Nathan is not a licensed professional engineer; his observations are informational, drawn from his 23-year career in structural engineering.
Questions about a specific home’s systems or condition? That’s exactly what showings are for.