Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

If you live in a region with changing seasons, it may almost be time for colder weather, falling leaves and warmer clothing. And as a homeowner, you have a responsibility to prepare your home for the new season as well.

To help ensure your home takes minimal damage from the season, extend the life of your home’s facilities and help you and your family live comfortably in your home, complete the items on our fall home maintenance checklist.

Test Your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) 

Don’t wait until it gets too cold to find out your furnace isn’t working. Test your HVAC while it’s still warm out to make sure it still works properly, replace filters, clean up the unit of any dirt, grime or dust and schedule a tune up with a professional to know your equipment is safe to use in the fall. 

Check for Drafts  

A lot of your home’s heat loss could come from windows and doors, and this fix can be as easy as installing some weatherstripping. There are a couple of ways to check for drafts, including paying attention to if your curtains move or holding a candle near windows and doors to see if it flickers.  

Repair Your Roof 

It may be obvious, but fall is not the ideal time to repair or replace your roof. More debris could get in the way and the colder weather doesn’t allow for roof shingles to be properly installed. Make sure to inspect your roof for any damage to get it fixed before it gets too cold to do so.

Ready Your Sidewalk and Driveway 

The cold can do a number on your sidewalk and driveway if you don’t prepare it properly. Fill any cracks, get rid of weeds, clean or pressure wash them and, if you can, apply concrete or asphalt sealer to protect it from unexpected fall snow and ice in addition to ice melt salt you may use. 

Clean Up Your Gutters and Downspouts 

One home maintenance task that could often escape your mind is clearing your gutters of debris, leaves, twigs and any other trash that could make its way in there. Your gutters and downspouts play an important role in directing water away from the foundation of your home and preventing any flooding. So, make sure you inspect and clean them regularly and repair any cracks or breaks that could cause permanent damage to your home. In some cases, you may have to replace them altogether. 

Care for Your Garden and Lawn 

You might be wondering why it’s necessary to do gardenwork if plant life is going to die in the colder weather anyway. Well, it’s imperative to prepare both your lawn and any trees to encourage beautiful and healthy growth when springtime comes around. Set down some fertilizer or mulch, water them generously and use tree wrap wherever appropriate to protect from the harsher weather. 

Test Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

While it’s important to test your detectors more than once a year, it’s especially necessary for the fall. With colder weather and more opportunities to heat your home, there may be more risk of a fire starting and more carbon monoxide being emitted from furnaces and space heaters. Check your alarms and detectors and replace batteries when needed. 

Clean or Replace Air and Water Filters 

This may be self-explanatory, but did you know that it’s harder to keep your home at your desired temperature if your filters are clogged with excess dust and dirt? While some air and water filters may need more regular cleaning or replacing, fall is a great time to ensure they’re clear to do their job. Some filters to check include your furnace, refrigerator, dishwasher, air purifiers, humidifiers, clothing dryers, range hoods and vacuum cleaners.  

Inspect Your Fireplace and Chimney 

If you have a fireplace and you use it regularly during the colder months, it’s important to have a professional inspect and clean it before you first turn it on. Any blockages could quickly turn into a dangerous fire and destroy your chimney or, in more extreme cases, your whole home. 

Start Stocking Up on Supplies 

To ensure you have everything you need for the fall and winter, you should start stocking up at the end of summer. Take inventory of everything you already have and everything you may need to clean up around your home and ensure the area surrounding it is safe to walk or drive on. These include leaf blowers or rakes, pruners, chainsaws, pressure washers, ladders, snow removal tools, ice melt salt, firewood, snow tires and more.

Enjoy Your Home This Fall 

To stay safe, warm and free of home maintenance worry this fall, check these tasks off your list before you feel the chill. Not only will it help you and your family stay comfortable in your home, but it’ll also help keep your home healthy so you can enjoy it for as long as possible.