Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: 20 Must-Do Tasks
Roll up your sleeves and tackle these tasks to prepare your home for fall
Crisp autumn air, falling leaves, and rainy evenings are beloved signs of the fall season. They are also signs it's time to start your fall home maintenance checklist. Whether you are a long-time homeowner or just purchased your first house, preparing your home during the fall season for the upcoming harsh winter months is essential.
You can do many fall chores yourself, but in some cases, it may be worth hiring a home maintenance professional near you to tackle the more complex tasks. Follow this fall home maintenance checklist to ensure your home and yard are well-maintained and ready for winter.
1. Test Smoke Detectors
You should test your smoke detectors monthly, but if it's been a while, make it a priority on your fall home maintenance checklist. According to the National Fire Protection Association, you should change the batteries in your smoke detectors once per year.
Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are supposed to last up to 10 years, but if you hear the alarm chirping, the battery is low and needs replacing. You should also make sure you have enough smoke alarms installed in your home. Here are the locations you should have smoke detectors in your home, according to the NFPA:
Inside every bedroom
Outside every sleeping area
On every level of the home
In the living room, family room, den, and near stairways on upper levels
2. Furnace or HVAC System Inspection
The last thing you want is the heat to not work when you need it. Whether you have a furnace or an HVAC system, it should be inspected and serviced yearly. Lack of maintenance to your furnace can cause it to malfunction and be a health hazard. Technicians can find carbon monoxide leaks, which are hard to detect. They are extremely dangerous and can even be fatal.
After an HVAC professional services your furnace, it's equally crucial for you to perform regular maintenance at home to keep everything running smoothly. Part of your HVAC maintenance should include cleaning the vents and replacing the air filters at least every three months.
3. Inspect the Fireplace and Clean the Chimney
Fireplaces are an excellent source of heat and add a cozy feeling to your home. However, built-up soot and creosote can cause deadly house fires. The National Fire Protection Association recommends cleaning your chimney at least once per year.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America advises monitoring the soot buildup inside the fireplace. The chimney needs cleaning if there is a buildup of soot that is about an ⅛ inch thick. It's vital to hire a professional chimney cleaner to perform a full fireplace inspection and annual chimney cleaning.
4. Inspect the Roof
A DIY roof inspection should be at the top of your fall home maintenance checklist. It can help you see if your roof needs repair before the winter elements damage it further.
Check for these common signs of roof damage:
Missing, broken, or curling shingles
Dark spots on the roof
Drooping or sagging
Mold or algae growth
However, getting on a ladder can be dangerous. So, if you don’t feel comfortable performing the inspection yourself, you can hire a professional roof contractor to do it.
5. Clean the Gutters
The next item on your fall home maintenance checklist is to clean your gutters. It's best to clean your gutters once or twice per year to prevent damage and decay to your home. If you have trees near your home, you may need to do it more often because leaf debris and pine needles can clog them up quickly.
Clogged gutters do not work efficiently and allow water, debris, dirt, and mildew to penetrate your roof and cause problems with your home's foundation. When gutters are clean and working correctly, they prevent roof damage, protect the foundation, and deter animal infestation.
If you don't feel comfortable climbing a ladder and cleaning out the gutters, you can hire a pro to take this task on for you. Gutter cleaning typically costs between $120 to $230.
6. Check the Foundation for Damage
Fall is the beginning of a new season, which means it’s time to perform a foundation inspection. You should check your home's foundation every three to six months to ensure there aren’t any signs of damage. Inspecting your foundation is crucial because you can identify issues before they become severe.
Here are some signs of foundation damage:
Large cracks on foundation walls
Uneven or sinking structure
Bowing walls
Bouncing floors
The interior walls have cracks
Cracks in tile or floors
If you notice any signs of damage, you must hire a foundation technician to inspect the foundation and provide an inspection report to determine repair steps.
7. Inspect, Clean, and Seal Your Deck
Check your deck for cracks or damage to determine if it needs any repairs. You should fix or replace any boards, railing, and steps with signs of damage. Otherwise, fall and winter elements like snow can cause more severe damage, leading to expensive repairs.
If you don't have to make repairs, you can clean and seal your deck in a weekend. Sealing your deck will protect it from snow, rain, and harsh UV rays from the sun. You should apply a sealant to your deck every year or two to keep it protected and in good condition.
8. Seal Air Leaks
If you have doors and windows that have air leaks, you need to seal them up before the cold weather hits. Drafty windows and doors make it harder to heat your home and will increase your electric bill.
Applying or replacing weatherstripping is an easy way to seal air leaks. Check all of your windows and doors weatherstripping and replace it if it has tears, rips, or gaps.
9. Replace Air and Water Filters
Air and water filters help remove impurities from the air and water, so replacing them regularly is essential. Typically, you should replace air filters every three months and switch out home water filters at least every 12 months.
However, if you live in an area with higher water contaminants or poor air quality, you may have to change them more often. Keeping this task on your maintenance checklist makes it easier to remember to replace your filters simultaneously.
10. Prepare Your Lawn
Tending to your lawn is an important task to tackle on your fall home maintenance checklist. Fall is a great time to weed, seed, and fertilize your yard. It will promote healthy grass growth and help it survive frigid winter conditions. It's also the perfect time to plant spring bulbs, shrubs, and trees so you have a beautiful spring garden.
11. Winterize Exterior Faucets
You’ll want to winterize exterior faucets before the temperatures dip below freezing. Otherwise, water will freeze in the faucets and can cause the pipe or faucet to burst, leading to expensive repairs.
Disconnect garden hoses and drain any remaining water from them to put them into storage.
Don’t forget to turn off your outdoor spigot, drain out excess water, and insulate it with an outdoor faucet cover.
12. Winterize the Sprinkler System
If you live in a cold climate that experiences freezing temperatures during the winter, then your fall home maintenance checklist should include winterizing your sprinkler system.
If you have a large yard with multiple sprinkler zones, you may want to hire an irrigation service to get the job done. They will ensure your sprinkler system is winterized, and can prevent pipes from busting and expensive repairs.
13. Repair Driveway and Sidewalks
If your driveway or sidewalks have cracks or damage, you should repair them before winter arrives. Cold temperatures and freezing water can cause the cracks to worsen.
If you are a handy homeowner, you can fix cracks yourself if they are small and limited in number. However, if your driveway needs to be resurfaced or replaced, then you will need to hire a local driveway repair professional to tackle the job.
14. Flush and Drain the Water Heater
Flushing and draining your water heater annually will keep it operating smoothly and help it last longer. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure you do it correctly.
You also want to make sure you shut off the power and water before you start and allow the water to cool to avoid serious injuries. If you don't feel comfortable, you can hire a plumber to complete the task for you.
15. Winterize Your Garage
Preparing your garage for winter is an essential step of your fall home maintenance checklist. You need to winterize your garage to ensure it's ready to withstand the bitter temperatures and inclement weather. Some important winterizing steps include:
Insulate garage door and walls
Seal up air leaks
Insulate pipes
Protect chemicals and liquids
Waterproof garage floor
Install a heater
You can take on most of these projects yourself, but may want to hire a garage professional for the more difficult ones, such as sealing your garage floor.
16. Clean and Put Away Lawn Equipment
Before storing your lawn equipment, you want to clean and prepare it for the spring season. Lawn clippings can hold moisture and can cause rust if left on equipment.
You should also perform maintenance on your equipment before storing it, such as sharpening blades, replacing filters, and changing the oil. Disconnecting batteries and properly storing them can prevent corrosion and extend their life.
17. Test and Prepare Winter Equipment
You don't want to wait until a heavy snowstorm to try to start your snowblower or use any of your winter equipment. Make sure you test your equipment beforehand so you can have it running in peak condition when you need it.
For instance, to properly inspect your snowblower, you will need to check the bolts, tires, chains, skid shoes, and auger to ensure it is functioning correctly. Don't forget to fuel up your equipment too.
18. Store Patio Furniture
If you live in a milder climate, you may still use your patio furniture during the fall season. However, as the fall season comes to a close, you should clean and store your patio furniture before winter sets in.
Although outdoor furniture is durable, exposure to wind, rain, and snow can damage it. If you lack the space to store it, you can store the outdoor cushions indoors and protect the furniture with outdoor covers or tarps.
19. Declutter and Deep Clean Your Home
Clearing out clutter in the fall can make you feel happier at home during the seasons when you are indoors more. Downsizing the amount of items you have also makes keeping your home tidy much easier.
Once you get rid of the items you no longer need, you can take advantage of the mild fall temperatures to deep clean your home. You can open the windows and rid dust, dirt, and grime that is lurking in the nooks and crannies of the house. Afterward, you can get to the fun part of decorating for the fall season.
20. Stock Up on Winter Supplies
An important task to mark off your fall home maintenance checklist is to stock up on supplies you need for winter. For instance, you should stock up on deicer, firestarters, firewood, fuel, and other emergency supplies.
If you procrastinate tasks like obtaining firewood, you could have difficulty getting it in time. Or even worse, you are caught unprepared and have a power outage during a winter storm. Preparing ahead of time by stocking up on essential emergency items can be life-saving.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's vital to maintain your home to prevent major problems and damage. For example, neglecting to inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney can lead to a disastrous and deadly fire.
Taking care of tasks in the fall will ensure you protect your home from the harsh elements, keep your yard fresh for the following year, and prolong the life of your lawn and snow equipment.
You can expect to pay between 1% to 4% of your home's total value per year for routine home maintenance. The cost varies drastically depending on whether you need to make major repairs, such as roof or septic repair. According to Angi’s 2022 State of Home Spending Report, homeowners spent an average of $2,470 on home maintenance.
However, maintaining your home is much less expensive than neglecting issues because they will lead to severe damage to your home and costly repairs.