Autumn is almost upon us! Let’s be honest… most of us are focused on school, football, and fall foliage, but it’s important to make time for some key fall home maintenance tasks. Now is the perfect time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. Taking a few simple steps now will save you from dealing with major hassles later!

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

1. Aerate your lawn to allow moisture and nutrients to get into the roots. When you’re done, spread fertilizer then grass seed.
2. Drain all garden hoses and store them indoors to protect them from the elements.
3. Turn off all outdoor faucets and drain the exterior pipes to avoid freezing and bursting (and potential water damage).
4. Survey your roof for any damage or missing shingles. For more on property inspecting your roof, read our related post.
5. Clear your gutters and eaves of leaves, sticks, and other debris so that rainwater can flow freely through them.
6. Make sure to also have a plan to rake and remove leaves if they are not being mulched while mowing (which is better). Leaves piled up over winter are mostly not good for lawns, driveways, and roofs/gutters.
7. Stop cold air and water from entering your home by caulking and sealing around exterior door and window frames. Apply weatherstripping in these areas as well. Add door sweeps to the bottoms of drafty doors. For more on this topic, read our related post.
8. Replace the filter in your furnace. Schedule inspections for your HVAC system and fireplace/chimney before their cold weather workout begins.
9. Make sure you have an emergency 5-day kit. and plan for a potential power outage or blizzard.
10. Seal any gaps around your home where critters may try to enter in the winter months.
11. Test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries as needed. Check your fire extinguisher’s expiration date and replace if it’s passed. Consider ordering a radon test, especially if you live in a home with a basement.
12. Check your home for energy leaks that could reduce your heating bills.
13. Trim any tree limbs that are getting close to power lines or the roof of your house. Also, be sure to check for dead or weak limbs that could break easily with the weight of the wind, snow or ice.

The Bottom Line

It’s important to properly maintain your home all year long.

Fall home maintenance is critical so that winter weather doesn’t cause major damage to your home and valuables.

Take action now to avoid headaches later.

Need help with these or any other home improvement projects? Please let us know. We are always happy to help with anything related to your home — for life!

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