If you’re wondering, “How do I prepare my house for autumn?” or “What should I do to prepare my house for winter?” then you’re already a step ahead of a lot of homeowners. Fall maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your home protected as the weather changes.

To help make this seasonal transition easier for you, we’ve put together this fall home maintenance checklist. These fall maintenance tips for your home can help you and your family stay comfortable, keep your house energy efficient, and prevent system breakdowns until the weather warms up again in the spring. 

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

We’ve divided this fall home maintenance checklist into three sections to ensure you don’t miss any essential parts: interior maintenance, exterior maintenance, and lawn maintenance.

Interior Maintenance

• Have your HVAC system checked by a professional contractor. Your heating system is what’s going to keep your home warm and comfortable throughout the winter, so be sure that it’s performing efficiently. A professional maintenance visit will help prevent repair problems down the road.
• Seal your windows and doors. The amount of energy loss that occurs due to air leaks in your windows and doors can be hugely expensive. Applying weather stripping and caulk around these areas can reduce drafts, making your HVAC system more efficient and your home more comfortable, all while reducing energy costs.
• Take advantage of a wood stove or fireplace. Make sure your chimney isn’t clogged or has been cleaned recently and that everything is in working order.
• Switch the direction of your ceiling fans. You can redistribute warm air by doing this.
• Test all of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Change your HVAC air filters.
• Clean your humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

Exterior Maintenance

• Inspect all of the exterior walls of your home for signs of damage. This could be peeling or blistering paint, and paint issues are an indicator that your siding may no longer be protecting your home.
• Examine your house’s foundation. Look for cracks, especially around protruding piping changes in materials, entryways, and around windows and doors. Regardless of where you live, winter can bring harsh conditions that quickly worsen foundation issues. Ensuring your foundation is in good shape and repairing minor issues right away can save you stress, larger repairs, and money.
• Check up on your roof. Look for any missing, damaged, or loose shingles. It’s common for ice, snow, rain, and wind to cause roof damage when they aren’t properly protected by intact, sturdy shingles. Remember that your roof is your first line of defense between you and the elements. It’s worthwhile to take care of it and repair any issues as soon as possible.
• Add to your attic insulation. This can help make your home more energy efficient, keeping the heat in and the cold out.
• Glean your gutters and downspouts. Clearing them out before the weather drops before freezing can help prevent frozen gutter clogs, which can lead to serious roof, siding, and foundation issues.
• Check the supports, stairs, and railings of your deck to be sure everything is secure and sturdy. Clean porch or deck furniture and put it away or cover it for the season. Empty out porch or deck planters, since any dirt you leave in clay pots could cause them to crack.
• Look for cracks in your driveway, and have any you find repaired before the temperature drops. Cleaning and repairing driveway damage will help it better survive the winter.
• If you own a pool, have it covered. Check your pool cover for signs of damage and repair or replace if necessary.
• Weatherproof your garage door. This may mean weather-stripping the door or replacing the seal between your garage door and the ground. Do as much as you can to reduce drafts and keep out pests. 

Lawn and Garden Maintenance

• Clear away the leaves from the lawns, especially any that have been collecting around your outdoor HVAC unit.
• Reseed patchy areas of your lawn and plant any spring flower bulbs. It can help fertilize your lawn and ensure you have luscious, healthy grass in the spring.
• Begin deer-proofing your plants and gardens.
• Prepare your outdoor equipment for winter, including draining fuel from gas-operated lawn mowers, leaf blowers, or chainsaws. Be sure to also weatherproof your grill.
• Drain garden hoses and store them indoors. Shut off exterior water valves to prevent freezing or cracking.
• Ensure your snow equipment is ready for the season. Organize shovels, apparel, and locate your snow blower so you have everything ready when you need it.

Have More Questions?

If you’re still wondering, “How do I prepare my house for autumn?” or “What should I do to prepare my house for winter?” feel free to reach out to our team here at CroppMetcalfe. Our fall home maintenance checklist is designed to help you make the seasonal transition easier, but you can always schedule an appointment with us, and our team of professionals can handle your fall maintenance tasks.