Home MaintenanceHome Maintenance ChecklistsTips for Homeowners
Is Your Home Ready for Winter?
As temperatures begin to drop, fall is a great time to make sure your home is ready for the colder months ahead!
This fall home maintenance checklist covers 12 important tasks that can help you prepare your home for winter and catch potential problems before freezing temperatures arrive.
A little attention now can help prevent inconvenient (and potentially costly) problems later.
Not sure where to start? Keep reading to get your home ready for the season ahead!
1. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
Leaves, twigs, and other debris can quickly collect in gutters during the Fall. When gutters become clogged, rainwater and melting snow may not drain away from your home properly. Keeping your gutters clear of debris will also help prevent ice dams during the winter months!
Clear debris from gutters and make sure downspouts are directing water away from your home’s foundation. While you’re there, look for loose sections, leaks, or areas that may need attention.
2. Inspect Your Roof
You don’t need to climb onto your roof to give it a basic visual inspection. From the ground, or another safe vantage point, look for missing, damaged, or curling shingles and other obvious signs of wear.
Catching potential roof problems before winter can help prevent water from finding its way inside when snow and ice arrive.
If something looks questionable, consider having it inspected by a qualified professional rather than climbing onto the roof yourself. Avoid unnecessary falls!
3. Disconnect and Store Garden Hoses
Don’t leave your garden hose(s) connected all winter!
Before freezing temperatures arrive, disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets, drain the remaining water, and store them somewhere protected from the weather.
Water left inside a hose or fixture can freeze and expand, potentially damaging the hose, faucet, or connected plumbing.
4. Prepare Outdoor Faucets for Freezing Weather
After disconnecting your hose(s), take a closer look at your outdoor faucets.
Check for leaks or dripping fixtures. Follow the appropriate winterization procedure for your home’s plumbing system. Homes with interior shutoff valves for exterior faucets may require shutting off the water supply and draining the line.
Because plumbing configurations vary, follow the recommendations appropriate for your home or consult a professional if you’re unsure.
5. Check Windows and Exterior Doors
Small gaps around windows and doors can make your home less comfortable and force your heating system to work harder. Costing you more money!
Check weatherstripping and caulking for cracks, gaps, or deterioration. Pay particular attention to exterior doors and windows where you notice drafts.
Replacing worn weatherstripping or repairing deteriorated caulk can be a relatively simple fall project.
6. Replace or Check Your HVAC Filter
Your heating system is about to get much busier…
Check your HVAC filter and replace or clean it as needed, following your unit’s manufacturer’s recommendations. A dirty filter can restrict airflow and make your system work less efficiently.
This is also a good time to make sure furniture, rugs, or other household items aren’t blocking your vents and returns.
7. Have Your Heating System Checked
You don’t want to discover a heating problem during the first truly cold night of the year.
If your heating equipment is due for professional maintenance, Fall is a good time to schedule it. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule for your particular system.
When you turn the heat on for the first time, watch for unusual sounds, smells, or performance issues that may need professional attention.
8. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Fall is a great time to test the safety devices throughout your home.
Press the test button on your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace batteries or devices as the manufacturer recommends.
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month.
Don’t forget detectors in less-visited areas of the home.
9. Look for Signs of Water Problems
Walk around the inside and outside of your home. Look for signs of water damage.
Keep an eye out for:
- Water stains
- Damp or musty areas
- Dripping plumbing
- Cracks or gaps around exterior openings
- Standing water near the foundation
- Downspouts emptying too close to the house
Water problems are easier to address when you catch them early!
10. Check the Ground Around Your Foundation
The ground surrounding your home should generally encourage water to move away from the foundation, not toward it.
Look for areas where soil has settled or where water tends to collect near the house. Also make sure leaves, debris, and other materials aren’t blocking drainage paths.
If you notice significant drainage or grading problems, consider getting professional advice about the appropriate solution for your property.
11. Take a Look at Trees and Branches Near Your Home
Fall storms, snow, and ice can put additional stress on tree limbs.
Look for dead, damaged, or overhanging branches near your roof, siding, driveway, or utility lines.
Tree work can be dangerous, particularly around power lines or large branches, so leave hazardous trimming to qualified professionals.
12. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
This isn’t strictly a Fall task, but Winter is a particularly bad time to realize you don’t know where your main water shutoff valve is…
Take a few minutes to locate it and make sure everyone in your household knows where it is, too.
If a pipe bursts or a major plumbing leak occurs, knowing how to quickly shut off your home’s water supply can make a significant difference.
A Little Maintenance Now Can Go a Long Way!
Preparing your home for winter doesn’t have to mean completing everything in a single weekend.
Start with the most important tasks for your home, do what you can safely handle yourself, and bring in a qualified professional when a job requires expertise or specialized equipment.
Most importantly, don’t wait until something goes wrong to start thinking about maintenance.
Your home needs attention year-round and keeping track of everything can be a challenge.
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Instead of wondering, “When did I last do that?”, you can build a maintenance history for your home and stay ahead of upcoming tasks!
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