10 Fall Home Maintenance Tasks You Don’t Want To Forget
Fall has a way of sneaking up on you. One day you’re in flip-flops, the next you’re digging out fleece jackets. And while it’s tempting to spend the cooler days carving pumpkins and admiring the leaves, your house needs attention too. Fall is your last real shot to do maintenance on your house before winter hits and you have to deal with frozen fingers or icy ladders. These small tasks can save you a lot of money and headaches once the cold sets in.
Check Smoke and CO Detectors
This is a quick one, but it matters. With more heating and closed windows, the risk of carbon monoxide leaks and house fires actually goes up in colder months. Test your alarms, swap out old batteries, and replace any unit that’s over 10 years old. You might never need it, but if you do, it could save your life.
Swap Out the Furnace Filter
This one’s easy to forget, but it makes a real difference. A clean filter keeps your heating system running efficiently, helps with air quality, and can even make your energy bill cheaper. If you haven’t changed your filter in the past few months, go ahead and replace it before you kick on the heat full-time.
Clean Out Those Gutters
It’s not a task anyone likes doing, but clogged gutters are a fast track to water damage. Fall leaves can pile up and block the flow of water, sending rain straight into your foundation or basement. If you only clean your gutters once a year, do it now. A simple leaf scoop or just your hands in gloves and a ladder can do the trick. Just make sure your ladder’s steady and someone can keep tabs on you while you’re up there.
Drain the Garden Hoses and Faucets
Frozen outdoor water lines can cause a lot more damage than you’d expect. Before it gets too cold, disconnect your garden hoses, drain them, and store them in the garage. Then shut off the outdoor water supply and open your spigot to let the water sitting in it drain out. If you skip this task your pipes could freeze and crack when things get cold, and by then, it’s a much bigger job to fix.
Test Your Sump Pump (Don’t Skip This One)
If your home has a sump pump, fall is the time to make sure it’s ready to go. Heavy fall rains or early melts can test your system, and if it fails, you’ll know the hard way. Pour a few buckets of water into the pit and make sure the pump kicks on. If it sputters or struggles, you’ll be glad you caught it now, not during a bad storm.
Seal Up the Gaps Where Critters Sneak In
When the nights get chilly, mice, squirrels, and bugs go looking for warmth, and your house is their dream winter vacation home. Walk around your foundation, attic, and windows. If you see gaps, cracks, or old caulk, now’s the time to seal them. Putting in a little work now keeps you from hearing scurrying in the walls come December.
Check the Roof, Even If It Looks Fine
Roofs don’t always show obvious signs when they’re about to leak. Sometimes it’s a lifted shingle or a tiny crack you won’t notice until snow starts to melt. Grab some binoculars and do a visual sweep, or better yet, have a pro check your roof out. Catching issues now can save you from a cold, soggy surprise leaking into your home in the middle of winter.
Prep the Fireplace (Or Close the Damper)
If you love a crackling fire in winter, make sure your chimney is clean and safe to use before the cold weather comes. Creosote buildup is no joke, and neither is a bird’s nest in the flue. If you don’t use your fireplace, at least check that the damper is sealed tight. Otherwise, it’s just an open window sucking heat out of your home all winter long.
Trim Trees Hanging Too Close
Branches that stretch too close to your roof or power lines are a recipe for trouble in snow or ice storms. Fall is a great time to trim them back before the weight of winter and snow brings them crashing down. Even if you don’t see a hazard now, strong winds can turn a mild overhang into a dangerous broken branch. Check your trees for any dead branches, or any branches that could cause damage if they did happen to break off.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
This one’s weird, but it works. Most ceiling fans have a little switch that changes the direction of the blades. You’ll want to flip it so the fan runs clockwise in fall and winter. This helps push warm air down from the ceiling, making your rooms feel cozier without having to turn up the heat. Just remember to switch the direction back when spring returns.
Related Articles
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- Spring Cleaning In The Fall? It Could Protect Your Home And Your Family
- 4 Home Cleaning Tasks You Can Skip
Fall maintenance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. A weekend here, an hour there, and you’ll be ahead of the game. The payoff is a warmer, safer, and less stressful winter season. Plus, once the cold sets in, you’ll get to relax knowing you gave your home the care it needs. So make your checklist and start ticking things off. You’ll thank yourself in February when you don’t have to venture out in the cold.
Bliss Donahue-Power
