Fall makes me energetic! The cooler days and nights make working both outside and inside my home more enjoyable. It is a great time to handle simple home maintenance projects while the weather is still good and before we get caught up in the holidays. Here is a Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for you to complete and be ready for winter!
Interior Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
- Replace caulking around windows and doors. Caulk is fairly inexpensive. The job is a little time intensive, but your heating bill will thank you when the air gets brisk!
- Inspect and replace your HVAC filter (I recommend you do this monthly). This takes a minute or less and is necessary for optimal HVAC efficiency, air quality, and overall longevity of your HVAC system.
- Schedule a furnace inspection. Most HVAC inspections are free and informative! Go with a vetted company that you trust. It’s better knowing what you are dealing with than hitting the brutal cold season with a broken furnace! Parts can take a while to be ordered too. Best to get it fixed and out of the way now!
- Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned. Sometimes there’s nothing better than sitting by a fire when the air gets cold. Call a professional to inspect and clean your chimney and flue. Doing it yourself is risky if you are unsure of what you are looking for. Be careful and sure or call a trusted source. It’s very important for the health and safety of your whole family.
- Check all fire extinguishers. This is easy and important to do every season. Just check the gauge on the extinguisher and make sure it’s in the green, make sure it’s in a practical spot, check for hose blockages, check for dents or scratches on the canister, and make sure the pull pin is inserted correctly.
- Clean the clothes dryer vent. This might be a pain to do, but it will save you from fire risk, premature replacement, less than optimal functionality, a higher electric bill, and more!
- Inspect the clothes washer hoses for leaks. If you’ve ever experienced a busted washer hose, you understand why this one made the list! Inspecting your hose can avoid a flood in your basement.
- Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and filter. This is a simple task, as most filters can be taken out and soaked overnight. Use a good degreaser like baking soda, vinegar, or a degreasing soap. The hood might take a little scrubbing. The more often you do this, the less it will need.
- Test GFCI outlets. If these don’t do their job, whoever is using the outlet could get shocked! It’s easy to test. Just plug a nightlight in to the GFCI outlet and turn the light on. When you press the Test button, the light should go off. Push the reset button to turn it back on. If it’s not working, call your local electrician.
- Test your sump pump. When your sump pump is not working, you could find yourself in high water, literally! Test it by pouring a five-gallon bucket of water in slowly. The pump should kick on once the water level hits a predetermined place below the base floor.
- Clean and activate the dehumidifier. This should really be done monthly if it’s running regularly. Turn it off, wipe it down, clean the filter, vacuum out the machine, and clean the water reservoir (unless it’s hooked to a hose).
- Reverse the ceiling fans to make the blades run clockwise. This task takes 2 seconds! It’s helpful to keep warm air circulating downward where you want it to during colder months.
Exterior Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
- Remove (or cover) all window air conditioners. It’s time to get those conditioning units out of the windows or do your best to cover them. Cold air will make its way in easily while these remain in the window. This is an important one for your fall home maintenance checklist!
- Install storm windows/doors, and remove screens. When that first frost hits, you know the time of the screened windows has ended! This is another task that will help keep your heating bill from rising.
- Aerate and fertilize the lawn. Doing this will ensure your lawn stays in great shape all year long. This is easy to DIY, if you have the equipment, or call your trusted landscaping expert!
- Trim trees and shrubs away from the house. This is the best time to trim the foliage. You’ll have optimal visibility while the leaves are gone, as well as good wound closure during the winter months. Hanging branches can also get heavy from snow and ice and break over your car or house!
- Inspect the roof for damage. The roof is one of the biggest protectors of your home. Making sure it’s in good shape before the snow hits is a must! Here’s what to look for. This is an important one for your fall home maintenance checklist!
- Inspect the deck for any raised nails or screws. It’s easy to pound or screw nails back down. While you’re at it, take a closer look at the deck wood for warped or weak boards. If it’s been a while, get it sealed. Having a faulty deck can lead to tragedy. Don’t risk it!
- Cover or store outdoor furniture and grill. Cold weather doesn’t bode well for outside furniture or grills. Unless you will be using them, get them stored away.
- Winterize outside faucets. Make sure your outside faucet is shut off and your hose is put away. If you have a sprinkler system, call a professional to help drain it.
- Clean out gutters and downspouts. During leaf season, your gutters will get a lot of action! Set this task for the end of the fall season to make sure your gutters work for all the melting snow that’s on its way! This is an important one for your fall home maintenance checklist.
We have one more task!
- Contact Gregg Sutter if you’re looking for help on any of these fall home maintenance projects. Gregg has a list of trusted professionals that get the job done right!
Need to sell or buy a home in the Fall?
With 45 years of combined experience as a builder and real estate agent, you couldn’t ask for anyone more knowledgeable. Gregg is a full-time realtor for his clients! Contact him today!
