Seasonal Home Care
A Practical Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Autumn is the season to prepare for cold weather: clear water's path away from the house, ready the heat, and check safety devices.
By Studio800 Editorial · Published November 2, 2026 · Updated
Outside: give water somewhere to go
- Clear leaves from gutters once most trees have dropped them. Use a stable ladder and have someone nearby, or hire help if you're not comfortable at height.
- Make sure downspouts discharge away from the foundation.
- Disconnect garden hoses, drain them, and store them.
- If your home has an interior shut-off for outdoor faucets, close it and open the outside faucet to drain the line.
- Look along the roofline from the ground (binoculars help) for missing or lifted shingles.
Heating: before you need it
- Schedule annual professional heating maintenance before the busy season.
- Replace or check the HVAC filter.
- Make sure vents and returns aren't blocked by furniture or rugs.
- If you have a fireplace or wood stove, have the chimney inspected; the U.S. Fire Administration recommends annual inspection.
Safety: a quick round
- Test every smoke alarm using its test button.
- Test carbon monoxide alarms, and make sure you have them if you have fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage.
- Check the date on fire extinguishers and confirm the gauge is in the green.
Inside: small comfort wins
- Check doors and windows for drafts and replace worn weatherstripping.
- Reverse ceiling fans to run clockwise at low speed if your fan allows it.
- Check the sump pump (if you have one) by slowly pouring water into the pit.
Checklist
- Clean gutters and check downspouts
- Drain and store hoses; shut off outdoor faucets
- Schedule heating maintenance
- Replace HVAC filter
- Test smoke and CO alarms
- Inspect chimney if you use a fireplace
- Seal door and window drafts
When to call a professional
- Roof work, or gutter cleaning on a second story or steep roof.
- Any gas appliance service, or if you smell gas.
- Chimney inspection and cleaning.
- Signs of foundation water, such as damp walls or standing water in the basement.
Sources
Studio800 provides general educational information, not professional advice. Your equipment manuals, local codes, and qualified professionals take priority. Editorial standards
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