🍂 Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: How to Prepare Your Home for the Colder Months
From furnace tune-ups to roof checks, here’s everything to do before the cold sets in.
Get Your Home Ready for Winter
As the temperatures drop, it’s the perfect time to prepare your home for the months ahead. A little preventative maintenance now can save you money and stress later — helping your home stay safe, efficient, and cozy all season long.
Here’s your complete fall home maintenance checklist:
Outdoor
Disconnect garden hoses. Leaving hoses attached—even to frost-free faucets—can cause burst pipes.
Drain outdoor faucets. Make sure all water is out to prevent freezing.
Remove pond pumps. Store them in a basement bucket filled with water to keep seals from drying out.
Garage sinks. Drain pipes and pour a little RV anti-freeze down the drain.
Sprinkler systems. Have a pro drain and blow out your irrigation lines.
Tip: Only new installations in Minnesota require annual backflow testing — check before paying for extras.
Air & Ventilation
Clean combustion or makeup air vents. Keeps your furnace running safely.
Clean your HRV or ERV system. Wipe the exterior intake, filters, and core.
Clean your dryer vent. The exterior damper should move freely.
Inspect kitchen and bathroom vents for wasp nests or debris.
General Exterior
Seal any gaps around pipes, ducts, and AC lines with fresh caulk.
Replace weatherstripping on doors and windows to prevent drafts.
Furnace or Boiler
Schedule a professional tune-up once a year.
Replace thermostat batteries — a small step that prevents big problems.
Change the furnace filter every 1–3 months. Make sure the arrow points toward the furnace.
Smoke & CO Alarms
Smoke alarms: Inside every bedroom and on each level.
CO alarms: Within 10 feet of sleeping areas (not in kitchens, garages, or furnace rooms).
Use photoelectric smoke alarms for the best protection.
Test and replace batteries.
Check the age: Smoke alarms last 10 years; CO alarms last 5–10 years.
Roof & Gutters
Clean soffit vents. They can clog with dust or paint.
Check roof vents for nests.
Clean gutters after leaves fall — even if you have guards.
Redirect downspouts or sump discharge to drain above ground if possible.
Air Conditioner
Avoid full covers. If you use one, cover only the top.
Use a small shield if exhaust vents blow toward your AC unit.
Don’t cover heat pumps.
Fireplaces
Wood-burning: Have the flue cleaned after every 30–50 fires.
Gas fireplaces: Vacuum out dust or debris.
Gas logs in wood-burning fireplaces: Make sure a damper stop is installed.
Final Tip
A few hours of fall prep can prevent frozen pipes, leaks, or furnace breakdowns once the snow flies. Take care of these simple maintenance tasks now — and enjoy a warm, worry-free winter in your home.
Written by Adam & Brit Homes
Your trusted Twin Cities real estate team helping you protect, improve, and love where you live.
Visit adamandbrithomes.com
CONTACT INFO:
Adam Sullivan: adam.sullivan@compass.com, 612-770-2119
Brit Sullivan: brit.sullivan@compass.com, 612-840-6208
