The fall months are beloved by many for plenty of reasons: pleasant temperatures, festive food, football games, and comfy clothes. But for your home maintenance needs, fall is a season of transition. A lot goes into preparing the house and yard before cooler temperatures roll through.
But don't worry, it just takes a couple of lazy Sunday afternoons to tackle this home maintenance checklist—and when the blustery wind brings snow, you'll be glad you did.
Fall Maintenance Tasks for Your Home’s Exterior
If you have a yard, give yourself extra time to take care of these necessary tasks; there’s plenty to do.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for Landscaping:
- Prune. Trim branches that could damage the exterior of the house. Long branches also provide a highway into your attic for animals looking for shelter and warmth. Vulnerable trees and bushes demand a layer of mulch to survive cold winters.
- Treat the lawn. Aerate, fertilize, and mulch with a light layer of fallen leaves to maintain the yard through winter.
- Plant. Plant bulbs to ensure vibrant flowers greet you come springtime.
- Clear debris. Clean up dead leaves and weeds to create a blank slate for springtime—it's best to start with clean soil.
- Pack up hoses and garden tools. It’s also a great time to insulate hose bibs and drain the last bit of water. The same goes for sprinkler systems. Frozen water in the lines has the potential to burst.
- Repair, clean, and cover patio and deck furniture. It’s even better to store these items inside a garage or basement.
Photo from Canva
Home Maintenance Checklist for the Home:
- Program exterior lights. Lighting provides an extra layer of security during dark hours, and using a timer can help you save on energy costs.
- Protect appliances. Stand-alone and window unit air conditioners require protection from the elements.
- Pest control. Inspect the foundation and roof lines for access points to avoid rodents and insects entering the home.
- Clear debris from gutters. Empty gutters are the best defense from costly problems like ice dams, flooding, and foundation disintegration. Removing leaves twice during the fall is better than once.
Fall Maintenance Tasks for Your Home’s Interior
A few adjustments inside the home will alleviate drafts, save on energy bills, and welcome guests.
- Check the detectors. Daylight savings time is a fantastic bi-annual reminder to change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Prevent drafts. Install weather-stripping products to improve window and door efficiency.
- Inspect the heater. The heating system needs a yearly inspection to prevent outages and high heat bills.
Photo from Canva
- Sweep the fireplace. The fireplace isn’t the best way to heat the home, but a roaring fire is too hard to resist. Contact a professional chimney sweep to ensure it’s clean and in working order.
- Check the bathrooms. Fix running toilets and leaky faucets to avoid embarrassing situations when you host the holidays.
- Clean appliances. The oven is probably going to get a workout this fall. A deep clean in the beginning assures spot cleaning gets you through to the spring.
With so much to look forward to during the fall months, it's best to get a head start and check off these maintenance tasks early. You’ll be so happy you did when you’re relaxing in front of the fireplace with a mug of coffee in hand!
Looking for home maintenance providers? Take a look at these tips: 3 Tips for Finding Home Maintenance Providers.
Main image from iStock.com/Halfpoint
