The Ultimate Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Fall is a critical time for home maintenance. As the weather cools, it’s your last chance to prepare your home for the harsh conditions of winter. Taking care of these tasks now can prevent costly damage, lower your energy bills, and keep your family safe and comfortable.
Here is the ultimate fall home maintenance checklist.
Exterior Maintenance (Prevent Winter Damage)
- Clean Gutters and Downspouts: Once most of the leaves have fallen, clear your gutters to prevent ice dams, which can cause serious roof and water damage.
- Inspect Your Roof: Look for any damaged, loose, or missing shingles that could lead to leaks during winter storms.
- Winterize Sprinkler Systems and Exterior Faucets: Drain all water from outdoor pipes, hoses, and sprinkler systems to prevent them from freezing and bursting.
- Inspect and Seal Gaps: Check for gaps around windows, doors, and utility entry points. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal drafts and keep pests out.
- Check Your Deck and Patio: Clean off any mold or mildew and apply a sealant if needed to protect the wood from moisture.
Interior Maintenance (Safety and Efficiency)
- Service Your Furnace or HVAC System: This is the most important indoor task. Have a professional inspect and service your heating system to ensure it’s running safely and efficiently before you need it. Check out this article about HVAC tips!
- Inspect Your Fireplace and Chimney: If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney professionally cleaned to prevent chimney fires.
- Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Change the batteries in all detectors and test them to ensure they are working properly.
- Reverse Your Ceiling Fans: Switch the direction of your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise. This pushes warm air down from the ceiling, improving energy efficiency.
Lawn and Garden
- Rake Leaves: Don’t let a thick layer of leaves suffocate your lawn over the winter.
- Fertilize Your Lawn: Applying fertilizer in the fall can help your lawn’s root system stay strong through the winter and lead to a greener lawn in the spring.
- Trim Trees and Shrubs: Prune any dead branches or limbs that are too close to your house to prevent them from breaking under the weight of ice or snow.
Why DomiDocs is the Best Way to Manage Your Checklist
A printable checklist is a great start, but in the rush of daily life, it’s easy to forget. DomiDocs turns this static list into a dynamic, automated system for year-round home care.
1. Automated, Timely Reminders
Input these seasonal tasks into your DomiDocs maintenance schedule just once. Our platform will then send you an email reminder when each task is due, so you never have to rely on your memory. It transforms your to-do list into an automated “get it done” system.
2. A Complete Service History in Your Vault
When you have your furnace professionally serviced, you can log the date, add the contractor’s info, and upload a digital copy of the receipt into your secure vault. This creates a permanent service history for your home, which is invaluable for troubleshooting and is a powerful selling point for future buyers.
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