15 Expert Tips for Fall and Winter Home Maintenance
If you own a residence, no matter where you live— whether you're preparing for colder temperatures or still walking around in shorts and flip flops —there are regular maintenance tasks you should complete to keep your home as functional and beautiful as possible throughout the changing seasons. Here are a few to-dos that should be on your mind when working on home maintenance for fall and winter.
Important Fall Maintenance Tasks
With winter on the way, fall is a time for preventative care. Take advantage of the season's agreeable temperatures and winterize your home, repairing, replacing, and updating the components and structures that are most susceptible to the cold. Your fall maintenance checklist should look something like this:
1. Inspect windows and doors, both inside and outside.
Be sure the seal around the window or door is not cracked or failing. Caulk cracks and install weather stripping where the seal has failed. Also, replace any broken window glass.
2. Clean and replace filters in your heating system.
If you have a gas heater, inspect the pilot light to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Contact your local gas and electric providers to schedule a fall home inspection.
3. Inspect, clean, and repair fireplace elements.
This includes the chimney and flue, especially for wood-burning fireplaces. To remove soot, use a fire shovel, a handheld broom, dish soap, baking soda paste, and a scrub brush. Also, make sure your fires are running properly to avoid issues. To heat a house safely with a wood-burning fireplace:
- Crack a window and open your grate or screen.
- Make sure your firebox is clean and free of buildup or residue.
- Confirm that your damper (the door at the bottom of your chimney) is open.
- Prime the flue by lighting a roll of newspaper and holding it up the chimney for a few minutes.
- Place your kindling (easily combustible elements, like small bits of dry wood or newspaper) inside the firebox.
- Stack four to six logs on top of the kindling and ignite with matches or a lighter.
- Keep your eye on the fire and enjoy it!
4. Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
This should be a top item on your home safety checklist, regardless of the season. Most local governments require periodic inspections of all fire safety devices, which your local fire department may be able to conduct, but you should also check on your smoke alarms yourselves each month.
5. Drain and flush particulates and sediment from water heaters.
Sediment builds up and reduces heating efficiency, and in gas water heaters it can cause hot spots that will lead to premature failure.
6. Trim trees away from home properly.
Keep trees, bushes, and landscaping neat and trimmed. Clear any branches that could pose risks under heavy snow.
7. Check eave or gable vents to ensure screens are intact.
Rodents and other pests can easily make their way into warm, cozy attics through these access points if not properly secured.
8. Clean and remove debris from rain gutters and downspouts.
This ensures proper flow and drainage for your home. Gutter guards can also help keep gutters debris-free. For safe gutter mainteance:
- Don't ignore clogs. If nothing is coming out of your downspouts, your gutters are likely clogged. When left unattended, clogs can lead to water overflow, which can damage your home's foundation, landscaping, and even your roof.
- Use the proper tools. Don't use sharp tools or pressure washers to clean your gutters, as they can damage the gutters and make the situation worse. Stick to safer methods—use a ladder and hand tools, like a scoop or hose.
- Avoid shortcuts. Trying to fast-track gutter work with something like a leaf blower can actually do more harm than good. Stick to the standard methods to get rid of debris.
- Know your limits. Avoid attempting DIY gutter repairs if you lack experience and equipment. Incorrect repairs can worsen the problem and potentially damage your gutters further.
9. Inspect painted exterior areas.
Any chipped or bare areas should be painted as soon as possible. Paint and surface coverings like stains protect components from damaging water intrusion and other damaging elements like pests.
10. Inspect your roof or hire a professional to conduct an inspection.
Be sure that the tiles are in good shape, the areas surrounding protrusions are properly sealed, and the flashing is sitting properly. If you're not sure you can do it yourself, hire a roofing contractor to get the job done.
Important Winter Maintenance Tasks
Excessive ice, sleet, and snow make it hazardous to drive, walk, or even be outside for an extended period of time. The inability to get immediate services when you need them most poses a threat to HOAs during the winter months. To combat the dangers of winter weather, have winter prep for your home ready ahead of time to ensure proper upkeep. Some to-dos and DIY home maintenance tips for your seasonal home maintenance checklist include:
1. Plan and conduct snow removal.
Work with your snow removal vendor to draft a removal schedule. A qualified vendor with a
proven track record should be able to explain their approach to snow removal for a seamless
and effective winter maintenance plan.
2. Prevent and maintain ice accumulation.
The USDOT Federal Highway Administration estimates that over 136,000 injuries occur yearly due to icy roads. Take the proper precautions before snowfall to ensure safe road conditions. Your HOA board may already have these in place, but make sure this is the case before ignoring sand or salt at the store.
3. Protect buildings and structures.
Protecting your home from winter damage should be your top priority. Inspect roofs, gutters, foundations, weatherstripping, doors, and windows for cracks, erosion, and other imperfections that could worsen with time. Make repairs immediately.
4. Check in on utility operations.
Understand how to turn off your home's water supply and what to do if the electricity or gas malfunctions or goes out. It's also important to have solid energy efficiency tips for winter that you follow to keep your utility bills down.
5. Winterize watering systems.
Home winterization is key to a safe season. Drain sprinklers and shut off after you’ve finished watering for the year. Contact a professional for help determining the appropriate draining methods for your watering systems.
Read More: How to Protect Your HOA Home From a Freeze
More Seasonal Maintenance Tips
Properly maintaining your home will help protect your investment. Regular inspections and proactive home maintenance for fall and winter will save you money in costly repairs down the road. But those months aren't the only time that maintenance should be on your mind. It's just as important to take care of things around the house during spring and summer. For a year-round guide, download our ebook of "Seasonal HOA Maintenance Tips", featuring all the preventative maintenance and landscaping tasks you can tackle during each season!