Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: A Homeowner's Guide

Cool weather, a dazzling abundance of crisp leaves, a cozy cup of hot cocoa … what’s not to love about fall? With winter’s chill soon to follow, the changing season signals that once again, it’s time for autumn home preparation tasks. That means hunkering down to start preparing your home for winter. Fortunately, our fall home maintenance tips include everything you need to do — both inside and outside — to weather any storms winter might bring.

If it seems like a lot to tackle to fully prepare your home for winter, we’ve put together a list of essentials in our fall home inspection checklist that shouldn’t be overlooked. The good news is that once you’ve completed this seasonal home maintenance checklist, you can enjoy all the wonders of fall — knowing your home is protected. And for a well-deserved break, we’ve added our favorite fall activities at the end of this blog to help you celebrate the season in style.

Fall Home Maintenance Tips: Outside

• Clean downspouts and gutters
• Inspect the roof and chimney for cracks and other damage
• Drain sediment from your water heater
• Turn off exterior faucets
• Insulate your exterior pipes
• Weatherstrip/seal air leaks around windows and doors
• Remove hoses from spigots (attach spigot covers to them) and drain the water
• Remove leaves around your outside HVAC unit
• Store outdoor furniture and cushions
• Cut back perennial plants and mulch around the base
• Dust and scrub your porch and front entryway
• Winterize your pool
• Test the snow blower and service it if you use one where you live

Fall Home Maintenance Tips: Inside

• Dust ceiling fans and ceiling light fixtures
• Clean out all your closets, including your entryway closet
• Schedule an HVAC tune-up
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Check interior windows and door seals
• Clean out the dryer vent
• Rotate/flip mattresses
• Wash curtains and blinds
• Deep clean your kitchen and bathrooms
• Clean your oven and any other appliances that need it
• Wash shower curtains and liners
• Tidy up and organize your kitchen pantry and cabinets
• Give your floors a good cleaning, including baseboards
• Dust furniture and remove any cobwebs
• Toss old or expired items in your refrigerator
• Declutter and organize your garage

Fun Fall Favorites to Try

After you've got everything ready for winter, or even while you’re checking off tasks on your fall maintenance checklist, be sure to carve out some special time to celebrate the joyful harvest and colorful radiance that fall brings:

• Stomp through a pile of crunchy fall-colored leaves
• Munch on roasted pumpkin seeds
• Bake a batch of delicious pumpkin treats
• Fill your home with fall-scented candles
• Treat yourself to an autumn-inspired dinner with apple desserts
• Carve a pumpkin and decorate your front entryway
• Sip hot apple cider on a cool fall evening
• Create some healthy Halloween-inspired treats
• Whip up a scrumptious instant-pot fall dinner

Protect Your Home’s Appliances and Systems

Frosty temperatures outside mean more time spent indoors using your home’s appliances and systems. That makes home warranty protection another great way to prepare your home for winter — coverage helps safeguard your budget when your often-used household items break from normal wear and tear. Our plans cover essentials like dishwashers, ovens/ranges/cooktops, plumbing and electrical systems, HVAC units, and much more.

Get a free quote today and learn how our home warranties can help keep your household running smoothly, no matter what the weather brings.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.

Please be aware that if you disassemble a covered system or item, it can invalidate your home warranty or manufacturer's warranty.