Fall is the ideal time to prepare your home for colder weather. A few preventative tasks can help you avoid heating problems, frozen pipes, water damage, and other surprises once winter arrives.
But what are the most important fall home maintenance tasks you should do?
Your fall home maintenance checklist should include servicing your heating system, replacing HVAC filters, inspecting your water heater, cleaning gutters, checking your roof and exterior, sealing air leaks, testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and preparing outdoor plumbing for freezing temperatures.
You do not need to complete everything in one weekend. Start with tasks that protect your home’s heating, plumbing, and safety systems, then work through the rest of the property before temperatures drop.
1. Schedule Heating System Maintenance
Your furnace, boiler, or heat pump may run almost every day once cold weather arrives. Fall is the best time to make sure it is ready to perform.
Professional heating maintenance gives an HVAC technician an opportunity to inspect the system, evaluate its operation, and identify potential problems before the winter chill hits.
Depending on your type of equipment, a heating tune-up may include checking electrical components, inspecting safety controls, evaluating airflow, examining the heating equipment, lubricating moving parts, and testing overall system operation.
Preventative maintenance cannot eliminate every possibility of a breakdown, but it can help identify developing problems before they become more serious.
Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning offers our Comfort+ Maintenance Plan for homeowners who want an easier way to keep up with preventative heating and cooling maintenance.
2. Replace or Clean Your HVAC Filter
Your HVAC filter has an important job. It captures airborne particles before they can circulate through your equipment and back into your living spaces.
However, as a filter collects debris, airflow can become more restricted, which can reduce HVAC performance and put additional strain on your system.
You should check your filter as part of your fall maintenance routine. How often it needs to be replaced depends on the filter, system type, and the occupancy of your home. However, changing the filter every 1-3 months is generally a good rule of thumb.
Homes with pets, high HVAC usage, or other sources of airborne particles may need more frequent filter changes.
3. Test Your Thermostat
Don’t wait for the first freezing night of the year to discover that your thermostat is not communicating properly with your heating system.
To test it, switch the thermostat to heating mode and raise the temperature enough for the system to start. Make sure the heat turns on and that your home begins warming as expected.
If your thermostat uses replaceable batteries, fall can also be a convenient time to install fresh ones.
Pay attention to unusually long run times, frequent cycling, or a noticeable difference between the thermostat setting and the actual temperature inside your home. These symptoms may indicate that the thermostat or HVAC system needs professional attention.
4. Prepare Your Plumbing for Freezing Temperatures
Cold weather can be hard on your plumbing system, particularly pipes located in unheated or poorly insulated spaces.
Before the winter season, inspect accessible plumbing in areas such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, and other locations exposed to colder temperatures. Make sure vulnerable pipes have appropriate insulation and if you notice any existing leaks, make sure to address these before freezing weather arrives.
It is also a good idea to locate your home’s main water shutoff valve. Knowing how to stop the water quickly can help limit damage if a pipe bursts or a major leak happens.
If you notice leaking, corroded, or damaged plumbing while completing your fall checklist, Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning can help with pipe repair, leak detection, and other plumbing services. Call (815) 782-4440 to schedule service today.
5. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses and Prepare Exterior Plumbing
Disconnect garden hoses from exterior faucets before freezing temperatures arrive. Leaving a hose connected can trap water and contribute to freezing problems. Depending on your home’s plumbing system, exterior faucets and other outdoor water lines may also require additional winter preparation.
If your property has an irrigation system, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for winterization or have the system professionally winterized.
These relatively simple tasks can reduce the chance of having damaged outdoor plumbing after a freeze.
6. Check Your Water Heater
Cold weather can increase demand for hot water, making fall a useful time to maintain your water heater.
Look around the unit for visible moisture, corrosion, or other signs of trouble. Pay attention to changes in hot water availability, unusual noises, or water that does not reach the desired temperature.
A water heater that is leaking should never be ignored. Even a small leak can cause catastrophic damage to your home if left unaddressed.
Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning services both traditional tank and tankless water heaters. If your equipment is not performing properly, our team can determine whether repair, maintenance, or replacement should be considered.
7. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
Leaves and other foliage often accumulate in your gutters and downspouts during the fall. This debris can create clogs that prevent rainwater and melting snow from draining away from your house.
To remedy this, check on your gutters after most of the leaves have fallen, and clean out any debris. Proper drainage can help reduce the risk of moisture problems around basements, crawl spaces, foundations, and landscaping.
If you cannot safely access your gutters, hire a professional instead.
8. Inspect the Roof and Exterior
Fall is a good time to look for exterior problems before snow, ice, and freezing temperatures make repairs more difficult.
From a safe location, check for visible roof damage such as missing or damaged shingles. Look around exterior walls, windows, doors, siding, and other areas for signs of deterioration.
Small exterior problems can become more serious after repeated freezing, thawing, snow, and winter storms, so addressing them during fall can save you trouble later down the line.
9. Seal Drafts Around Windows and Doors
Air leaks can make your home feel colder and cause your heating system to work harder than it needs to.
Check around windows and exterior doors for noticeable drafts. Depending on the source, weatherstripping or caulk can be used to help seal small gaps.
Do not intentionally block HVAC vents, combustion air openings, or required ventilation while trying to eliminate drafts. Improving the home’s building seal can help reduce unnecessary heat loss and make your home feel more comfortable.
10. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are important throughout the year, but fall is a good time to make sure they are working properly.
Test each device according to the manufacturer’s instructions and replace batteries as needed. Detectors themselves also have limited service lives, so check the manufacture or replacement date and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Carbon monoxide is especially important to consider in homes with fuel-burning appliances.
If a carbon monoxide alarm activates, leave the home and follow emergency guidance. Never assume the alarm is malfunctioning or attempt to diagnose a possible carbon monoxide problem yourself.
11. Check Your Sump Pump
Fall rain and winter thaws can contribute to water pooling around your foundation, so it’s important to check on the condition of your sump pump.
Look for obvious signs of damage and make sure the pump is not obstructed. If you know how to safely test your particular system, you can do so by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
A sump pump that makes unusual noises, fails to activate, or cannot remove water effectively may need professional attention.
Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning provides sump pump services if you discover a problem while preparing your home for colder weather.
13. Prepare for Winter HVAC and Plumbing Emergencies
Even a well-maintained home can experience unexpected breakdowns.
Before winter, make sure everyone in your household knows where important shutoffs are located. This can include the main water valve and appropriate electrical shutoffs.
Keep the phone numbers for trusted HVAC and plumbing professionals somewhere easy to access as well.
Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning provides 24/7 emergency services for urgent heating, cooling, and plumbing problems. If your heat goes out during severe cold, a pipe bursts, or another home comfort emergency cannot safely wait, you will already know who to call.
Make Fall Maintenance Easier With Professional Help
Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning can help prepare your home’s essential systems for the season ahead. We provide heating and cooling maintenance and repair, plumbing services, water heater services, indoor air quality solutions, and 24/7 emergency services.
As a family-owned and operated company, we’re proud to offer upfront pricing, a Done Right Repair Guarantee, senior discounts, and an A+ rating with the BBB.
Get your home ready before winter arrives. Call Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning at (815) 782-4440 to schedule HVAC, plumbing, or water heater service, or ask about our Comfort+ Maintenance Plan for convenient preventative HVAC maintenance.
