Fall Maintenance Checklist For Your Home

If you live in the Midwest, then you are very familiar with seasons. Some will argue that it is mostly winter here, but we actually do get four seasons a year. The number of days there are in each season is questionable because it seems like it is either super hot or super cold.

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To see the items you need to purchase to prepare for fall, see the list at the end of the blog!

You see, each season is supposed to last a few months. Fall is supposed occupy September, October and November. Winter follows in December, January and February. Spring comes next and is supposed to be in March, April and May. Lastly, Summer is in June, July and August.

In all actuality, it is more like fall comes and goes in October, winter starts in November and lasts through May. June has mild weather (spring?) and July through September is usually the summer season.

So, although it may feel like we do not have four seasons, it’s really just that fall and spring feel like they each only get about a month.

Either way, we have to prepare for each season no matter how long or short it may be. The weather changing brings on many things that we all need to make sure we do, before the turn of the season.

Summer is winding down here and our fall is beginning. With fall, comes cooler weather and with cooler weather comes preparation. With preparation comes lists. YAY!!!

I have divided this fall maintenance checklist into Interior and Exterior sections, to make it easy to follow and check things off.

Outdoor

You will want to tackle this list first since the weather can change on a dime here.

1. Exterior Home

The first to-do item on your fall maintenance checklist is caulk and seal any openings in your home so that critters cannot get in. They can find super small holes and squeeze their bodies into almost any size opening. When the weather starts to get cold, they will be on the hunt to find those openings. Seal them in fall, because you could have a nice rodent problem in the winter if you wait to do this. The openings will be much harder to find when you home is covered in snow and/or ice.

Another reason to seal and caulk any openings is to prevent water from entering the home and freezing. This can cause cracking in the foundation, which could be costly in the long term. Walk around the house and look where there are pipes, windows or anything else sticking out that may need to be sealed.

Lastly, sealing your home can conserve energy by ensuring there is no heat escaping out of your home. Keeping your home wrapped tight can reduce your energy bills! The next items to add to your fall maintenance checklist have to do with the grounds surrounding your home.

2. Vegetable Garden

There are certain things that need to happen in order for the outside of your home to be prepared for the cooler months. For your vegetable garden, you will first want to remove roots and weeds, then you will want to till the soil and add some soil amendments, then till again. This will protect and prepare the soil so that the soil will be in good shape come spring.

3. Flower Garden

Remove all of your spring and summer flowers and bulbs and make sure to cover those areas with soil amendments or organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizer adds nutrients to the soil so that your soil will be healthy and ready for spring.

4. Bushes, Hedges and Trees

Trim all hedges and bushes and prune your trees to make sure they grow back healthy in the spring. You also want to examine all trees and make sure there are no damaged branches or falling limbs.

5. Lawn

Add weed killer to your lawn so that you can kill all of the seeds in your lawn . Once the leaves fall, you will obviously need to rake them. Make sure you have a good rake. Make it fun for the kids and rake the leaves into piles so that they can jump in them and play. I still have memories of doing this as a kid. The next items on your fall maintenance checklist involves outdoor equipment.

6. Hose and Outdoor Faucets

Drain all the water out of the hoses and faucets and make sure they are turned off. It’s also a good idea to store the hose in a protective place as well.

7. Rain Barrel

Now is a good time to empty the rain barrel. First, remove the pipes and tubes and then clean the barrel.

8. Porch or Deck

This doesn’t have to happen until later in the fall, however; it is a good idea to remove the pads and/or cushions on your chairs and store them away. These outdoor storage bins are great for storing all outside equipment. Remove the patio umbrella and also cover your furniture. There are some cold days in fall and protecting your furniture will extend the life of your furniture and make it last longer. Also, it’s a good idea to empty the soil for all potted plants you have on your porch or deck.

9. Gutters

Fall is also a good time to clean all your gutters and downspouts. You will want to wait until later in the fall after the leaves have fallen.

10. Chimney

Now is a good time to get your chimney inspected and cleaned. Fireplaces are used more often in the colder months so you want to ensure it is clean and working properly to avoid any unwanted damage. Make sure the fireplace flue seals properly when closed so that cold air is not entering your home.

For more tips on exterior fall maintenance, check out Forbes.com.

Interior

Once the exterior list is checked off, it is time to start the interior fall maintenance checklist.

1. Filter

Check your filter on your furnace and see if it needs to be changed. It is a good ideas to change the filter on your furnace once a quarter.

2. Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Smoke Detectors

Replace any batteries and run tests on them to make sure they are all functioning properly.

3. Weather Stripping

It is a good idea to weather strip all windows and doors to ensure proper ventilation. You many spend a little money (this is very inexpensive, yet very effective) but in the long run you will save a lot on your electric bill.

4. Attic

Make sure there are no leaks where moisture could get in and therefore encourage mold. If you see any mold or moisture it may be a result of ventilation problems. You will want to make sure there is proper ventilation especially for the cold winter months.

5. Dryer

Lint buildup in the dryer not only decreases efficiency in your dryer and therefore increases your energy costs, but it is also dangerous as well. Cleaning your dryer vent is something that should be done annually at the very least to prevent house fires.

6. Crawlspace

Check to make sure all pipes are sealed, if not make sure to apply heat tape. This will help insulate the area and reduce cold air from entering in your home.

7. Fans

Clean all fans and fan blades.  Also, make sure to rotate the direction of the blades for proper circulation.

8. Garage

Make sure your winter gadgets are all in working order. Make sure your snow blower works and there is enough gas for the first big snow storm. Also, now is a good time to organize your garage and make sure you have all the proper tools for the fall. Ensure you have a rake and blower at the very least.

9. AC units

Remove all AC units and make sure the windows are properly sealed. If you are keeping the unit in the window, make sure it is properly covered and sealed.

10. Humidifiers

Clean out all humidifiers. These are the primes places for mold and bacteria to grow. Make sure to properly clean them before using them again to avoid dirty moisture misting into the room.

Summary

This should be a good comprehensive fall maintenance checklist to prepare you for the fall season ahead. Start with the exterior maintenance and work your way to the interior maintenance. As we all have experienced, weather can change drastically overnight so always be prepared!

If you are looking to also include some fall deep cleaning, check out my blog, 8 Easy Ways to Organize Your Home.

For a list of things you need to purchase to prepare for fall, see the list below!

1. caulk
2. soil amendments
3. weed killer
4. good rake
5. outdoor storage bins
6. weather strips
7. heat tape
8. fan cleaning tools
9. blower

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