Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for New England
The jobs to finish before the first freeze, from hoses and gutters to detectors and storm prep, so winter does not catch your house off guard.
- Skill
- Beginner
- Time
- A weekend, spread over a few weeks
- Cost
- $20 to $100
- You will need
- Ladder (for ground-level or low-height jobs only), Caulk and weatherstripping, Flashlight, Fresh batteries for detectors, Furnace filters, Notepad
New England winters are hard on houses. Freezing water, heavy snow and months of running a heating system find every weakness. A few hours of work in fall catches most problems before they become expensive. Do these in order of importance, and do not rush the ones that involve heights.
Safety first: detectors
- Test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Press the test button on each one.
- Replace batteries if the detector uses them, or replace the whole unit if it is past its expiry date, which is printed on the back, usually about ten years for smoke and five to seven for carbon monoxide.
- Check that you have one on every level and near sleeping areas.
Outdoor water
- Remove every hose from outdoor faucets, and shut off and drain the faucets, as described in our guide to winterizing outdoor faucets.
- Drain and store hoses, and bring in anything that can freeze and crack.
Roof and gutters (from the ground)
- Look at the roof from the ground with binoculars, for missing, curled or damaged shingles and for flashing around chimneys and vents. Do not climb on the roof.
- Clean the gutters after most of the leaves have fallen, following our guide to cleaning your gutters safely, or hire someone.
- Make sure downspouts carry water away from the foundation.
Doors, windows and drafts
- Check the weatherstripping around exterior doors. If you can see light around the edges, or feel a draft, replace it.
- Look at the caulk around windows and doors. Fill gaps and replace cracked caulk on a dry day.
- Put up storm windows or plastic if you use them.
Heating
- Replace the furnace filter, and write the date on it.
- Have the heating system serviced by a licensed technician if it has not been done this year. This is not a do-it-yourself job.
- If you have a chimney or wood stove, have it inspected and cleaned by a professional before you use it.
- Test the thermostat by turning the heat on for a few minutes before you need it.
Yard and outdoor items
- Rake or blow leaves off the lawn so they do not smother it, and clear them from the foundation.
- Bring in or cover outdoor furniture, and store the grill.
- Get your snow tools ready: shovels, ice melt and a place to put them where you can reach them.
Storm prep
- Know where your water shutoff is, and make sure everyone in the house does too.
- If you have a generator, never run it indoors or in a garage, even with the door open. It produces carbon monoxide, which can kill. Use it outside, away from windows and doors.
- Keep a flashlight, batteries and basic supplies where you can find them in the dark.
Common mistakes
- Putting it off. The first freeze will not wait for you.
- Climbing the roof. Look from the ground.
- Skipping the detectors. They matter most.
- Forgetting the hoses. One of the most common causes of burst pipes.
When to call someone
Heating problems, roof damage, chimney work and anything involving heights are for professionals. See the list below.
Stop and call a professional if…
- You smell gas, or a detector alarms and you feel sick or dizzy. Leave the house, call 911 and do not go back in.
- You find signs of a roof leak, a damaged chimney, or a sagging gutter that you cannot reach from the ground. Call a professional.
- The heating system makes odd noises, smells strange or short-cycles. Have a licensed heating technician look at it.
- Anything on the list involves heights, power lines or electrical work you are not comfortable doing.
Would rather have someone else handle it?
If you are in Essex County, Massachusetts, PrimeFix Solutions does gutter cleaning, winterizing, spring turnover and inspection, and roof snow-load checks.
Ask for a free estimate (978) 417-2042
Full disclosure: PrimeFix Solutions is my own business, so I benefit if you hire them. They do not do regulated trades such as electrical, gas and most plumbing, so for those jobs call a licensed professional.
Common questions
When should I start?
Early to mid October is a good time in much of New England, so you can finish before nights regularly drop below freezing. Starting earlier is better than later.
What is the most important item on the list?
Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, plus removing hoses from outdoor faucets. One protects people, and the other prevents a costly burst pipe.