Home maintenance needs to happen throughout the year, but if any one season stands out as the most important, it’s fall. That’s because harsh weather is on the way in most regions, which is tough on the home, plus it means more time spent indoors, adding wear and tear to equipment, surfaces, and the like.
To kick off the official start of fall, our experts in the Good Housekeeping Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab pulled together this list of maintenance tasks that you should tackle right away. There are more items on the fall maintenance checklist, but starting with these essentials will keep you and your home safe through the early weeks.
Check smoke and CO detectors
The number of home fires and carbon monoxide poisonings both go way up in the winter, with the increased use of heating equipment and gas-fired appliances. Take a moment to test the smoke and CO detectors throughout the home. It’s usually as simple as pressing the test/hush button. While you’re at it, give the devices a quick clean, removing any dust and cobwebs, which can hinder their operation.
Inspect the fireplace and chimney
Before the first wood-burning fire of the season, give the fireplace and chimney a once-over to ensure they’re in safe, working order. Inspect the inside of the firebox, looking for signs of water infiltration or missing pieces of brick and mortar. Open and close the damper several times to make sure it's functioning properly. Our experts also recommend bringing in a chimney sweep, especially if it’s been several years since you paid for the professional cleaning service. Over time, soot and creosote can build up inside the chimney, impeding the flow of smoke, which increases the risk of chimney fires and CO poisonings.
Test generators
Whether you have a standby generator that runs on propane or a portable generator that uses gas or electricity, don’t wait until a storm is bearing down to make sure it’s fully operational. Many standby generators can be programmed to automatically run through exercise cycles on a weekly or monthly basis. With a portable gas generator that hasn’t been used in a while, run it for about 20 minutes, which will be long enough to lubricate the engine, charge the battery, and burn off any moisture inside the engine. With a backup battery (a.k.a. portable power station), make sure the unit is fully charged and store it in a cool, dry place.
Close off outdoor spigots
If it gets below freezing where you live, you need to winterize any outdoor spigots, like the one used for the garden hose. Otherwise, any leftover water in the line will freeze, leading to the likelihood of a burst pipe (and the thousands of dollars in water damage that it can bring). To winterize the spigot, find the water shut-off valve in the home that supplies it and close it off. Then open the spigot to make sure there’s no water left in the line.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
