Your Essential Fall Maintenance Home Checklist: Get Ready for the Season Ahead

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures begin to dip, it’s time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. Fall is the perfect season to tackle those important tasks that will not only help keep your home comfortable but also help protect it through the winter. 

At DUCTZ, we know firsthand that many of these tasks directly impact your indoor air quality and the overall performance of your HVAC system. That’s why we’ve created this essential fall home checklist – complete with indoor air quality tips for fall and a practical seasonal HVAC service checklist – so you can move into the seasons ahead with confidence. 

As a bonus, we’ve put together a free printable checklist (available at the end of this blog) to help make staying on top of your fall maintenance even easier. 

1. Indoor Fall Prep

Let’s start with the place you will be spending most of your time in the months ahead: indoors. Simple changes can go a long way. These indoor air quality tips for fall can help improve safety and efficiency.

Seasonal HVAC Service Checklist 

• Schedule professional duct cleaning and inspection: Over the summer, dust, allergens, and debris often build up in your HVAC system. A professional cleaning helps improve air quality and system efficiency. 
• Change your air filters: Replace your air filters according to the specifications of your HVAC unit to help keep your system running more efficiently and your air cleaner.
• Schedule condenser coil cleaning: After working overtime all summer, your AC unit deserves some attention. Having the coils cleaned will help improve the efficiency and can even extend the life of your system.
• Cover your condensing unit: After you’ve had your condenser coils cleaned, cover the unit (the top of the unit at minimum) to help protect the fan from snow and ice.

Fire Safety Check

• Have your dryer vent cleaned: The NFPA reports that clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of house fires. Help reduce and prevent lint buildup and safeguard your home with an annual professional dryer vent cleaning. 
• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed. 
• Confirm that you have a working fire extinguisher on each floor of your home. 
• Create and/or update your home fire escape plan.

General Indoor Maintenance

• Reverse ceiling fans to a clockwise setting to help distribute warm air. 
• Seal air leaks around windows and doors to help keep the chill out. 
• Check insulation in attics and basements to help prevent heat loss.

2. Outdoor Fall Prep

Fall and winter often bring with them harsher weather, especially in the northern states that are more likely to face snowstorms and blizzards. There are important steps to take to help protect your home from these (and less severe) weather conditions. 

Help Protect Your Home’s Exterior

• Clean gutters and downspouts to help prevent clogs and ice dams. 
• Inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles before snow and ice arrive. 
• Drain, disconnect, and store outdoor hoses, and insulate exterior faucets. 
• Trim trees and shrubs away from your home and HVAC unit. 
• Check driveways, sidewalks, and steps for cracks or other damage before freezing weather makes them worse. 

3. Lifestyle and Comfort Prep

The “-ber” months (September, October, November, and December) are often deemed the “coziest,” and whether we think about it consciously or not, we won’t feel cozy in a space that isn’t cooler weather. Let’s look at some steps you can take to help make yourself feel safer and cozier. 

Simple Steps for Increased Comfort and Safety

• Stock up on furnace filters so replacements are quick and easy. 
• Schedule a chimney and fireplace inspection if you have a fireplace and plan on using it this winter. 
• Deep clean carpets and rugs. 
• Install or replace weatherstripping on doors to improve efficiency and cut down on cold drafts. 
• Put together an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, blankets, and water. 

4. Call in the Professionals

Fall is a season of change, and the perfect time to get your home ready for the colder months ahead. By checking off the items on this list, you are taking steps to enjoy a more comfortable, energy-efficient, and prepared home all season long. 

Download your free printable fall home maintenance checklist HERE, and reach out to your local DUCTZ for all your duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and coil cleaning services today!