Part of the maintenance checklistThese tasks are taken from the full checklist. Tick them here or there; it’s the same list.
Tick as you goEach checkmark records the date, so you can see when you last did it.
Clear and repeatUse “Clear checkmarks” at the start of a new season or year.
Tailor this checklist to your house20 quick questions, about 2 minutes. Tasks that don’t apply to your house disappear from every list.
Fall
This season0 of 11
Book a furnace tune-up or other heating check every autumn, ahead of cold weather. A technician should check gas or oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger, along with controls and electrical parts. A basic visit costs about $75 to $250, and more if repairs turn up.
SystemsOne visit; ask how long when you bookAbout $75 to $250 for a basic visit (varies by region)Pro
NRCA recommends inspecting roofs at least twice a year — spring and fall — and after severe storms, from the ground or the roof edge rather than walking on it.
Outside30 minFreeDIY
How to do it
Use binoculars to scan for missing, cracked or curling shingles.
Check flashing at chimneys, vents and walls.
Look in gutters for heavy granule buildup.
From the attic, look for stains or daylight; call a roofer for anything suspicious.
To winterize outdoor faucets, disconnect every hose before the first freeze, even from frost-free faucets. If the faucet has an indoor shutoff, close it, open the outside faucet, then open the bleeder cap to drain the line. Leave the outside faucet open all winter. A burst stem often stays hidden until spring.
OutsideAbout 20 minutesFree, unless you add faucet covers or a plumberDIY; a plumber to re-pitch or replace a faucetOnly if: freezing winters
Covering an outdoor faucet isn't always enough. Owners in cold climates say you need to shut the indoor valve for that line and drain it, and one learned this from a burst pipe. (Hacker News)
To winterize a sprinkler system, shut off the irrigation water before the first hard freeze, then clear the lines by draining them or blowing them out with compressed air. Keep air under 80 PSI for PVC and 50 PSI for polyethylene, and never blow air through the backflow device. A pro typically charges about $59 to $144.
OutsideAbout 1 to 2 hoursAbout $59 to $144 for a pro; compressor rental about $32 to $55 a dayDIY for drain systems; a contractor recommended for blowoutsOnly if: freezing winters or lawn sprinklers
To clean window wells, scoop leaves and trash out of each one in fall, check that the gravel or drain takes water, and look for gaps at the foundation. If the window is a bedroom's escape route, any cover must lift off from inside without a key, tool or extra force.
OutsideAbout 20 minFree to clear; covers vary by size and typeDIY, waterproofing pro for repeat floodingOnly if: a basement
Mice can squeeze through a 1/4-inch hole, about the width of a pencil. To seal mouse entry points before cold weather, check the foundation, pipes, vents and doors, then fill gaps with steel wool held in by caulk, or with metal or cement for larger holes. Foam, wood and plastic alone won't stop them.
OutsideAn afternoon for a typical inspection and repairsSteel wool, caulk and hardware cloth; prices varyDIY; a pest pro if activity continues
To seal drafts, find leaks at doors, windows, outlets, pipes and the attic hatch. Use weatherstripping on anything that moves, caulk for gaps up to 1/4 inch, and spray foam for gaps up to about 3 inches. If you have gas or oil appliances, get them tested, because sealing can pull exhaust back indoors.
SystemsAbout 2 hours for doors and windowsUsually a few tubes of caulk plus weatherstrip; prices varyDIY for obvious leaks; a home energy pro for attics and combustion testing
Before the first storm, buy your snow shovel and ice melt: a wide pusher, a lighter lifting shovel, a bag of ice melt and some sand or cat litter. Check the chemical on the bag. Concrete groups say not to use any deicer on concrete under a year old, and to avoid ammonium products on any concrete.
OutsideAbout 20 minVaries by shovel and bag sizeDIYOnly if: freezing winters
Buy shovels and any snow blower in the fall, not after the first storm; it's in the top answer of one thread. In heavy-snow areas, keep a second shovel inside the house in case drifts block the door. One owner suggests shoveling the first winter and buying a snow blower on spring clearance. (Reddit)
Owners say to have two shovels, one of them ergonomic. Handles snap in heavy snow, and one owner had to finish the driveway with a small car shovel. (Reddit)
To check outdoor lights in fall, walk around your house at dusk and test every one, including motion sensors, dusk-to-dawn lights and timers. Replace dead bulbs, reset timers for the earlier sunset, and check that each fixture has the right wet or damp rating. Water inside a fixture or a burnt smell means calling an electrician.
Security20 minutesThe price of replacement bulbs, which variesDIY for bulbs and timers; licensed electrician for wiring
To winterize a lawn mower after the last cut, add stabilizer and run the engine for 5 to 10 minutes, or drain the tank as your manual directs. Change the oil, clean the deck and store the mower somewhere dry. Then start the snow blower before the first storm, while a repair shop can still fit you in.
OutsideAbout 1 hourFuel stabilizer, oil and any parts your manual calls for; prices varyDIYOnly if: freezing winters
To keep pipes from freezing when the forecast nears 20°F, keep the heat steady, open cabinet doors on outside walls and let cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes. Keep the house at 55°F or warmer if you leave. If a tap only trickles, leave it open and thaw the pipe gently from the faucet end.
SystemsAbout 10 minutes before a cold nightFree, apart from a slightly higher water and heating billDIY; a plumber for a burst pipe or a frozen pipe you can't reachOnly if: freezing winters
What owners say
If a garage or workshop has water lines, don't let it drop below freezing to save on heat. One owner turned the garage heat off, then a cold snap cracked a pipe. The water ruined stored photos, and the cold also killed a second fridge kept out there. (Reddit)
Insulate exposed cold-water pipes before fall, not during the first cold snap. (Reddit)
To check for ice dams after a cold snap with snow on the roof, look for thick ice along the eaves and uneven melting higher up. Then check the attic from the hatch for frost, damp boards and wet insulation. These signs mean house heat is reaching the roof. Fix them by sealing air leaks first, then adding insulation.
SystemsAbout 15 minutesFree to checkDIY from the ground and hatch; insulation or roofing pro for fixesOnly if: an attic or freezing winters
What owners say
If you use a roof rake, pull snow from only the lower few feet and leave an inch or two on the shingles. Scraping down to the roof damages shingles and can push snow under them. Raking early in the day lets the sun do the rest. (DIY Stack Exchange)
Where owners disagree: A Maine contractor and a snow-control installer both report mixed results. Cables work only when installed exactly to spec and don't clear the whole roof edge. (DIY Stack Exchange)
Best for most wet joints GE Supreme Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant, White, 10.1 ozBudget: DAP Kwik Seal Plus Premium Kitchen & Bath Adhesive Caulk, White
We wrote every task from primary sources: fire and safety agencies, federal regulators, and building-science and inspection groups. Links on each task point to the exact page. Costs are typical U.S. ranges, not quotes. This checklist is general guidance; your local code, lender or insurer may require more.
