Fall home maintenance: Five ways to prepare your home for winter’s challenges

As leaves fall and the air turns crisp, autumn is your yearly chance to safeguard your home before winter’s cold sets in. With a few focused maintenance tasks, you can lower risks, prevent damage, and even add a touch of seasonal charm. Here’s a guide to essential fall chores to keep your house healthy and warm all winter long.

Turn off the external water supply

One of the first steps I always suggest to my clients is to turn off the exterior water supply. This means closing the shut-off valve that feeds outdoor hose bibs, sprinklers, or garden taps. Then, open the taps and let any remaining water drain out (loosen the faucet cap if needed). This helps prevent residual water from freezing, expanding, and damaging pipes or faucet fittings.

Clear your eavestroughs (gutters) to prevent ice damming

Clogged gutters are a major cause of winter roof issues. Leaves, twigs, and debris obstruct water flow, and when snow melts, water can back up and refreeze along the roof’s edge, forming ice dams. These ice dams can force water under shingles, leading to leaks in walls or ceilings.

Cleaning your eavestroughs and downspouts helps ensure that meltwater drains properly away from your roof and foundation. While doing this, check for sagging sections, broken hangers, or rust spots, and repair, or reinforce them as needed. Some homeowners also add gutter guards to prevent new debris from entering.

While cleaning, also check the roof edge. If you notice early ice buildup or significant shingle wear near the eaves, it could indicate ventilation, or insulation issues upstairs.

Seal cracks and openings – keep rodents out

As the cold weather sets in, pests like mice, rats, and squirrels look for warm shelter. Your home might seem secure, but small cracks, or gaps (around window frames, siding joints, utility entries, or beneath eaves) can be tempting entry points.

Inspect the exterior using a flashlight starting at ground level. Seal holes with masonry caulk, exterior-grade sealant, steel wool, or wire mesh. Be sure to check around HVAC vents, the dryer vent, electrical conduit, plumbing stacks, and beneath the fascia for potential entry points.

Inside, look for signs of droppings, gnawed wires, or disturbed insulation near wiring or plumbing. If you find evidence of rodents, clean and disinfect the area, then seal that space quickly.

Clear vegetation and trim shrubs close to the home

It’s tempting to let shrubs, vines, or hedges hug the house all year — it looks cozy. However, in autumn, it’s smart to clear plant growth away from siding or foundations. Branches and leaves that brush against walls can trap moisture, harm the siding, or give pests access to your home.

Trim bushes and trees at least a foot away from walls. Remove fallen leaves around your foundation, as they hold moisture that can cause materials to deteriorate and attract insects. Good clearance also helps with ice and snow removal, making it easier to inspect the lower walls for cracks or signs of water damage.

Embrace fall as your decorating season (seasonal and practical)

As you carry out maintenance tasks, fall also offers an ideal opportunity for seasonal updates; install waterproof string lights along walkways before the snow arrives. Use this season to test, or adjust outdoor holiday wiring, extension cords, and light timers. Ensure all your outdoor lighting, timers, and electrical connections are operational now; it’s better to identify a frayed wire or loose plug in October rather than mid-December when snow is falling. Fixing these issues before the first freeze will make your home more comfortable, efficient, and protected during winter.

Fall maintenance keeps your home safe, dry, and stress-free. Spending a few hours now can prevent headaches later, and by the time snow arrives, your home is prepared to hunker down.