🍁 Fall Home Check-Up: How to Get Your Home Winter-Ready

As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, now is the perfect time to prepare your home for winter. A few simple fall maintenance steps can help you avoid costly repairs, keep energy bills low, and make sure your home stays warm and comfortable all season long. This is your complete fall home maintenance checklist from the team at DL Builds: practical, easy, and designed to protect your home before the snow starts to fall.

1. Start Outside: Protect Your Home’s Exterior

Before winter hits, start your home inspection outdoors. Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent blockages that can lead to ice dams and roof leaks. Inspect your roof for loose or damaged shingles and replace them before heavy snow arrives.

Check windows and doors for gaps or cracks and seal them with caulking or weatherstripping to stop drafts. Trim any overgrown trees or shrubs that could damage your home or power lines during storms. And finally, shut off and drain outdoor faucets and hoses to avoid frozen pipes once temperatures dip below zero.

These small tasks now can save you major headaches, and repair costs, later in the season.

2. Focus on the Indoors: Heating and Safety First

Fall is the best time to make sure your heating system is ready to go. Schedule a furnace or boiler service to ensure everything is running efficiently, and replace filters regularly throughout the heating season.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace batteries to keep your family safe. If you have a fireplace, clean and inspect the chimney before your first fire to prevent smoke buildup and chimney fires.

Reverse ceiling fans so they push warm air down into the room. And don’t forget one overlooked task: cleaning your bathroom exhaust fans. It improves airflow and keeps humidity under control when your home is sealed tight for winter.

3. Windows, Doors, and Insulation: Keep the Warmth In

Proper insulation makes a huge difference in both comfort and energy costs. Check attic insulation and ventilation to reduce the risk of ice dams. Apply new weatherstripping around windows and doors, and use window film or storm windows to add an extra layer of warmth.

A quick insulation check can keep your heating system from overworking and help your home stay consistently warm.

4. Bonus Winter Prep: Stay Ready for Anything

Before the first snowfall, stock up on salt, sand, and shovels so you’re not scrambling during the first storm. Test your sump pump and backup power source if you have one to avoid mid-winter flooding. Clean dryer vents to reduce fire risk and improve efficiency.

These final touches will help your home stay safe and efficient even during the harshest winter days.

Stay Ahead This Season

A little preparation now can make a big difference later. Take a weekend to go through your fall checklist and make sure your home is truly winter-ready. And if you find an issue that’s bigger than a DIY fix, the DL Builds team is always here to help with trusted, high-quality home renovations and repairs that keep your home in top shape year-round.