Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

This post is sponsored by Neighborly, Your Hub for Home Services

The beginning of the year we're always thinking "spring cleaning." But in fall, I like to cover our bases on home maintenance before we have guests or face colder weather. I usually like to split the tasks between things we tackle ourselves and things we hire out to the professionals.

We've been really pleased with the services we've used through Neighborly for junk removal, mosquito treatments, plantings, and new landscape lighting (Junk Kings, Mosquito Joe, The Grounds Guys), so we were excited to learn that they have even more professionals that can cover your house for nearly every job if you'd like to have something serviced!

Keep reading for 16 home maintenance tasks that will have your home ship-shape for the season. The more you keep up with maintenance, the fewer the big (expensive) surprises down the road!

Service the HVAC Unit

Change HVAC air filters and inspect the air ducts for the buildup of mold, allergens, or debris once a year, typically in the spring. You should change the air filter in your HVAC system at least every 90 days on average to ensure your system runs more efficiently during the colder months. (Aire Serv has a great article about how to choose the best air filters for your specific situation.) Additionally, having your furnace inspected and cleaned will ensure your heating system is prepared for the colder weather. Your HVAC systems should be checked by a professional annually. So if you have a standard central AC or a furnace, each should be maintained, every year. If you have a heat pump system that you use year-round, then you'll want to schedule this service once every 6 months.

Who to Call: A professional HVAC team like Aire Serv can come out and do a full evaluation and tune-up. It's worth it to us to know that there's a better chance you won't have trouble with heating in mid-winter.

Check the Fireplace/Chimney

A clean chimney is a safe chimney. If you have a wood fireplace, prevent creosote buildup and reduce the risk of a chimney fire with regular cleaning. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, fireplaces must be cleaned once there is 1/8″ of creosote or soot buildup inside the chimney liner. According to the National Fire Protection Association, all chimneys should be cleaned at least once yearly. Other venting systems connected to furnaces and stoves should also be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain safer operation.

If you have a gas fireplace, it may not need as much cleaning, but it's advisable to have them maintained frequently as well—maybe not every year but every other year. It helps to identify any blockage or damage to the pilot light or system.

Defrost Your Chest Freezer

You should defrost a chest freezer at least once a year to get rid of the ice build-up (especially if it's more than 1/4 inch thick.) It helps the freezer have a longer life and helps air circulation to keep your food fresher longer. You can do this one yourself pretty easily: remove frozen items to a cooler, unplug the freezer, let it thaw a little while, scrape the sides down with a plastic tool, and dry it out with towels. Don't forget to plug it back in! Before filling up your fridge and freezer with holiday feasts, clean and discard any old or unnecessary items to maximize space and improve energy efficiency. Group similar items together using bins or containers labeled with the contents and date of freezing to keep things tidy.

Who to call: If during cleaning you notice that your chest freezer has an issue, call the friendly team at Mr. Appliance for their expertise.

Clean Your Dryer Vent System

Was this on your yearly cleaning to-do list? It's time for a system cleaning! Sweater weather means more lint and debris that may clog the dryer vent, which can cause fire, carbon monoxide accumulation, extra wear to clothing, excessive energy use, and mold growth. Plus, lint screens do not capture 100% of the lint, and lint build-up reduces airflow which puts stress on your dryer. This often goes undetected. A professional dryer vent cleaning can help prevent these issues. 

Who to call: Go with the pros from Dryer Vent Wizard who can inspect to ensure the air is circulating properly for best energy efficiency and help avoid mildew and mold.

Wash (and Inspect) Windows

Dust, grime, fingerprints, and pollen can build up and reduce your home's curb appeal or even reduce the life of your window. Clean your windows when you notice dirt or smudges, or about once per month. If you want to do this yourself, grab your microfiber towels, some glass cleaner or vinegar/water solution, and tackle this in a weekend. This is a good time to inspect your windows for any cracks or broken seals.

Who to call: I like to outsource the exterior since we have a lot of taller windows—Window Genie is a great option for cleaning. As a bonus, they can also hang holiday lights and help you with the next item on your list too! Glass Doctor can help you out with window repair and even replacement if needed.

Clean Gutters

We're surrounded by large trees and pines, which can clog up our gutters. It's best to clean and clear your gutters in the fall, as this is a time where there will be the most leaves and debris to remove. By cleaning now, there is less chance of blockage in the winter when it can freeze and crack.

Who to call: You can get this bundled with window cleaning if you use a service like Window Genie, which is kind of like a one-stop shop for everything before your holiday hosting.

Inspect the Ice Machine (and Other Appliances)

Your ice machine should be cleaned and sanitized at least once every six months for efficient operation. This maintenance process requires you to first perform a cleaning procedure to remove lime, scale, and mineral deposits, followed by a sanitizing procedure to disinfect the unit and remove algae and slime.

Who to call: If you notice there's an issue with your ice machine, give Mr. Appliance a call to have them evaluate your appliance for performance.

Aerate and Fertilize the Yard

Fall is when yards like ours with fescue or Kentucky bluegrass need to be aerated, dethatched, and overseeded for best results. You'll also want to add fertilizer in early fall and late fall. You can fertilize zoysia and Bermuda grasses in early fall to help them store nutrients but no later, as you don't want to stimulate too much growth that could be damaged by frost.

Who to call: The folks at Lawn Pride and The Grounds Guys know yards inside and out, and can take care of your yard quickly so you can get on with enjoying more time with family and friends.

Clean Rugs

You should have your rugs cleaned approximately once a year to reduce dust, pet dander, air allergens, and other pollutants. Admittedly, we're not there yet. We like to switch out rugs a couple times a year, so that would be a great time to have them cleaned before we store them away in the attic. Non-jute rugs can use hot water extraction services that you can either rent yourself from a grocery store or home improvement store. Jute rugs can either go to a professional or you can find dry shampoo for rugs!

Winterize Your Irrigation System

It's important to drain the irrigation or sprinkler system in colder regions and shut it down once you're done with watering for the season. There are a couple of ways to do this depending on the type of irrigation you have in place. If you don't feel comfortable winterizing it yourself, you can contact an irrigation professional who can get the job done quicker than you can YouTube the steps.

Who to call: If you notice any clogged nozzles, leaks, or broken sprinkler heads, The Grounds Guys can help with repairs.

Check Smoke and Carbon Dioxide Alarms

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing smoke alarms monthly, while other sources recommend testing twice each year. To remember this, consider putting the chore on your annual spring cleaning and fall maintenance lists or planning for the beginning and end of daylight saving time. Carbon monoxide detectors should be tested monthly. Moreover, most smoke alarms need to be fully replaced every 10 years, while most CO detectors need to be replaced every 5-7 years. Again, defer to the manufacturer’s instructions on your devices to confirm.

Who to call: Mr. Electric can assist with the installation and inspection of your devices. And if you're already having another service done, they include a complimentary home electrical safety check—which includes checking all of your smoke/carbon alarms to be sure they're working as they should.

Get a Preventative Pest Control Check

It's a good time of year to get a professional to sweep for rodents, fire ants, wasps, and a lot more pests that may want to find warmth when the cooler temperatures hit.

Who to call: Mosquito Joe does a perimeter pest control on the foundation, walls, doorways, and window frames that we plan on having them out for before the winter months.

Operate the Water Heater Relief Valve

Test the water heater pressure relief value to ensure water flows from the overflow valve. Also, test sump pump for proper operation.The pressure-relief valve should be checked periodically, and the tank should be flushed at least once a year to remove any sediment build-up. If the valve is faulty or stuck, it should be replaced promptly.

Who to call: Mr. Rooter Plumbing has professionals that can take a look if you notice anything awry and complete plumbing maintenance or a thorough cleaning.

Inspect and Repair Decks and Fences

In case you're seeing any damage or issues with your deck or fence, now's a good time to nip it in the bud before it gets worse with ice, snow, or wind. We have a fence to keep our dog in and pool enclosed, so we like to take this time when the hydrangea shrubs are bare to look over the premises. You can do any repairs yourself if you're handy or leave it to the professionals.

Who to call: Mr. Handyman is a great resource to help out with repairs for your deck or fence.

Get a Garage Door Checkup

This is one you may not have thought of—honestly garage doors don't seem to get noticed until a) you're painting them or b) they stop working. If you want to have better chances to prolong the life of your door, get an annual garage door checkup. This is a good season to do it—who wants to get frost off their windshields early in the morning?!

Who to call: Precision Garage Door Service can do an inspection that ensures your door is operating safely and catch any malfunctions before they cause mayhem.

Do Seasonal Shrub Maintenance and Tree Trimming

This is one thing that Chris doesn't mind doing at our house, but if there's a taller tree that's got some dead branches hanging off of it, I'm usually quick to call a professional. If you have shrubs that need to be cut back in the fall, choose a day to get out your clippers and tidy up your planting.

Who to call: The Grounds Guys' number is saved in my phone after they did such a great job adding new plants and tidying up our backyard earlier this year.

Bonus: If it's been a while since you've moved in, and you want someone to take a look at your home comprehensively for anything that needs attention—from roofing and plumbing to HVAC and electrical, schedule a home maintenance inspection by HouseMaster.

And that's it! Those are the 16 fall home maintenance things that we have on our checklist for our home. We love that we can take on some of these ourselves, and outsource some to the professionals. We use Neighborly for a lot of services because they're just so darn easy to schedule, the people are friendly, and we've enjoyed all the projects they've done for us. The quality of their work is just exceptional—we recommend them to everyone we know!