Fall Home Maintenance Checklist | Thiele

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

With summer shortly coming to a close, it’s the right time of year to discuss how to prepare your home for the change of seasons. Fall is a transitional time, where we move from cooling to heating and take measures to protect the house over the winter season ahead. In our most recent blog, Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning shares our fall home maintenance checklist to help you prepare for colder weather and ensure your HVAC systems are ready to tackle the responsibility of heating your home for the winter.

A Homeowner’s Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

When the seasons change, it’s a great time to take care of household chores and ensure your home is ready for the cold weather and temperatures ahead. Use our fall home maintenance checklist when it’s time to prepare your home and its vital systems for the cooler days ahead.

Inspect Your Roof

Winter brings snow that will settle on your roof, placing a great deal of additional weight on your roofing as well as causing potential issues when it melts. Fall is an excellent time of year to examine your home’s roof for damage and to have repairs made with plenty of time before snow arrives.

  • Damaged, loose, or missing shingles expose the decking below, creating a risk of water damage.
  • Damage to flashing around roof vents and chimneys can cause leaks as well as ice damage that harms the stability of your roof.
  • Damaged vents and caps can allow water into your home as well as pests, both of which can damage your roof and cause other destruction.

If you note any damage to your roof, take time to repair it during the fall months when temperatures are mild. If you are unable to complete repairs yourself, call a professional to do so for you.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts

Gutter cleaning is a given for any fall home maintenance checklist. Many Indianapolis area homes have mature trees nearby which can deposit lots of leaves in the gutters. Clean out gutters and downspouts to ensure rain runoff and melting snow can properly drain off the roof and away from your home. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams that are harmful to your home and cause water to drip on HVAC units below and freeze inside, causing damage.

Clean Outdoor Cooling Unit

During the fall season, outdoor debris can collect along your outdoor air conditioner condensing unit or heat pump. Leaves, grass clippings, mulch pieces, and more stick along the fins of the unit, which block airflow. This disrupts operation, causes the unit to use more energy, and increases wear and tear to the system. Use a soft brush to sweep off the exterior of the unit. Turn off power and spray the unit’s exterior with your garden hose to remove tough debris deposits.

Fireplace Maintenance

If your home has a fireplace, prepping it for cooler weather is a key part of your fall home maintenance checklist. Chimneys should be professionally cleaned and inspected once per year to ensure safe operation. Remove any leftover ash and burnt wood from the fireplace so it is ready for your next cozy fire.

Heating System Maintenance Tune Up

One of the most important parts of fall home maintenance is a tune up for your heating system. Furnaces, heat pumps, and boilers should be professionally maintained each fall so they are ready to operate efficiently once it’s time to heat your home. 

In addition to scheduling a fall heating maintenance tune up, take these steps on our fall maintenance checklist to help your heating system operate smoothly and keep your family safe this winter.

  • Remove dirty filters, and install new air filters for the heating season.
  • Test your home’s carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and replace batteries in each unit.

Prepare Your HVAC System for Fall

As you work through our fall home maintenance checklist, there may be areas where you need professional assistance. Call Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning to prepare your furnace, heat pump, or boiler for the heating season with heating repair and maintenance services.