Guide · Home care
Fall Home Checklist
A friendly, practical seasonal checklist to help any home stay warm, safe and dry through the colder months ahead.
Where to start
- Smell gas or hear a carbon monoxide alarm?
Leave the home first, then call 911 or the gas utility from outside. See if heat or water fails.
- First cold snap on the way?
Start with the quick fall tasks anyone can do.
- Own the home?
Work through the bigger fall jobs for owners.
The short version
Fall is the time to get a home ready for colder months, before the first freeze.
Have heating equipment and chimneys checked by a qualified professional, change filters, and test every smoke and CO alarm.
Protect pipes: disconnect hoses, shut off outdoor faucets where possible, keep the heat on, and know where the main water shutoff is.
Use space heaters and fireplaces safely, with about 3 feet of clear space, and share any drafts or problems in writing so they can be fixed early.
Who handles which tasks can differ by lease and location, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at your local rules. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Get heating checked before it’s cold
Heating equipment and chimneys should generally be inspected and serviced by a qualified professional every year.
- 2Protect pipes from freezing
Disconnect garden hoses, shut off and drain outdoor faucets where possible, and keep the home heated.
- 3Give heat room to breathe
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves.
- 4Share what you find
Small problems shared early, in writing, are much easier to fix before winter arrives.
Fall home checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Your home is ready for a warmer, calmer winter.
Quick fall tasks anyone can do
- Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Homes are closed up more in the colder months, and heating equipment is running every day.
- Replace or clean the furnace filter, following the equipment’s instructions.
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and store them before the first freeze.
- Find the main water shutoff, make sure it turns, and show everyone in the home where it is.
- Feel for drafts around doors and windows, and share any that need weatherstripping or caulk.
- If a ceiling fan has a direction switch, set it to spin clockwise on low to gently push warm air down from the ceiling.
- Rake leaves away from the foundation, window wells and storm drains. Wet leaves on steps and walkways can be as slippery as ice.
- Gather winter supplies now: a flashlight, fresh batteries, blankets, a phone charger, and ice melt and a shovel if your area gets snow.
Put a bright tag on the main water shutoff valve so anyone can find it in a hurry. When a pipe leaks, seconds really matter.
If heat or water fails
- If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home first, then call 911 or the gas utility from outside.
- If a pipe bursts or leaks, turn off the main water shutoff right away and stay away from any wet outlets or electrical devices.
- If the heat goes out, check the thermostat setting and batteries, and make sure the filter isn’t badly clogged.
- Share the problem right away in writing, with photos, and say whether anyone in the home is older, very young or has health concerns.
- Stay warm safely while you wait, with layers and blankets, never an oven or an unsafe heater.
Take a breath. Most cold weather problems can be handled calmly, one step at a time.
For owners: bigger fall jobs
From the guide’s owner list. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; every home is a little different.
All done. A fall report often prevents a winter emergency.
Guides that go well with this one
Like it on paper?
The printable checklist for this guide is fillable, with a screen version and an ink saver print version. Keep it on your phone or pin it to the fridge.
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist Workbook
Simple, step by step checklists you can write in, one topic at a time, to help any home stay warm, safe and dry through every season.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFTake it with you
- The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist WorkbookA fillable workbook with a screen version and an ink saver print version.See it in the shop
More guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or safety-code advice. Bunklow does not inspect properties.