Fall Cleaning and Home Maintenance Checklist to Winterproof Your Home

The changing leaves and the crisp autumn air are telltale signs that winter is coming. Before the colder weather hits, it’s crucial to prepare your home for what’s ahead.

Zerorez®, your trusted partner in home maintenance, is here to guide you through a comprehensive fall maintenance checklist.

We’ll help you keep your home cozy, energy-efficient, and problem-free all winter long, and we’ll even tell you how our carpet cleaning services can elevate your winter prep game!

Our fall cleaning checklist gives a task-by-task approach to tidying your home for the new season.

Then, our complete fall home maintenance checklist covers all of the essential maintenance tasks, from gutters to smoke detectors, to prepare your home for winter.

Fall Cleaning Checklist

1. Inspect and Clean Your Gutters

Fall leaves and debris can clog gutters. While this may not seem like a huge issue, clogged gutters can lead to water damage and other problems.

Thoroughly cleaning gutters is an essential part of any fall cleaning checklist. It allows proper drainage and prevents costly home repairs.

2. Clean and Inspect the Chimney

Fireplaces can provide a pleasant, cozy atmosphere during the winter. If you have a fireplace, hire a professional to clean and inspect the chimney before the cold temperatures begin.

Don’t forget to check that your damper works correctly to prevent drafts and other problems.

3. Clean and Stow Patio Furniture

While the summer sun can take a toll on your outdoor furniture, constant winter exposure can make the problem worse.

Freezing rain, sleet, wind, hail, and snow can cause permanent discoloration and damage to your comfortable patio set.

So an important step to a winterproof home is to store outdoor furniture in the garage or cover it to protect it from harsh winter weather.

4. Clean Carpets, Rugs, Tile, and Grout

While you’re busy getting your home ready for winter, don’t forget about your carpets!

The in-and-out activities of summer can create a lot of buildup in your carpets, area rugs, and grout lines.

Luckily, Zerorez offers expert carpet cleaning, area rug cleaning, and tile and grout cleaning services that can improve your home’s comfort and indoor air quality during the holiday season, when you’re likely to be home and indoors more often.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

1. Check Your Roof

Inspect your roof for damaged shingles or flashing. Any issues should be addressed promptly.

A beat-up roof can cause heat loss and leaks during the cold months. These problems can lead to expensive power bills and costly repairs.

2. Seal Windows and Doors

Drafty windows and doors can significantly impact your heating bills. Preparing your home exterior for cold weather is essential to maintain energy efficiency.

You might use weather stripping to seal gaps and cracks or apply caulking to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.

3. Insulate Attic and Walls

Adequate insulation is critical to retaining heat.

Check your attic and walls for proper insulation:

• Can you spot any dark or dirty spots in your attic?

• Is there any frost or ice?

These are good indicators that you may be dealing with an insulation gap or leak. Consider adding more if you feel it is necessary.

4. Trim Trees and Branches

Falling branches can damage your home and disrupt power lines during winter storms. The last thing you want is to lose power during a below-freezing snowstorm.

Trim the trees around your house and power lines to prevent such hazards.

5. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

When was the last time you checked your smoke detectors?

If you can’t remember the last time you made sure your carbon monoxide detector was working, there is no time like the present!

Be sure your home is safe this fall by replacing the batteries (if needed) and testing your detectors.

6. Prepare Your Winter Tools

If you live in a snowy area, dust off your snowblower, check your shovels, and stock up on winter supplies like ice melt and sand for safe walkways.

Make sure you have the winter tools you need before the first snowfall hits. Getting these items during the fall months will ensure you get the supplies you want and need before the stores run low.

7. Check Insulation in Crawl Spaces

Ensure your crawl spaces are properly insulated and sealed to prevent cold air infiltration.

If you notice dampness or smell mildew, you might need to replace your insulation.

Reliable insulation plays a significant role in temperature regulation and is a crucial item on any fall cleaning checklist.

8. Protect Pipes from Freezing

Insulate exposed pipes to prevent them from freezing and potentially bursting. This can save you money on costly plumbing repairs.

Don’t forget: Calling Zerorez will not only keep your home cozy, but it will also help prevent costly repairs.

Don’t wait until the snow starts falling! By following this fall home maintenance checklist and taking advantage of Zerorez’s carpet cleaning and area rug cleaning services, you can ensure your home is well-prepared for the winter season.