Seasonal checklist
Fall home maintenance checklist
The big one. Everything you do now is something that won't burst, freeze or seize when it turns cold. Get ahead of winter while the weather still lets you.
Chimney inspection / sweep
Every 12 monthsCreosote buildup is a flue fire waiting to happen.
Clean gutters
Every 6 monthsClogged gutters send water into the foundation.
Furnace / heating service
Every 12 monthsA tune-up catches a cracked heat exchanger.
Replace detector batteries
Every 12 monthsA dead detector is just a wall ornament.
Visual roof & flashing check
Every 12 monthsCatch a small leak before it rots the deck.
Winterize outdoor faucets
Every 12 monthsTrapped water bursts the pipe in a freeze.
Blow out the irrigation system
Every 12 monthsWater left in the lines splits them over winter.
Check weatherstripping & door seals
Every 12 monthsWorn seals leak heat and money.
Clear window wells & drains
Every 12 monthsBlocked wells flood the basement.
Close the pool for winter
Every 12 monthsClosing it right prevents freeze damage.
Cover / uncover A/C unit
Every 6 monthsProtects the unit through the off-season.
Inspect & touch up exterior caulk
Every 12 monthsGaps let water and drafts straight in.
Run & test backup generator
Every monthAn untested generator won't start in the outage.
Fertilize lawn
Every 6 monthsFeeds the lawn so weeds get less room.
Prune trees & shrubs off the house
Every 12 monthsLimbs on the roof mean damage in the next storm.
Reverse ceiling fan direction
Every 6 monthsReverse it to push warm air back down.
Don't want to keep this list in your head?
Add these to Grumpty once and it tracks the dates, grumbles when each one's due, and sets the next occurrence the moment you mark it done.
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