A healthy indoor space is one with excellent indoor air quality that benefits occupant health. In order to maintain excellent indoor air quality, homeowners need to complete home maintenance tasks! You should also stay on top of various seasonal tasks that help circumvent seasonal HVAC and IAQ-related issues. Today, we’re discussing fall home maintenance tasks. Let’s get started!
Why Is Fall Home Maintenance Important?
First and foremost, home maintenance is important year-round! Homeowners that are well prepared for each season are less likely to experience common HVAC and IAQ-related issues. Issues such as leaks and corrosion. However, there are tasks that should be completed during the fall season to account for fall-specific HVAC and IAQ-related issues. For example, the buildup of dirt and debris in gutters and downspouts.
Autumn IAQ: Preparing your home for colder weather is a smart move. Curious as to why? Here are six reasons why autumn indoor air quality can be worse and how the fall season can affect your home →When homeowners neglect seasonal fall home maintenance, it can lead to expensive repairs and replacements for various HVAC system parts. Now, let’s take a look at the fall home maintenance checklist that spans both the inside and outside of your home.
Home Maintenance Checklist for Fall
Indoors
Here are several items to check off your indoor to-do list for fall, from one room to the next.
Kitchen
- Clean and tune the oven, range and/or stove
- Ensure the exhaust fan and/or ceiling fan is functional
- Check for signs of rodents, roaches and termites
Bathroom
- Ensure that the exhaust fan is functional
Laundry Room
- Clean the dryer vent and/or screen
Garage
- Ensure proper storage of fuel cans
- Check for signs of rodents, roaches and termites
Attic
- Inspect for water damage
- Ensure that insulation is in place
- Check for signs of rodents, roaches and termites
Basement and Crawl Space
- Ensure there are no wet surfaces, puddles or a musty odor
- Inspect the boiler for leaks
- Inspect the water heater for rust and/or leaks
- Clean and tune the furnace, boiler and water heater(s)
- Ensure that the sump pump and check valve are working
- Check for signs of rodents, roaches and termites
Other
- Replace the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they are functional
- Replace or clean air filters
- Inspect walls, ceilings, windows and doors for peeling paint or damage to lead-based paint
- Inspect walls, ceilings, windows and doors for signs of water damage
Outdoors
Here are several items to check off your outdoor to-do list for fall, from top to bottom.
Top
- Inspect the chimney and clean if needed (this may need to be done by a professional)
- Inspect the attic vents
- Clean gutters and downspouts (this may need to be repeated throughout the season)
- Check for signs of rodents, roaches and termites
Bottom
- Clean window wells and check for drainage
- Drain outdoor faucets and hoses
- Clean the dryer vent
- Clean outdoor air intakes and screens
- Inspect the water main/meter or well pump for leaks or sweating
- Check for signs of rodents, roaches and termites
What Should You Do to Your House in the Fall?
Depending on your home, where you live and various other factors, this list may or may not detail every fall home maintenance task you need to perform before the season begins! Feel free to use this checklist as a general guide, and add or subtract items as you go. Fall home maintenance may feel tedious or daunting, depending on your interest level. However, it’s extremely important! So, set a reminder in your calendar and make sure to get started once the first leaf falls.
