It was a long, hot summer across much of the United States. But now that the days are getting shorter and the weather is starting to cool, it’s time to get your home ready for fall.
From cleaning out our gutters and power washing your deck to prepping your cabinets for flue season and switching out your bedding, here’s what should be on your home checklist as summer comes to an end.
Why end-of-summer home maintenance matters
Regular home maintenance is important year-round, but the end of summer is an especially critical time to inspect your property and address minor issues before colder weather arrives. Small problems that seem insignificant now can quickly turn into costly repairs once fall rain, winter snow, ice and freezing temperatures put additional stress on your home.
For example, a loose or damaged roof shingle may not appear urgent during dry weather, but it can allow water to seep into your roof during autumn storms or winter freeze-thaw cycles, leading to leaks, mold growth and structural damage. Similarly, clogged gutters can prevent water from flowing away from your home properly, increasing the risk of roof damage, foundation problems and ice dams once temperatures drop.
End-of-summer maintenance is also an opportunity to improve your home’s efficiency and safety. Checking weatherstripping around doors and windows, inspecting outdoor faucets, trimming overgrown trees and servicing HVAC systems can help prevent unexpected issues down the line.
Beyond repairs, this transitional period of summer to fall is a great time for general upkeep and home organization. This is the time to clean your outdoor spaces, store patio furniture, refresh your landscaping and declutter your garage. All of this gets your home looking clean and ready for colder months.
1. Prep for seasonal pests
As the temperatures drop, pests make their way indoors. That first chilly day of the year means mice, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles and more become residents of your home.
This fall? The bugs, particularly ticks, ants, mosquitoes and stinging insects, are going to take full advantage thanks to warmer temperatures, according to the National Pest Management Associations (NPMA)’s biannual Bug Barometer®.
“Weather is one of several important pieces in forecasting pest activity, and with summerlike temperatures forecasted to continue, pests are going to take advantage of the extra time,” says Dr. Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Americans should follow smart prevention tips, like wearing EPA-registered repellent and working with a qualified pest control professional if you spot a pest problem in your home or yard.”
If you haven’t already, now is the time to pest-proof your home and yard to prevent these creepy crawlies from coming into your home.
2. Schedule HVAC maintenance
If you do only one thing on this home maintenance list, it should be to get your HVAC system serviced. During an HVAC tune-up, a service technician will examine your air conditioner, furnace or heat pump to make sure everything is in working order. In the fall, the pros will clean up and winterize your cooling system and get your heating system ready to take on cold weather. They can also catch minor repairs before they turn into costly problems and help prevent major breakdowns that could require an emergency replacement.
In addition, there is some general HVAC maintenance you can (and should) do. Elizabeth Shavers, Oncourse Home Solutions’ General HVAC & Plumbing Manager, recommends homeowners replace the HVAC filter. “After a summer of running the AC, the switch from cooling to heating is a good time to put in a fresh filter,” Shavers says. “Dirty filters restrict airflow and make the system work harder.”
Shavers also recommends you give the furnace a test run. “Don’t wait until the first freezing night to find out something isn’t working,” she says. “Turn it on early and look out for unusual noises, weak airflow, or anything else that seems off.”
3. Prepare deck, patio and outdoor living spaces
You have a few months left of using your outdoor spaces before it’s time to call it a year, but now is still a good time to sweep, clean and inspect your decks and patios. First you’ll want to sweep away debris and clean off your patio furniture, then check for damage (due to use or weather). Now is the time to nail down loose boards, clean debris out of gaps and tighten loose railings.
Now that you’re putting everything away, it’s time to organize your shed and garage. “Preparing your home for fall isn’t just about the home itself; garages and sheds also suffer throughout the winter months, and if you neglect these structures, you can find yourself facing a larger than expected number of issues like frozen pipes, rusty tools and a springtime clean-up project that’s double the size of what should be,” says Alan Bernau Jr., a garage and outdoor storage shed expert and owner of Alan’s Factory Outlet.
If you need some durable totes to store your patio decor, outdoor toys or garden equipment, HDX Defender Totes or Husky 170G ProGrip Storage Totes will get the job done.
Fall is also a good time to stain and reseal your deck, and give it a good clean. Every fall, we pressure wash our back patio, deck, driveway, sidewalks and kid’s toys. We use the Karcher K 3000 E Pressure Washer, and it gets the job done (and quickly).
4. Clean gutters and check drainage
As leaves start to fall, your gutters fill up. To avoid overflowing gutters, you need to clean out your gutters. This involves getting up on a ladder and scooping the leaves, twigs and other debris out of your gutters (or hiring someone to do the job).
If you have a gutter guard, this task is much easier because all you have to do is wipe the debris off the top. DIY gutter guards are available at your local home improvement retailer, but you can get more sophisticated integrated systems from companies like Leafguard.
5. Seal air leaks around windows and doors
If there is one part of your home that is most vulnerable to letting cold air in, it’s your windows and doors. Before winter rolls in, you’ll want to make sure these are air-tight so that the cold air stays out and the warm air stays in.
“Windows and doors are an important part of the barrier between your home and the elements, helping protect both the home itself and the people inside,” says Nicole Willits, a design trend, product and sustainability manager at Pella Corporation. “Late summer is a good time to inspect your windows and address any issues before fall and winter weather arrives.” To prepare, make sure you:
- Check for drafts by running your fingers along the edges of your windows and feeling for air.
- Inspect the weatherstripping for cracked, compressed or missing foam, vinyl or rubber seals. If anything is broken, replace it.
- Clean the tracks on patio doors and and wipe down interior window frames so that they close properly.
- Examine exterior caulking and reapply if you find gaps.
- Test locks and latches to make sure they work.
If you notice cracks, have a hard time opening your windows or notice unusual drafts, there’s still time to replace your windows before winter.
6. Stock your cupboards for allergy and flu season
The summer transition into fall also marks the start of peak cold, flu and seasonal allergy season. Taking inventory of your medicine cabinet and pantry now can help you avoid last-minute (or middle of the night) trips to the store when someone starts to feel under the weather.
Check expiration dates on over-the-counter medications and replace any item past its expiration date. Consider keeping essentials — pain relievers, fever reducers, cough medicine, throat lozenges, tissues and a thermometer — on hand. If anyone in your household deals with fall allergies, make sure allergy medications and supplies are adequately stocked before fall pollens and mold spores get stirred up.
On average, school-aged children get up to 12 viral illnesses per school year. Because a typical cold lasts one to two weeks, young kids can easily spend a quarter to a third of the school year with some sort of active symptom (runny nose, cough or congestion). Each fall, I stock up with Boogie brand everything, and have a Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier on standby.
7. Deep-clean your home
After a summer of kids, pets and plenty of activity moving in and out of the house, fall is a good time to give your home a deep clean and reset for winter. That means cleaning floors, counters and other frequently used surfaces. Mrs. Meyers has a Seasonal Fall collection hat will make your home smell just like autumn, while Puracy is a favorite in our house for dishwashing and laundry.
For floors, a combination vacuum/floor steamer saves time and cleans well. We use Dreame Technology’s Aero Ultra Steam to take care of all the dirt and grime with one pass.
8. Get your pool ready for off-season
Before temperatures drop, make sure you:
- Remove leaves and debris from the surface, walls and bottom of the pool.
- Test and balance the water chemistry according to your pool manufacturer or maintenance professional’s recommendations.
- Shock the pool with a chlorine or non-chlorine shock treatment a few days before closing to help kill bacteria and prevent algae growth.
- Lower the water level and drain equipment as appropriate for your pool and climate to help prevent freeze damage.
- Clear the plumbing lines so that water left inside doesn’t freeze, expand and damage the pipes.
- Install a properly fitting winter or safety cover to keep leaves, branches and other debris out while the pool isn’t in use.
Our pool sits under several pine trees, so it fills up with pine needles in the fall, along with leaves, bugs and other debris. At my in-laws’ pool, the AIPER Scuba V3 handles the cleanup for us, saving us from having to clean the pool every time we want to use it.
9. Winterize outdoor faucets
The biggest mistake you can make this fall is forgetting to turn off your exterior water sources. Winterize your faucets by removing and draining your garden hoses, turning off the water source to the outdoor faucet, and draining any remaining water.
10. Get your lawn ready for next year
According to Bob Shinn from SavATree, a national home landscaping company, fall is the “single most critical time to set up your lawn and landscape for spring success.” That’s because the soil is still warm enough to support root development, helping your lawn establish stronger roots before winter and encouraging healthier growth in the spring.
To make the most out of fall, Shinn says you should:
- Aerate and overseed: “Core aeration breaks up compacted soil and improves air, water, and nutrient flow to root zones,” says Shinn. “Fall is the best time to establish cool-season grasses as they can fill in thin patches before winter and prevents weed invasion following spring.”
- Apply fall fertilizer: Apply a late-season fertilizer and necessary soil amendments (like lime) so your lawn comes back strong in the spring. “Feeding the soil in fall helps grass and plants store needed carbohydrates and other nutrients which nourishes the grass’ roots through dormancy, so they burst into growth come spring,” says Shinn.
- Protect trees and shrubs with mulch: Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch around tree and shrub beds. This insulates roots and locks in soil moisture to help them survive freezing temperatures.
11. Swap out your bedding in preparation for colder weather
Now that the hottest days of the year are behind us, it’s time to put away those cooling bedsheets and bring out warmer bedding. From wool throws to down comforters, fall is the perfect opportunity to get cozy.
The Marcella Throw by UGG and Cocoon’s fuzzy throw blankets are some of our favorites for adding an extra layer of warmth. For the bed itself, comforters, coverlets and sheets from Riley Home can make your bed feel luxurious. Cozy Earth, Eucalypso Home and Delara also have excellent bedding options for your fall bedding reset.
Planning home renovations? Consider a HELOC
If your fall home maintenance uncovers a bigger project, such as replacing your furnace or repairing damaged siding, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is one way to finance the cost. A HELOC lets you borrow against your available home equity as needed, typically at a lower interest rate than you’d pay with a credit card.
Frequently asked questions
What home maintenance should be done at the end of summer?
At the end of the summer, you should clean your gutters, check for damage to your siding and roof, pest-proof your home, clean your outdoor spaces, and do a deep-clean indoors.
Why is late summer a good time for home maintenance?
Late summer is an ideal time to tackle home maintenance because you still have favorable weather and plenty of daylight to handle repairs before colder temperatures arrive. It’s also an opportunity to catch small problems with your roof, HVAC system, windows and other parts of your home before fall and winter weather puts them to the test.
Should I service my furnace before fall?
Yes. Your HVAC system, including your furnace, should be serviced in early fall so you can get repairs done before the weather gets too cold. It’s better to plan ahead for furnace repairs than to need emergency service.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
You should clean your gutters at least twice per year: once in the spring and once in the fall. If you have heavy tree coverage or experience severe weather, you may need to clean them more frequently to prevent clogs.
What areas of a home should be checked before colder weather arrives?
Check your roof, siding, gutters, foundation, HVAC system and windows before cold weather comes. Look for damage, and spots pests can get in.
How can homeowners improve energy efficiency before winter?
Replacing windows, upgrading your roof, replacing insulation and getting a new HVAC system can increase your home’s efficiency and keep you comfortable all winter long.