Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for North Texas Homeowners

Fall in North Texas is short. One week it is still 95 degrees, the next a norther blows through and you are scraping frost off the windshield. That small window is the best time of year to get ahead of the house before winter and the holidays take over your calendar.

Here is the list I walk through on my own home every October.

1. Clean the gutters and check the downspouts

Live oaks and Bradford pears dump a lot of debris. Clogged gutters overflow, soak the fascia, and send water straight down against your foundation. Clear them out, then run a hose through each downspout to make sure water actually exits away from the slab.

2. Seal the gaps around doors and windows

Hold your hand near the bottom of each exterior door on a windy day. If you feel air, the weatherstripping or door sweep is done. Look at the caulk around windows too. Cracked or shrunken caulk lets in air and water. Both are quick fixes that pay you back on the electric bill all winter.

3. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Heaters, fireplaces and gas furnaces all start running this time of year. Press the test button on every detector, swap the batteries, and check the date printed on the back. Smoke detectors older than ten years should be replaced, not just tested.

4. Change the HVAC filter and book a furnace check

A fresh filter is the cheapest thing you can do for your system. If you have gas heat, have it inspected before the first real cold snap. Everyone calls the same week the temperature drops, and that is when the wait gets long.

5. Inspect the fence and gates

Summer heat and our clay soil are hard on fences. Look for leaning sections, loose pickets and gates that drag or will not latch. Small repairs now keep a full panel from going down in a winter wind storm.

6. Look at the fireplace before you light it

Open the damper and make sure it moves freely. If you burn wood, get the chimney swept. If you have a gas insert, check that the pilot lights clean and nothing has nested in the vent over the summer.

7. Shut off and cover exterior faucets

We will cover freeze prep in its own post, but this one belongs on the fall list. Disconnect garden hoses, drain them, and put a foam cover on every hose bib. It takes five minutes and prevents one of the most common winter repair calls we get.

Want it handled?

If your weekends are already full, send us the list. We can knock out a full fall walkthrough in one visit and give you a clear estimate before any work starts. Request an estimate here.