Fall is the last easy window to get ahead of winter. The weather's still mild enough to actually get outside and do the work, but the payoff shows up months later — fewer frozen pipes, fewer ice dams, fewer surprise repair bills once the cold settles in for good.
Here's a room-by-room, system-by-system checklist to work through while the weather still cooperates.
Roof and Gutters
- Clear the gutters. Leaves and debris left in gutters trap water, which can freeze, expand, and pull gutters loose — or back up under your shingles.
- Check for damaged or missing shingles. A small gap now becomes a leak once snow starts melting and refreezing on your roof.
- Look at flashing around chimneys and vents. This is a common (and easy to miss) spot for winter leaks to start.
Exterior and Foundation
- Inspect for cracks in your foundation, driveway, and walkways. Water that seeps into small cracks and freezes will make them bigger — fall is the time to seal them, not spring.
- Grade soil away from the foundation. Make sure the ground slopes away from your house so melting snow doesn't pool against your walls.
- Trim tree branches hanging near the roof or power lines — heavy, wet snow can snap weak limbs and take gutters, siding, or windows with them.
Plumbing
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off exterior faucets if you have a shutoff valve. Leaving hoses attached can cause water to back up and freeze in the pipe itself.
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and along exterior walls.
- Drain and winterize irrigation/sprinkler systems if you have them — this is one of the most common and preventable freeze-related repairs.