Winter is coming, and the homes that cost their owners the most money are the ones that weren’t ready.
The good news? Most issues are preventable with one weekend of work (or less).
Here’s the exact 2025 fall checklist we give our own clients. Do these ten things and your house will make it to spring without drama.
- Clean Gutters and Extend Downspouts
- Full gutters + ice = ice dams that rip shingles off and pour water into your walls. Clean them now and make sure downspouts push water at least 5–10 feet from the foundation.
- Get the Furnace or Boiler Tuned Up
- A $150–$200 tune-up prevents 70 % of no-heat calls in January. Change the filter while you’re at it (and write the date on the new one).
- Have the Chimney Swept
- Even if you only light two fires a winter, creosote doesn’t care. One certified sweep now beats a chimney fire later.
- Seal the Leaks That Bleed Heat
- New weather-stripping, a door sweep, and a tube of exterior caulk around windows take two hours and cut your heating bill 10–20 %.
- Schedule a Thermal Imaging Scan
- (Free w/ maintenance inspection for past clients in November) Our camera sees what you can’t: missing insulation, air leaks around recessed lights, hidden moisture, and overheating electrical wires. We’re including it free with any November maintenance inspection.
- Disconnect Hoses and Shut Off Outdoor Faucets
- One frozen sillcock = $800–$1,500 repair bill. Takes ten minutes to prevent.
- Test Smoke and CO Detectors
- Push the button. Change the batteries. Replace any unit over seven years old.
- Clean the Dryer Vent
- (All the Way to the Outside) Clogged dryer vents start hundreds of house fires every year. A $25 brush kit from the hardware store pays for itself the first time you use it.
- Check Attic Insulation and Air Sealing
- Most homes in our area need R-49 in the attic. If you can see the ceiling joists, you’re losing hundreds of dollars a year.
- Grade Soil and Clean Debris Away from the Foundation
- Water next to the house in winter = basement/foundation leaks in spring.
Do these ten items and you’ll sleep better when the temperature drops to single digits.
Need a hand knocking a few of these out? Past clients who book a Fall/Winter Maintenance Inspection any time in November get:
- $50 off the regular price
- Free whole-house thermal imaging scan (normally $175)
- A faster, lower-cost visit because we already have your original report on file
→ Click here to grab one of the remaining November slots and lock in your discount
Print this post, stick it on the fridge, and check things off as you go. Your future January self will thank you.
P.S. This year our thermal scans found multiple electrical hot spots that would have started fires and one roof leak that would have cost thousands to fix if found later. Don’t leave that kind of money on the table.