Fall home checklist for before the first freeze

Heating was the second leading cause of home fires in 2021, with about 32,200 fires, 190 deaths and $442 million in property loss.

Book the two professional visits first, because heating contractors get busy once winter comes.

Heating

• Book the heating system check-upThe contractor checks the gas or oil connections, the gas pressure, the burner and the heat exchanger. A dirty burner or a cracked heat exchanger makes the furnace run less safely.
• Have the chimney cleaned and inspectedHeating equipment and chimneys need a professional cleaning and inspection every year.
• Change the furnace filterAirflow problems can cut a system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.
• Clear 3 feet around each heat sourceMove boxes, laundry and anything else that can burn away from the furnace, the water heater and any space heater.
• Fill the heating fuel tankIf you heat with oil or propane, refuel before it runs low. Fuel trucks may not reach you for days after a winter storm.

Plumbing

• Unhook the garden hosesStore them indoors or in the garage for the winter.
• Insulate exposed pipesFit pipe sleeves on the hot and cold pipes in unheated spots, such as the basement, the garage and under the sinks. Adding insulation to the attic, the basement and the crawl space keeps those spaces warmer too.
• Find the main water shutoff valveIt's the first thing you close if a pipe bursts.
• Check the water meter pit lidIf the meter is in an underground pit, make sure the lid isn't broken and closes tightly.

Outside

• Have the gutters and downspouts cleanedClean, repaired gutters keep water away from the house.
• Check that the ground slopes away from the foundation
• Seal gaps around windows and doors

Safety

• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarmsReplace a smoke alarm 10 years after its manufacture date.
• Change the smoke alarm batteriesReplace 9-volt batteries at least once a year.
• Clear the heating system's outside ventKeep leaves and debris away from it now, and snow after each storm.

In a warm climate

A house in a warm climate can skip the pipe insulation and the fuel tank. Everything under Heating and Safety applies wherever a furnace or heat pump runs in winter.