Most winter home problems are summer problems that nobody looked at. Water that finds a path in October finds the same path in January, with the added complication of freezing, and a small repair in autumn is routinely the difference between a maintenance item and an insurance claim.
The list below takes an hour or two for the parts you can do yourself, and it identifies the things worth calling someone about while contractors still have availability. Booking exterior work gets harder as the season closes in, which we discussed in booking exterior work in a tight labor market.
The Roof
Most of this can be done from the ground with binoculars. Climbing on a roof is a job for someone with equipment.
- Missing, lifted, or damaged shingles, particularly along ridges and at edges where wind gets underneath
- Granule loss, visible as bald patches on the roof and as sediment in the gutters
- Flashing at chimneys, skylights, vents, and where a roof meets a wall. Failed flashing is the most common leak source and the one most often overlooked.
- Vent boots around plumbing penetrations, where the rubber cracks with age. Cheap to replace and a frequent cause of ceiling stains.
- Sagging along the ridge or between rafters
- Moss and debris in valleys and behind chimneys, which holds moisture against the roof
Inside, go into the attic with a flashlight on a bright day and look for daylight, staining on the sheathing, damp insulation, and any sign of pests. This is the single most informative ten minutes in the whole checklist.
While in the attic, check that insulation is not blocking the soffit vents. Blocked ventilation contributes directly to ice dams, and the fix is often just moving insulation back.
If anything you find suggests more than a small repair, roof repair or full replacement walks through how to weigh it.
Gutters and Drainage
- Clear the gutters after the leaves are down, which in most places means doing this later than feels natural. A cleaning in early October is often premature.
- Flush with a hose and watch the flow, which finds blockages and slope problems that a visual check misses
- Check downspouts by running water through them, since elbows are where clogs form
- Confirm discharge is well away from the foundation, and that extensions have not been knocked out of position by summer mowing
- Check hangers and any sagging section, since ice loads will finish off a weak fastening
- Look at the fascia behind the gutters for staining or softness
Grade the soil away from the house where you can. Water sitting against a foundation in freeze and thaw cycles is one of the more expensive slow problems a house has.
Sizing and downspout capacity, if the system overflows even when clean, are covered in gutter sizing, materials, and why downspouts matter.
Siding and Trim
- Walk the perimeter and look at each elevation, paying attention to the north side and anything below a roofline
- Press on trim and siding low on the wall and at window corners, checking for soft spots
- Caulk at joints, corners, and penetrations, which has a limited life and is normal maintenance rather than a defect
- Clearance to grade, since soil or mulch piled against siding is a reliable path to rot
- Holes from insects or woodpeckers, which are entry points regardless of size
- Peeling or blistering paint, which can mean moisture pushing out from behind
More detail on what to act on is in signs your siding needs attention.
Windows and Doors
- Weatherstripping at every exterior door, checked by looking for daylight around the closed door
- Door sweeps and thresholds
- Caulk around window and door exteriors
- Locks and latches, since a window that does not close fully leaks air all winter
- Storm windows installed, if you use them
- Interior air sealing at trim, which is often where the draft actually is rather than through the glass
Air sealing is consistently the highest value per dollar comfort work available, and it costs very little. If you are weighing window replacement, repair or replace: when a window is worth saving is worth reading before spending.
Heating
Do this in early autumn rather than on the first cold night, when every contractor in your area is booked.
- Schedule a service visit for a furnace, boiler, or heat pump
- Change the filter, and set a reminder for the rest of the season. Restricted filters cause more service calls than any single component.
- Test the system before you need it, so a failure happens on a mild day
- Test carbon monoxide and smoke alarms and replace batteries
- Clear the area around outdoor heat pump units and around indoor equipment
- Check the chimney and flue if you have a fireplace or a fuel burning appliance venting through one
If your system is aging, this is the moment to get replacement quotes rather than waiting, and when a furnace is worth repairing covers how to weigh a repair recommendation.
Plumbing and Freeze Protection
- Disconnect and drain hoses, and shut off and drain exterior hose bibs unless they are frost proof
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and unheated areas
- Locate your main water shutoff and confirm it turns, which is a two minute job that matters enormously during a burst pipe
- Drain irrigation systems where freezing occurs
- Consider water sensors near the water heater and washing machine, which are inexpensive and catch the failures that do the most damage
Grounds
- Trim branches overhanging the roof, which drop debris, hold moisture, and become a hazard under ice and snow
- Check trees for dead limbs near the house, the driveway, and power lines
- Clean and store outdoor furniture and equipment
- Clear window wells and any basement drains
- Check exterior lighting, since evenings get dark early and approach lighting is both practical and a security measure
What to Call Someone About
Do the walk yourself, then decide what needs a professional. The items most worth paying for in autumn are heating service, gutter cleaning on a two story house, any roof work, and tree limbs near the structure.
Getting on a schedule early is worth more than the small savings from waiting. Contractors in most trades are busiest at exactly the moment homeowners discover they have a problem.
If your walk turns up something that needs a quote, tell us about your project and we will connect you with contractors serving your area. The service is free and there is no obligation to hire.