Leaves are falling and the first freeze is coming. Here’s a simple fall checklist to protect your Northern Virginia home before winter arrives.
Fall in Northern Virginia is beautiful, and it’s also the best time to get your home ready for winter. A few hours of work now can prevent frozen pipes, roof leaks and expensive repairs later, and it keeps your home in great shape if you ever decide to sell.
Here’s the checklist I share with my clients.
Outside the house
- Clean the gutters and downspouts once most of the leaves have fallen. Clogged gutters can send water into your roof, siding or basement.
- Make sure downspouts drain away from the house, ideally several feet from the foundation.
- Look at the roof from the ground for missing or damaged shingles, and have a roofer take a closer look if anything seems off.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or touch the house.
- Seal gaps around windows, doors and where pipes or wires enter the house.
Before the first freeze
- Disconnect garden hoses and drain them.
- Shut off and drain outdoor faucets if they aren’t frost-free.
- Blow out the irrigation system if you have one.
- Bring in or cover outdoor furniture, grills and planters that can crack in the cold.
Heating and safety
- Schedule a furnace or heat pump tune-up before you need the heat.
- Replace your HVAC filter, and plan to check it every month or two through winter.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries.
- Have the chimney swept and inspected before your first fire of the season.
- Switch ceiling fans to turn clockwise on low, which pushes warm air back down into the room.
Lawn and yard
- Fall is the best time to aerate and overseed cool-season lawns like the tall fescue common in Northern Virginia.
- Rake or mulch leaves so they don’t smother the grass. Check with your county or HOA about leaf collection.
- Plant spring bulbs before the ground freezes, if you’d like color next spring.
Inside the house
- Check weatherstripping around doors and windows and replace any that’s cracked or worn.
- Test your sump pump, if you have one, by pouring a bucket of water into the pit.
- Know where your main water shut-off is, so you can act fast if a pipe ever bursts.
Get ready for snow
- Stock up on ice melt (pet-safe if you have pets) and make sure you have a good shovel.
- Check your snow removal plan, especially if your HOA handles the sidewalks or you hire someone for the driveway.
Thinking about selling in the spring?
Fall and winter are a great time to take care of projects that will help your home sell. My home prep checklist covers what buyers notice most, and if you’re curious what your home is worth today, I’m happy to put together a free home value report.
