Sometimes it feels like I’m juggling a dozen different maintenance schedules at once. I’ve got car tune-ups, health checkups, and even making sure I’m intentional about relationships. And if I’m honest, home maintenance often slips to the bottom of my list. I usually only notice my house when something goes wrong. Like the year I had family in town for Thanksgiving, and my garbage disposal stopped working. Or that freezing December morning when the furnace just wouldn’t turn on.
How many of those headaches could I have avoided with a little seasonal home maintenance? Probably most of them. And it’s not just about comfort. It’s about safety, too.
As the seasons change, TLC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical recommends a few smart steps to prepare your home for colder months. Their team sees these issues all the time, and with a little prep now, you can save yourself some stress (and expensive repairs) in the future.
Heating & Safety
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Change your furnace filter monthly or as recommended.
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Replace thermostat and carbon monoxide detector batteries. CO detectors are especially important in winter when homes are sealed up tight.
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Schedule a furnace inspection before the cold sets in. (TLC offers these as part of their Preventive Maintenance Agreement or as a standalone service.)
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Check smoke detectors when you check CO detectors. It’s quick and easy to bundle these together.
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Seal drafts around doors and windows with weatherstripping or caulk to keep heating costs down.
Cooling System Shutdown
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If you have a swamp cooler, drain it and blow out water lines to prevent freezing and cracking.
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Close your damper (or install one—TLC can help) to keep warm air from escaping.
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Cover your cooler with a weatherproof cover to reduce drafts and debris (optional but helpful).
Plumbing
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Insulate outdoor hose bibs and exposed pipes.
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Disconnect garden hoses. Even with insulation, hoses can trap water and cause freezing.
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Blow out and drain irrigation lines to prevent burst pipes.
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Insulate pipes in garages, crawl spaces, or exterior walls if they’ve frozen in past winters.
Electrical
Fun fact: Electricity flows more efficiently in colder weather, but your usage often spikes with holiday lights and space heaters.
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Avoid overloading outlets and use surge protectors for holiday décor.
Drains & Garbage Disposal
As I previously alluded to, holiday cooking puts extra pressure on your drains.
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Don’t overload your disposal. Scrape food scraps into the trash first.
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Avoid putting these down the drain: potato skins, green chile skins, eggshells, pasta/rice, and coffee grounds.
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When it comes to disposals, moderation is key. Small bits are fine, but never dump large amounts at once down the drain.
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Run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal to keep things moving smoothly.
Bonus Comfort Tips
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Reverse ceiling fans to push warm air down.
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Stock up on furnace filters so you don’t run out mid-season.
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Check weather seals on garage doors to help protect plumbing in attached garages.
Download a Checklist
Want a helpful checklist to help you keep track of everything that needs to be done this season? Download it here.
Let TLC Do It for You
If this list of fall home maintenance tips feels like a lot, you’re not alone. TLC offers a Preventive Maintenance Agreement that takes these seasonal chores off your plate. Their team inspects and maintains your heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems regularly so you can stop worrying about surprise breakdowns and get back to enjoying the season.
Click here to learn more about TLC’s Preventive Maintenance Plan.
Because this time of year should be about cozy gatherings, not emergency repairs.
