The fall home maintenance checklist: 9 fixes to make before winter

Seal the gaps you can feel

Walk your home on a windy day and put your hand near door frames, window sashes, and where pipes enter walls. If you feel air moving, so does your heating bill. Weatherstripping and caulk are among the cheapest fixes a pro can make, and a single visit can cover every opening in the house.

• Weatherstrip exterior doors and check the sweep at the bottom
• Caulk window trim and any gaps around outdoor faucets and vents
• Add outlet gaskets on exterior walls — a surprising source of drafts

Clear gutters and check downspouts

Clogged gutters are the single most common cause of ice dams and foundation water problems. They need to be clear after the leaves drop, not before — so late fall is the right time. While someone is up there, have them check that downspouts discharge at least a few feet from the foundation.

Protect the plumbing before the first freeze

Disconnect garden hoses, shut off and drain exterior faucets if you have interior shutoff valves, and insulate any exposed pipe in crawl spaces, garages, or along exterior walls. A burst pipe is one of the most expensive repairs a homeowner can face — and one of the most preventable.

Safety checks that take minutes

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries — you will be running the furnace and fireplace soon. Tighten loose handrails and stair treads before ice makes them critical. Replace any burned-out exterior bulbs so walkways stay lit on dark afternoons.

Bundle it into one visit

Almost everything on this list is a small job, and small jobs are where a handyman visit shines. Instead of booking four separate trips, hand your pro the whole list — most will work through it in a half day, and you pay one minimum service fee instead of four.