Fall Home Maintenance Checklist — Berkeley, California

Have a technician inspect the heat exchanger, clean burners, check gas connections, and test safety controls.

Wait until most leaves have dropped, then clean gutters and downspouts. Install gutter guards if recurring issue.

Disconnect hoses, shut off interior valves to outdoor faucets, and drain the lines.

Use expanding foam or caulk to seal gaps where utilities enter. This prevents cold air infiltration and pest entry.

Turn on the furnace or heat pump and let it run for 30 minutes. Listen for unusual sounds, check for odd smells.

Have the chimney inspected and swept if you burn wood. Check damper operation and firebox condition.

Set fans to clockwise (looking up) on low speed to push warm air down from the ceiling.

Add foam insulation sleeves to pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and attics.

Fall is the best time to aerate compacted soil and overseed thin areas for cool-season grasses. Aeration lets water, air, and nutrients reach grass roots, while overseeding fills in bare spots for a thicker lawn.

Close the door on a dollar bill — if it slides out easily, the seal needs replacing.