Your 2026 Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

September in St. Louis means cooler weather is right around the corner. So while the weather is still cooperative, this is the time to tackle some fall home maintenance projects.

Here's what’s our our list:

1. Have Your HVAC System Checked
Don't wait until the first freezing night to discover your heat isn't working properly.

Replace your filter if needed, test your heating system, and consider scheduling routine HVAC maintenance before companies hit their busiest season.

It's also a good time to make sure vents and returns aren't blocked by furniture or rugs.

2. Clean + Inspect Your Gutters
Once the leaves start falling, gutters can fill up FAST.

Clean out existing debris and check that gutters and downspouts are securely attached and draining water away from your foundation.

Then plan to check them again later in the season if you have lots of mature trees around your home.

3. Give Your Deck Some Attention
Take advantage of the remaining warm weather to inspect your deck for loose boards, protruding nails or screws, damaged railings, peeling stain, or signs of deterioration.

Depending on its condition and the weather, you may also have time to clean or seal it before winter.

4. Clean Up Your Landscaping
Fall isn't necessarily the end of your yard work.

Trim back plants as appropriate, remove dead or damaged growth, clear debris away from the house, and keep leaves from piling up around exterior drains and other areas where you don't want trapped moisture.

It's also a great time to take note of branches that could become a problem during winter storms.

5. Check Exterior Caulking
Walk around the exterior of your house and inspect caulking around windows, doors, and other openings.

Cracked or deteriorating caulk can allow drafts and moisture inside, and fixing small gaps now is much easier than dealing with water damage later.

6. Check Your Windows + Doors for Drafts
Before you're paying to heat the house, make sure that warm air is actually staying inside.

Check weatherstripping around doors and windows and replace anything that's worn, loose, or missing. While you're there, clean the window tracks and make sure everything opens, closes, and locks properly.

7. Take Care of Outdoor Faucets + Hoses
You don't necessarily need to winterize everything in September, but put this one on your radar before freezing temperatures arrive.

Disconnect garden hoses, drain them, and properly winterize exterior faucets and irrigation systems when appropriate for your setup.

8. Check Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Fall is an easy seasonal reminder to test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector in the house. Replace batteries when needed and check the age of the units themselves, because detectors don't last forever.

9. Inspect Your Fireplace + Chimney
Planning cozy fires this fall or winter? If you have a wood-burning fireplace, make sure the fireplace and chimney are in safe working condition before you use them. If it's due for a professional cleaning or inspection, schedule it before fireplace season gets into full swing.

10. Do a Quick Exterior Walk-Around
Finally, take ten minutes and simply walk around your house.

Look at the roof from the ground. Check siding. Notice drainage. Look for cracks, damage, loose materials, or anything else that seems different than it did earlier in the year.

You don't have to become a home inspector. You're simply trying to catch the small problem while it's still a small problem.

A Little Maintenance Now Goes a Long Way
Home maintenance isn't the most exciting part of homeownership, but staying ahead of it can save you a whole lot of frustration (and potentially money!) later.