In Plano, fall can feel like a welcome break from the Texas heat. Cooler mornings, football season, changing leaves, and finally opening the windows again.
But before you settle into the season, your home deserves a little attention too.
Texas weather has a way of changing its mind. A mild fall can quickly turn into freezing temperatures, heavy rain, strong winds, or an unexpected cold snap. Taking care of a few things around your home now can help you avoid bigger headaches later.
Here are eight areas worth putting on your fall home-maintenance list.
1. Don’t Forget About Your Outside Faucets
Outdoor plumbing is easy to overlook—until a freeze arrives.
Check your exterior faucets and exposed plumbing for leaks or damage. Disconnect garden hoses and consider insulating exposed pipes before freezing temperatures move into the forecast.
Knowing where your home’s main water shut-off valve is located is also important. If a pipe does freeze or burst, knowing how to quickly shut off the water can help limit the damage.
2. Give Your Roof a Once-Over
You don’t need to climb onto the roof to spot every potential problem.
From the ground, look for missing or damaged shingles, damaged flashing, sagging areas, or anything that looks out of place. You can also check your attic for signs of moisture or previous leaks.
If you notice something concerning, have a qualified professional take a closer look.
3. Clean Out the Gutters
Those beautiful fall leaves eventually end up somewhere—and many of them end up in your gutters.
Clogged gutters can prevent water from draining properly and may contribute to water intrusion, damaged siding, or problems around your home’s foundation.
Clear out leaves and debris and make sure your downspouts are directing water away from the house.
4. Test Your Heating System Before You Need It
The first genuinely cold night of the year is not the ideal time to discover that your heater isn’t working.
Have your HVAC system checked if it’s due for service, replace your air filter, and make sure your vents aren’t blocked.
If you use a fireplace, have it inspected and cleaned as recommended. And if you use space heaters, make sure they’re in good condition and positioned safely away from anything that could catch fire.
5. Look Around Your Trees
Take a walk around your property and look up.
Dead branches, damaged limbs, and trees that have become unstable can create problems when strong winds or severe weather move through North Texas.
Pay particular attention to branches hanging over your roof, driveway, vehicles, fences, or other structures.
6. Check Your Doors and Windows
Fall is a great time to find the small gaps that you may not notice during the summer.
Inspect weatherstripping around doors and windows and look for cracked or deteriorating caulk. These areas can allow drafts and moisture into your home.
A few small repairs now can make your home more comfortable once temperatures drop.
7. Look Beyond the House
Your home isn’t the only thing on your property that may need attention.
Check fences, sheds, detached garages, outdoor structures, irrigation systems, and other property features for damage or wear.
It’s also a good time to make sure items that could become dangerous during high winds—such as loose outdoor furniture or decorations—can be secured or stored.
8. Know What Your Insurance Policy Actually Covers
Home maintenance and homeowners insurance serve two different purposes.
Maintenance helps you take care of problems before they happen. Insurance can help protect you when covered, unexpected damage occurs.
That’s why fall is also a good time to review your homeowners policy.
Have you renovated your home? Purchased new furniture, electronics, jewelry, or other valuable belongings? Added a pool or other outdoor feature? Your coverage may need to change as your home and circumstances change.
It’s also important to understand your deductibles and whether certain risks require separate coverage. For example, flood damage is generally not covered by a standard homeowners policy.
A Little Fall Maintenance Can Go a Long Way
You don’t have to spend an entire weekend tackling every project on this list.
Start with the things that could cause the biggest problems if they’re ignored: plumbing, the roof, gutters, heating equipment, trees, and potential water entry.
Then take a few minutes to review your insurance coverage.
Because while you can’t control what Texas weather decides to do this winter, you can control how prepared your home is when it arrives.
Have questions about your homeowners insurance? Sterling Insurance Group is here to help you understand your coverage and make sure your policy keeps up with your home and your life.