Fall Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Alan Stephens • August 5, 2026

Seasonal Preventative Maintenance

As days shorten, nights become cooler, and the smell of pumpkin spiced lattes fills the air, homeowners should begin to think of and plan for some basic home maintenance items that will help protect your home from the impending winter season. Many of the following items deserve attention throughout the year but are especially important as cold weather approaches.

1. Roof

a. Clean the soffit (under the roof overhangs) vents. These can get clogged up with lint, dust, insulation, and paint.

b. Check the roof vents for residual bird or insect nests. Remove any blockage to these vents to ensure they’re operating as intended.

c. After all leaves have fallen, clean the gutters and downspouts. If gutter guards are installed, check them to confirm they’re secured and in place and that roof valleys aren’t blocked.

d. If the downspouts or sump pumps drain into an underground system, re-direct them to drain to the ground surface when feasible, to prevent backup due to freezing.

2. Exterior

a. Check for missing, loose, or dried-out caulking around doors, windows, pipes, ducts, faucets, air conditioner refrigerant lines, etc.

b. Larger gaps or holes in the foundation or siding are a potential entry point for rodents looking for easy access to heat, food, and water. Plug them with steel wool, spray foam and/or caulk as appropriate.

c. Check weatherstripping around windows and doors. Repair or replace as needed to maintain optimum seal.

d. Wash and seal wood decks and stairways to protect from snow and ice.

3. Plumbing

a. Disconnect all garden hoses. If left attached, even frost-free faucet hose bibs can freeze and result in burst pipes.

b. Winterize your lawn sprinkler system. Hire a professional to drain and blow-out the system with compressed air.

4. HVAC

a. Have your furnace serviced by a professional.

b. Replace the batteries in your thermostats to avoid them failing that one weekend in January that you’re out of town.

c. Clean or replace the furnace filter.

d. Outdoor AC compressor units do NOT need to be completely covered. Doing so can lead to excessive condensation and deterioration of the components. Covering the top to protect the unit from heavy snow or ice may be advisable, depending on the location.

5. Fireplaces

a. If a wood-burning fireplace is part of your home heating strategy, you should have the flue professionally cleaned annually, or every 30-50 fires.

b. Gas logs or inserts should have the dust cleaned from the components prior to firing up for the heating season.

6. Smoke and CO Alarms

a. Clean dust off of the covers of smoke and CO alarms

b. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

c. Test smoke and CO alarms to make sure they work! Smoke alarms are generally good for up to 10 years; CO alarms 5-10 years. Plan to replace them if they exceed that.

d. Confirm that your smoke and CO alarm locations are consistent with the following recommendations:

i. Smoke alarms: in every bedroom plus 1 per common area on each floor of the home.

ii. CO alarms: 1 within 10’ of every sleeping room.

7. Air intakes and exhausts

a. Check intake vents for blockage and clean as needed.

b. Clean the clothes dryer duct.

c. Check the exterior damper on the clothes dryer duct to confirm that the louvers move open and closed freely and completely.

d. Check and clean bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to ensure that dampers open properly, and airflow isn’t reduced by buildup of dust or insects.

8. Lawns and Landscaping

a. Trim shrubs, grasses, and other perimeter growth from contacting your home structure, including the siding and roof to prevent prolonged direct contact and potential damage from moisture.

b. Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone for winter storage.

9. Driveways and walkways

a. Seal asphalt and caulk concrete sidewalks and driveways to prevent water entering cracks, leading to freeze-related damage.

For homeowners that don’t have the time or ability to verify the status of many of the items of this list, Acuity can provide a Home Maintenance Inspection that will help you prioritize and plan for addressing critical issues. Schedule yours today!

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Home Warranties Explained: A Home Inspector's Guide for Buyers

By Alan Stephens • July 21, 2026

After an inspection, one of the first questions we hear is, "Should we get a home warranty?" A warranty can help with unexpected repair bills, but the coverage for major appliances depends on the details. Here is how we tell homeowners to evaluate a plan before they sign. 1. What "covered" really means Most standard plans list refrigerator, oven and range, dishwasher, built-in microwave, washer and dryer. What they often don't highlight is what is not included. Common exclusions are ice makers, water dispensers, door seals and gaskets, racks, handles, and any cosmetic parts. Two clauses matter most for buyers: • Pre-existing conditions: If the inspection report noted an issue, or if there is no proof the appliance was working at closing, the claim can be denied. • Maintenance: If you cannot show routine maintenance, like coil cleaning or filter changes, that can also be used to deny a claim. Keep your inspection report and any receipts. And check the payout cap. That is the absolute max the company will pay per appliance or per year. A $1,500 cap will not fully replace a high-end French door refrigerator. 2. The two costs you are really paying There is the monthly or annual premium, and then the per-visit service fee, usually $75 to $125. That fee is charged every time a technician comes out, even if they do not fix anything on that visit. A cheap premium with a high service fee gets expensive if you have multiple failures in one year. 3. Who is actually doing the repair? A warranty is only as good as its contractor network. In rural areas and smaller towns, networks can be thin, which means longer wait times in the middle of winter or summer. Before you buy, ask: • Do you have licensed techs covering the Omaha area? • What is the guaranteed dispatch window? • Can I use my own contractor with prior approval if no one is available? 4. Add-ons that matter in our area Standard plans rarely cover well pumps, septic systems, second refrigerators in the garage, sump pumps, or roof leaks. If the home has any of those, you will need an add-on. Those extras add to the premium, so price the plan with add-ons included, not just the base price. 5. How to compare companies apples to apples Don't compare the marketing grids. Download the actual sample contract. Look at the same three pages for each provider: • The covered items list and exclusions • The limits and payout caps • The claim process and service fee Big names you will see are American Home Shield, Choice Home Warranty, and First American. They differ mainly on cap amounts, add-on options, and service fee structure. Check recent third-party reviews and your state's complaint history, not just testimonials on their site. Home warranties are often sold as service contracts, so you can also check with the state Attorney General's office for complaint patterns. Bottom line from an inspector's perspective A home warranty is not a replacement for maintenance or for budgeting for replacement. It can be useful for the first year after a purchase, especially when appliances are older but still functional at closing. For some homeowners, putting that same $40 to $80 per month into a dedicated home repair fund makes more financial sense. If you are buying soon, bring your warranty questions to the inspection. We can note the age and condition of the appliances so you know which coverage, if any, makes sense. Schedule an inspection with Acuity Property Inspections and get a clear picture of your appliances, systems, and what to watch for in year one.