Fall home checklist: A weekend of chores that saves Shreveport–Bossier homeowners money later

Fall is a good time to fix small problems before winter cold snaps and spring storms. Here’s a checklist you can mostly do yourself in a weekend, with notes on when to call a pro.

Outside: roof, gutters and drainage

• Walk around the house and look up. From the ground (binoculars help), look for missing, lifted or creased shingles, nail heads poking up, and damaged flashing around chimneys and vents. Make a note of anything that changed after summer storms.
• Clean gutters and downspouts once most leaves have fallen. Clogged gutters overflow onto the fascia boards and the foundation.
• Make sure downspouts drain away from the house. Extensions or splash blocks keep water off the slab and out of the crawlspace.
• Trim limbs that hang over the roof or touch the house. Leave big limbs, and anything near power lines, to a tree service. Never trim near power or service lines yourself.
• Re-caulk and weatherstrip gaps around windows and doors.

Safety first: Stay off the roof if it’s steep or wet, or if you’re not sure. If you spot damage, have a licensed, insured contractor look at it. Here’s how to vet one.

Inside: heating and safety

• Replace the HVAC filter and test the heat before the first cold night. A short “dust burn-off” smell is common the first time. Any other odd smell is a reason to call a technician.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says to test them monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year, unless they have sealed 10-year batteries. It recommends CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
• Get chimneys and heating equipment cleaned and inspected by a professional each year, as the U.S. Fire Administration advises. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from fireplaces, wood stoves and space heaters.
• Clean the dryer vent. The CPSC says to clean lint out of the vent pipe at least once a year, clean the lint filter before or after each load, and make sure the outside vent flap opens when the dryer runs.

Freeze prep

• Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Cover outdoor faucets.
• Insulate exposed pipes in crawlspaces, attics and outside walls. Our pipe freeze guide has more.
• Find your main water shutoff now, before you need it in a hurry.
• Know where your sprinkler system’s backflow device is and how to protect or drain it.

Storm and emergency readiness

• Build or refresh a household emergency kit. Ready.gov’s list covers water, food, a flashlight, a battery or hand-crank radio, a first aid kit, medicines and copies of important documents.
• Have more than one way to get weather warnings. The National Weather Service in Shreveport issues forecasts and warnings for the ArkLaTex.
• Take dated photos and a video walk-through of your home and roof for insurance records. Our storm damage guide explains why.
• Review your homeowners policy: your wind/hail deductible, roof coverage, and whether you need separate flood insurance.

Want a hands-on class? The Caddo Sheriff’s Office and the NWS are holding a free severe-weather class on Sat., Oct. 24.