đ Your Fall Home Checklist
Lakes Region Edition
Fall in the Lakes Region has a way of sneaking up on us, most years. One week youâre kayaking in a T-shirt, the next youâre hunting for your woodpile and wondering if itâs too soon to turn on the heat. This year, itâs more of a game of peek-a-boo, with some cooler nights, but summer-like days persisting into October.
Donât be fooled though into skipping the usual fall chores, winter is coming! Whether you live here full-time or close things up for the season, autumn is the perfect time to give your home a little love before the deep chill sets in. Hereâs a practical checklist â to make sure you (and your house) are ready for whatever New Hampshire weather decides to throw at us next.
1. Button Up Before the Wind Blows
Check seals around doors and windows for drafts. A quick bead of caulk or a fresh weatherstrip can make a huge difference.
Inspect exterior siding and trim for peeling paint or small gaps â fall moisture loves finding tiny entry points.
While youâre doing that walk around, check foundations for any holes or missing stones. Field mice and other pests can creep into your comparatively warmer basement through small gaps.
If you have storm windows or doors, nowâs the time to swap them in.
Bonus tip: On a windy day, run your hand around window edges. If you feel a breeze, your heating bill will too.
2. Think Roof-to-Gutter
Clear leaves and pine needles from gutters and downspouts â especially if youâre surrounded by maples or white pines.
Check the roof for loose shingles or flashing. Catching small issues now can save you from ice dams later.
Make sure water is flowing away from the foundation â a simple extension on your downspouts works wonders.
3. Prep Your Systems
Schedule a heating system tune-up or at least replace your filters.
Make sure your oil or propane tank is in good condition and order a fuel delivery before they get so busy you have to wait.
Drain outdoor hoses and shut off exterior spigots before that first hard frost sneaks in.
If you have a generator, test it. If you donât â maybe this is the year to change that.
Pro move: Label your circuit breakers while youâre thinking about it. Youâll thank yourself during the next Norâeaster.
4. Protect What You Love Outside
Clean and cover patio furniture â or better yet, pull it into a shed or garage.
Store kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards out of the wind and sun.
If you have a dock, nowâs the time to pull or elevate it for winter storage.
And yes, your outdoor plants need attention too â mulch around perennials and bring in anything that hates frost.
5. Safety & Sanity Checks
Replace smoke and CO detector batteries.
Check your fire extinguisher expiration dates.
Make sure youâve got flashlights (with batteries that actually work)
Stock up on extra gallons of water stashed away. Remember that if youâre on a well, power loss means water loss too!
Local wisdom: An extra cord of wood and a stocked pantry beat a panic trip to Hannaford any day.
6. Make It Cozy
Once the workâs done, itâs time to reward yourself. Normally, we would advise that you light the first fire, pull on the flannel, and let that maple candle burn. But since itâs 81 degrees today, maybe celebrate your readiness by taking a quick dip in the lake or joining the leaf peepers for ice cream at Shibleys.
Because here in the Lakes Region, âhome maintenanceâ is really just an excuse to make the season last a little longer.
Thanks for reading Keys to the Lakes, where we celebrate life between the docks and the mountains â and keeping your Lakes Region home as ready for adventure as you are.
đď¸ â Andrea & Jenn, Keys to the Lakes
