ChecklistsPre-winter home maintenance checklist
A short seasonal checklist covering heating, plumbing, the roof and the building envelope, with a clear split between homeowner tasks and professional work.
By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated August 26, 2026
Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.
Before cold weather, focus on four things: make sure the heating system is serviced and safe, protect plumbing from freezing, keep water off and away from the building, and close the obvious gaps in the envelope. Most of the list is homeowner work. Heating service, chimney inspection and anything on the roof surface are not.
Heating
- Book annual heating service before the first cold snap
- Replace the filter and clear anything stored around the furnace
- Test the thermostat, including any schedule you use in winter
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries
- Have a chimney or wood stove flue inspected before first use
Plumbing
- Shut off and drain exterior hose bibs and irrigation lines
- Insulate pipes in unheated garages, crawl spaces and attics
- Know where the main shutoff valve is and confirm it turns
- If the house will be empty, keep heat on at a low set point
Want a professional to handle part of the list?
Find a home service proRoof, gutters and drainage
- Clear gutters and downspouts after leaf fall
- Check that downspouts discharge away from the foundation
- Look for lifted or missing shingles from the ground with binoculars
- Check the attic for damp insulation, daylight and blocked soffit vents
Envelope and outside
- Seal gaps around doors, windows and penetrations
- Replace worn weatherstripping and door sweeps
- Trim branches that overhang the roof or service lines
- Store or cover outdoor furniture and drain and store hoses
Common questions
- What is the single most valuable item on this list?
- Heating service and working carbon monoxide alarms, because those are the safety items. Freeze protection for plumbing is the next most valuable, since a burst pipe causes the most damage per hour.
- How late is too late?
- Booking heating service after the first freeze normally means a longer wait, since that is when demand peaks. Earlier in autumn is easier to schedule.