14 Mistakes Homeowners Make Every Fall – Bob Vila

Fall is the season of cozy. Sweaters. Soup. Football. Pumpkin-flavored everything. Unfortunately, your house doesn’t care about vibesit cares about water, wind, fire, and the kind of cold that turns tiny problems into “Why is my ceiling bubbling?” problems.

This is why home-improvement legends like Bob Vila have been preaching the same gospel for decades: handle the boring stuff before winter shows up with receipts. The good news? Most fall maintenance is cheap, fast, and deeply satisfyinglike crossing things off a list with a marker so thick it sounds like confidence.

Below are the 14 most common fall homeowner mistakes, why they matter, and what to do insteadwritten in plain, standard American English, with specific examples and zero “just manifest a better roof” energy.

Why Fall Maintenance Matters (Even If Your House “Seems Fine”)

Fall is the last calm checkpoint before winter stress-tests your home. Leaves clog drainage. Temperature swings cause expansion and contraction. Heating systems wake up from summer naps. Rodents start house-hunting like they’re browsing open houses on a deadline.

Most expensive winter disasters start as tiny fall oversights: a gutter clog, a missing shingle, a drafty door, a neglected alarm. Fixing them now usually costs a weekend. Ignoring them can cost… a season.

The 14 Mistakes (and the Fixes That Save Your Sanity)

1) Waiting Too Long to Clean Gutters and Downspouts

If gutters are stuffed with leaves, water spills where it shouldn’t: over siding, near foundations, andwhen temperatures dropinto ice that can pry things apart.

Do this instead: Clean gutters more than once during heavy leaf fall. Confirm downspouts actually discharge away from the house (not into a puddle that becomes an ice rink).

Example: A single clogged corner can overflow for weeks, quietly saturating soil near the foundation. Then you notice the basement smells “earthy.” That’s not autumn charmthat’s moisture.

2) Skipping a Roof Check Because “I Don’t See Any Leaks”

Many roof problems are invisible from inside until damage is already underway. Fall is a smart time to inspect before cold weather makes repairs harder (and riskier).

Do this instead: Use binoculars from the ground. Look for missing/curling shingles, damaged flashing around chimneys and vents, and debris that traps moisture.

Pro tip: If you see shingle granules piling up in gutters, that can signal a roof aging faster than you’d like.

3) Forgetting to Check Flashing, Caulk, and Exterior Seams

Water doesn’t need an open doorjust a hairline gap around flashing, trim, vents, or where siding meets something else.

Do this instead: Walk your exterior. Look at window/door trim, hose bibs, utility entries, and any cracked or missing caulk. Re-caulk where appropriate and repair failing seals before freeze-thaw cycles widen them.

4) Ignoring Chimney and Fireplace Maintenance

Fireplaces are greatuntil they’re not. Creosote buildup, blockages, or damaged liners can create serious fire and indoor-air risks.

Do this instead: Schedule an inspection/cleaning with a qualified chimney professional before the heavy-use season. If you smell smoke in the house when the damper is closed, don’t “see if it goes away.” It won’t, not in a fun way.

5) Turning On the Heat Without a Furnace/Heat System Check

Heating equipment works hardest when it’s coldestexactly when you don’t want surprises.

Do this instead: Have your system serviced as recommended, and replace or clean filters on a schedule that matches your home (pets, allergies, heavy use). A clogged filter makes the system work harder and can reduce comfort.

Quick win: Put a filter-change reminder on your phone. Future-you will feel personally loved.

6) Forgetting to Test Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

Fall is when you start using more heat sourcesfurnaces, fireplaces, space heatersso alarms matter more, not less.

Do this instead: Test alarms regularly, replace batteries per manufacturer guidance, and replace old units when they’ve reached end-of-life (many smoke alarms are recommended for replacement around the 10-year mark).

7) Leaving Garden Hoses Attached (and Not Winterizing Outdoor Water)

A hose left connected can trap water in the faucet assembly. When it freezes, it expands. When water expands, it breaks thingsquietlyuntil you turn the water on later and discover a surprise indoor waterfall.

Do this instead: Disconnect hoses, drain them, shut off interior valves to outdoor spigots if you have them, and drain lines where applicable. If you have irrigation, follow proper winterization steps for your system and climate.

8) “I’ll Seal Drafts Later” (Spoiler: Later Is Colder and More Expensive)

Air leaks waste energy and reduce comfort. Sealing them can make rooms feel warmer even before you touch the thermostat.

Do this instead: Add weatherstripping at doors, caulk around windows, and seal obvious gaps around utility penetrations. Focus on big leaks firstattic hatches, basement rim joists, and leaky door sweeps often pay off fast.

9) Underestimating the Attic (Where Ice Dams and Heat Loss Begin)

Ice dams often form when attic heat melts roof snow, which refreezes at colder roof edges. That ice can back water up under shingles.

Do this instead: Improve attic air sealing and insulation, and make sure ventilation is appropriate for your roof design. If you’ve had ice dams before, take it seriouslyprevention beats emergency roof-raking in slippery boots.

10) Forgetting the Water Heater Until It Fails on a Holiday Weekend

Sediment buildup can reduce efficiency and shorten the life of a tank. Small leaks can become big leaks, especially when no one’s looking.

Do this instead: Do the maintenance your water heater manual recommends (often including periodic flushing/draining and checking key safety components). If you see corrosion, moisture around the base, or inconsistent hot water, investigate before it becomes a flood.

11) Neglecting Dryer Vent Cleaning and Exhaust Fan Venting

Lint is extremely flammable. A clogged vent also makes the dryer work harder, increasing wear and drying time.

Do this instead: Clean the lint trap every load (always), and clean the dryer vent line routinely (many homeowners aim for at least annually, more often with heavy use or long vent runs). Confirm bathroom/kitchen fans vent outdoorsnot into an attic.

Clue you’re overdue: Clothes take longer to dry, the laundry room feels humid, or the dryer runs hotter than usual.

12) Doing Yard Cleanup “Whenever” (Instead of When It Actually Helps)

Leaf piles on lawns can smother grass and create slick, soggy messes. Overgrown branches can rub roofs, dump debris into gutters, or snap in storms.

Do this instead: Keep leaves under control, trim branches that overhang the roof (safely), and time lawn work appropriately for your region. Many cool-season lawns benefit from early-fall seeding and fall feeding.

13) Ignoring Cracks in Driveways, Walks, Steps, and Caulked Masonry Joints

Freeze-thaw cycles can turn a small crack into a bigger crack. Water gets in, freezes, expands, and the crack grows like it has a gym membership.

Do this instead: Clean and fill cracks using materials appropriate to the surface (asphalt vs. concrete), and seal when conditions are right. Also check steps and handrailswinter is not the season to discover something wobbly.

14) Using Space Heaters and Generators Like the Laws of Physics Are Optional

When temperatures drop, people get creative. Unfortunately, “creative heating” can be dangerous.

Do this instead: Keep portable heaters well away from anything that can burn. Plug electric heaters directly into a wall outlet (not a power strip). For generators: run them outside, far from doors, windows, and vents, to reduce carbon monoxide risk. If your home loses power often, plan safe backup heat and safe charging/lighting nownot during a storm.

A Practical Fall Game Plan (So This Doesn’t Feel Like a Second Job)

• Weekend 1 (Outside): gutters/downspouts, roof look-over, driveway cracks, seal obvious exterior gaps, yard cleanup
• Weekend 2 (Inside): HVAC filter + service scheduling, smoke/CO alarm test, dryer vent cleaning, water heater check
• First cold snap: winterize outdoor water, confirm thermostat settings, check doors for drafts

Experience-Based Lessons Homeowners Repeat Every Fall (About )

Every fall, the same stories show up in neighborhoods across the countrybecause the mistakes are so human. They’re not about being lazy; they’re about being busy, optimistic, and mildly allergic to ladders.

The “One Storm Too Late” gutter story: A homeowner notices a maple has started dropping leaves early. They think, “I’ll clean the gutters next weekend.” Then the weekend turns into two, and the first heavy rain hits. Water sheets over the gutter edge like a tiny waterfall featureright onto a flower bed that becomes a swamp. Nothing looks catastrophic, so life continues. A month later, they spot staining on siding and a damp smell downstairs. The fix ends up being three tasks instead of one: clean gutters, correct downspout discharge, and address moisture that never needed to happen in the first place.

The “It’s just a draft” door story: Someone feels cold air at the front door and shrugs because, hey, it’s fall. By January, the entryway is basically a wind tunnel. They crank the thermostat, then wonder why the living room still feels chilly. Once they finally add a door sweep and replace weatherstripping, the difference is immediatelike the house stops arguing with the heater. The lesson: sealing drafts is one of the rare home projects where you can feel the return on investment the same day.

The “mystery water” hose-bib story: Outdoor hoses stay connected “because it’s not freezing yet.” Then a sudden cold night rolls through. Weeks lateroften when someone turns water back on or uses an interior valvethere’s dripping inside a wall near the hose bib. That’s the moment the phrase “I wish I had…” becomes a lifestyle. Disconnecting hoses takes two minutes. Drying out walls takes… well, longer than two minutes.

The “dryer takes forever” story: People assume the dryer is “getting old,” but the real issue is airflow. The vent line gradually collects lint, especially if it’s long, bends a lot, or gets crushed behind the machine. Clothes start taking two cycles. The laundry room gets hot. The electric bill creeps up. Then somebody cleans the vent and suddenly the dryer performs like it drank an espresso. The bigger lesson: safety tasks often come with comfort and efficiency bonuses.

The “alarm chirp ignore-fest” story: A smoke alarm chirps at 2 a.m., and someone pulls the battery “temporarily.” Temporarily becomes “until I remember,” which becomes “until I forget.” Fall is the best time to reset the whole system: test, replace batteries per instructions, and replace old units. It’s boringuntil it matters more than almost anything else on the list.

Conclusion

Fall maintenance isn’t about perfectionit’s about preventing small issues from becoming winter emergencies. Pick the top three mistakes you’re most likely to make (everyone has favorites), tackle them this week, and your house will reward you with fewer surprises, lower stress, and a much better chance of making it through winter without a single “Why is there water there?” moment.