Fall Home Checklist for Central Wisconsin: What to Check Before the First Hard Freeze

Quick answer: Before the first hard freeze in Central Wisconsin, have your furnace serviced and change the filter, test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, clean the gutters and extend the downspouts, shut off and drain outdoor faucets, get your irrigation lines blown out, and take a look in the attic for insulation and ventilation problems that cause ice dams. Most of it takes an afternoon. Skipping it can cost you a lot more in February.

Every fall I get calls from homeowners in Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point and Marshfield who want to know what they should be doing before winter. It's a good question to ask in October, because by mid-November the ground is getting hard, the hoses are frozen to the spigot, and nobody wants to be on a ladder.

Here's the list I'd work through.

Start With the Heating System

Your furnace or boiler is going to run more or less nonstop for five months. Fall is the time to find out whether it's ready.

• Change the filter. A clogged filter makes the blower work harder and cuts airflow. If you can't remember the last time you changed it, change it now.
• Schedule a service visit. A licensed HVAC technician can clean the burners, check the flame sensor, and inspect the heat exchanger. That last one matters: a cracked heat exchanger can let combustion gases into your living space.
• Run it before you need it. Turn the heat on during a cool October evening. Listen for unusual noises and pay attention to any burning smell that doesn't clear up after the first few minutes (a little dust burning off is normal).
• Look at the venting. Check that the flue pipe is intact, properly sloped, and firmly connected. On high-efficiency furnaces, make sure the intake and exhaust pipes outside are clear of leaves, nests, and anything stored against the house.

If you heat with wood or have a fireplace, have the chimney cleaned and inspected before the first fire of the season.

Test Every Smoke and CO Alarm

Once the windows close for the season, carbon monoxide has nowhere to go. Press the test button on every smoke and CO alarm in the house, replace batteries, and check the date printed on the back. Alarms don't last forever, and an expired one gives you false confidence.

You want a CO alarm on every level of the home and near the bedrooms. If you have an attached garage or any fuel-burning appliance, this isn't optional.

Gutters, Downspouts and Grading

This is the same advice I give in the spring, and it matters just as much in the fall. When the snow melts in March, all that water needs somewhere to go.

• Clean the leaves out of the gutters after most of the trees have dropped
• Make sure gutters are firmly attached and sloped toward the downspouts
• Extend downspouts at least 4 to 6 feet from the foundation
• Look for low spots along the foundation where water collects, and fill them before the ground freezes

Wet basements in this area usually start outside. Water that pools against the foundation in the fall freezes, expands, and works on your foundation all winter. I covered what that damage looks like in What Wisconsin Winters Actually Do to Your Home.

Outdoor Water: Hose Bibs and Irrigation

Frozen outdoor faucets are one of the most common plumbing problems I see after a Wisconsin winter. And the damage often doesn't show until spring, when you turn the hose on and water runs into the basement wall instead of out the spigot.

• Disconnect every garden hose. A hose left attached traps water in the faucet, even on a frost-free model.
• Shut off and drain non-frost-free spigots from the interior valve, then open the outside faucet to let it drain.
• Blow out the irrigation system. If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, have your irrigation contractor blow out the lines before the first hard freeze. Water left in the lines, valves and backflow preventer can crack them.

If you're not sure what condition your sprinkler system is in, a lawn irrigation inspection in the spring will tell you whether anything was damaged over the winter.

The Attic: Where Ice Dams Start

Ice dams aren't really a roof problem. They're a heat-loss problem. Warm air leaks into the attic, melts the snow on the roof deck, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves.

Fall is the right time to take a look up there with a flashlight:

• Is the insulation evenly spread, or are there bare spots and compressed areas?
• Are the soffit vents blocked by insulation?
• Are there gaps around light fixtures, bath fans, or the attic hatch where warm air can escape?
• Do you see dark staining on the roof sheathing or frost on the nails (signs of moisture)?

This is where thermal imaging earns its place. As an InterNACHI certified thermography inspector, I can use an infrared camera to show where heat is escaping and where insulation is missing, without opening up a wall or ceiling. It works best when there's a solid temperature difference between inside and outside, which makes late fall a good time to do it.

Decks, Railings and Steps

Snow is heavy, and icy steps are a fall risk. Before winter, walk your deck and stairs and check for loose railings, soft or rotted boards, and a ledger board that's pulling away from the house. If something feels wrong, a deck inspection will tell you whether it's a maintenance item or a safety problem.

Doors, Windows and Weatherstripping

On a windy day, hold your hand near the edges of exterior doors and windows. If you feel a draft, the weatherstripping or caulk needs attention. Small gaps add up, and they make your heating system work harder all winter.

Or Let Someone Else Make the List

A lot of homeowners don't have the time, or the comfort level, to go through all of this. That's what an annual home maintenance inspection is for. I go through the home's systems and structure the same way I would for a buyer, with a focus on seasonal concerns like heating, moisture, and the things that tend to fail in our climate. You get a report with photos, so you know what needs attention now and what can wait.

E&R Inspections and Appraisals serves Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Wausau, Marshfield and the surrounding counties across Central Wisconsin. If you'd like a fall checkup before the snow flies, request a quote or give me a call, and we'll find a time that works.

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Eric Bjorkquist is a CCPIA Certified Commercial Inspector and InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector serving Central Wisconsin. Schedule an inspection at www.eandrinspection.com or call 715-213-4554.