October maintenance for a mixed-dry climate

October10 tasks

1. This week
   Before the first freeze (~Oct 24): disconnect hoses and drain outdoor faucets.

   Water left in a hose bib can freeze, split the pipe inside the wall, and only leak when you turn it on in spring.

   How

   Remove hoses, close the indoor shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet if you have one, and open the outside faucet to drain it.

   Before the first freezeTypical first freeze ~Oct 24 (NOAA 1991–2020, 50% date)Ready.gov: Winter weather
2. This week
   Before the first freeze (~Oct 24): shut off and drain or blow out the sprinkler system.

   Frozen water cracks backflow preventers and valves, an expensive spring surprise. (Skip if you have no in-ground irrigation.)

   How

   Close the irrigation shutoff, then drain per the system’s design or book a compressed-air blowout.

   Before the first freezeTypical first freeze ~Oct 24 (NOAA 1991–2020, 50% date)
3. This month
   Press the test button on every smoke and CO alarm.

   An alarm you have not heard in months may have a dead battery or sensor. NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month.

   How

   Hold the test button until it sounds. Anything silent or chirping: replace the battery, or the whole alarm if it is past its date.

   MonthlyEvery homeNFPA: Smoke alarms
4. This month
   Check the HVAC filter and replace it if it is gray or clogged.

   ENERGY STAR advises inspecting filters monthly: a dirty filter raises energy costs and can damage the equipment, leading to early failure.

   How

   Turn the system off, slide the filter out, and match the size printed on its edge. Arrow on the frame points toward the blower.

   Every 3 monthsBecause of a system you told us aboutENERGY STAR: HVAC maintenance checklist
5. This month
   Press TEST and RESET on every GFCI outlet.

   GFCIs in kitchens, baths, garages and outdoors cut power when current leaks to ground. A failed one looks normal until it fails to trip.

   How

   Plug in a lamp, press TEST (the lamp should go off), then RESET. If it does not trip, have an electrician replace it.

   Twice a yearEvery home
6. This month
   Look over the roof, flashing and gutters from the ground with binoculars.

   Missing or lifted shingles, cracked boots around vent pipes and loose flashing are cheap fixes before they leak.

   How

   Walk the whole perimeter. Note anything lifted, missing or rusted and photograph it. Stay off the roof.

   Twice a yearEvery home
7. This month
   Book the furnace or heat-pump check before the heating season.

   A failed ignitor or a weak heat-pump defrost cycle is better found in October than on the first freezing night.

   How

   Change the filter first. Ask for a written list of what was checked and the readings.

   YearlyBecause of a system you told us aboutENERGY STAR: HVAC maintenance checklist
8. This month
   Before the first freeze (~Oct 24): insulate pipes in the crawlspace, garage and exterior walls.

   Pipes in unheated spaces are the ones that freeze. Foam sleeves cost little next to a burst pipe.

   How

   Fit foam pipe sleeves on exposed lines and seal drafts where pipes pass through outside walls.

   Before the first freezeTypical first freeze ~Oct 24 (NOAA 1991–2020, 50% date)Ready.gov: Winter weather
9. Watch
   Clean the dishwasher filter.

   Most current dishwashers have a manual filter; when it clogs, dishes come out dirty and the drain pump strains.

   How

   Twist out the filter at the bottom of the tub, rinse it under the tap and scrub gently with a soft brush.

   Every 3 monthsEvery home
10. Watch
    Replace the whole-house humidifier pad and open its damper for winter.

    A scaled pad stops humidifying and can grow mold. (Skip this if your furnace has no humidifier.)

    How

    Turn off the humidifier water, swap the pad, and set the bypass damper to the winter position.

    YearlyBecause of a system you told us about