Fall to Winter Home Maintenance: What Missouri Homeowners Should Know

The leaves are mostly down (which seems to have happened really fast this year, right?), the furnace is running again, and the first hard freeze is either here or right around the corner. For homeowners in St. Charles, St. Louis, Franklin, Warren, and Lincoln counties, this is one of the most important maintenance windows of the year. A few hours of work in November can head off a frozen pipe in January.

Every Tech Inspect report comes with InterNACHI's seasonal maintenance checklists, and the fall and winter cards are the two that matter most right now. They're short on purpose, so they don't tell you why each item is on the list or which ones to knock out first.

To get a Missouri home ready for winter, start with anything involving water, then move to fire and carbon monoxide safety. Disconnect garden hoses, drain outdoor faucets, blow out the irrigation system, clean the gutters, and make sure everyone knows where the main water shutoff is. Then test smoke and CO alarms, have the furnace serviced, have the chimney inspected if you burn wood, and clean the dryer vent. Finish with the energy items: caulk, weatherstripping, storm windows, and a sensible thermostat schedule.

Why does fall-to-winter maintenance matter so much?

Winter is hard on a house in two ways. Water left in the wrong place freezes and expands with enough force to break a pipe, metal or plastic. And the furnace, the fireplace, and the dryer work harder now than at any other time of year.

When we help clients sort through a report, safety items and anything involving water go to the top of the list. The same order works for a seasonal checklist. Most of the expensive problems we document started as a small water problem that nobody caught. (More on that in how to prioritize home inspection defects.)

What should you do first to protect your home from water this winter?

Disconnect and drain your garden hoses. A hose left on the faucet can trap water right where it'll freeze. If your outdoor faucets have a shutoff valve inside the house, close it, then open the outdoor faucet so the line can drain. The American Red Cross lists hose bibs, sprinkler lines, and pipes in unheated crawlspaces, garages, and attics among the pipes that freeze most often.

Get the irrigation system blown out & winterized. Sprinkler lines are on that same list.

Clean the gutters one last time. Once the leaves finish dropping, clear the gutters and make sure the downspouts carry water well away from the house. Going into winter with clogged gutters invites ice dams and water problems at the foundation. Here's why downspouts need to drain away from the house.

Check the caulk around tubs, showers, and toilets. When bathroom caulk fails, water seeps into the subfloor, where it can sit unnoticed for a long time. Check the tub overflow gasket while you're in there. It's a common leak point.

Look for leaks under sinks, around the base of the water heater, and behind the washing machine. A small drip is a cheap fix in November.

Where are your shutoffs, and does everyone know how to use them?

The winter card says responsible family members should know where the main gas valve is and how it works. We'd add the main water shutoff and the electrical panel to that list. When a pipe bursts, the faster the water gets shut off, the less damage it does.

The InterNACHI Standards of Practice have the inspector describe where the main water and fuel shutoff valves are, so if we inspected your home, check your report (here's an example). Inspectors don't operate those valves, though, because a valve that hasn't moved in years can break or start leaking when it's turned. Find yours now, on a calm day, and if it looks corroded, have a plumber check it before you need it.

If you ever smell gas (that rotten egg smell) or hear hissing, get everyone out without flipping any switches, and call your gas company or 911 once you're outside. That's the same guidance Spire gives its customers.

How do you keep pipes from freezing during a cold snap?

When a hard freeze is in the forecast, the Red Cross recommends a few simple steps:

• Open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air can reach the pipes.

• Let cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes.

• Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.

• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night.

• If you're traveling, leave the heat on and set it no lower than 55°F.

For plumbing in a crawlspace or along an exterior wall, pipe sleeves or heat cable can add protection. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on heat cable to the letter.

Which safety items should you check before the heating season ramps up?

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The fall card says to clean the covers and change the batteries. The NFPA recommends testing alarms monthly and replacing smoke alarms every 10 years. Many newer alarms have sealed 10-year batteries, so there's nothing to swap. If one of those starts chirping, replace the whole unit. Replace CO alarms on the schedule the manufacturer lists.

Have the furnace serviced. A tune-up now beats a no-heat call in January. Change the filter while you're at it (here's how often). After a snow, clear drifts away from any furnace or water heater vent that exits through an outside wall. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that a blocked vent can let carbon monoxide build up inside.

Have the chimney inspected. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys and fireplaces, calls for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents to be inspected at least once a year. If you burn wood, a certified chimney sweep can clean the flue, check the damper, and clear out any nests. Our wood stove and fireplace guide goes deeper.

Clean the dryer vent. The winter card covers the exhaust duct, the damper, and the space under the dryer. A U.S. Fire Administration report found that home dryer fires peak in January and that failure to clean was the leading contributing factor. Empty the lint screen every load, too.

Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and filter before the holiday cooking starts.

Keep firewood at least 20 feet from the foundation. That's straight from the winter card. Wood stacked against the house gives termites an easy path in, and Missouri sits in a moderate-to-heavy termite risk zone. [LINK PENDING: termites/WDO post]

Test the GFCI outlets and check the holiday lights. Press TEST, then RESET. The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends doing this monthly and replacing any GFCI that won't trip or won't reset. Keep decoration connections tight, plug outdoor decorations into GFCI-protected outlets, and clear any nests out of exterior light fixtures.

Test the generator, and run it safely. The CPSC says portable generators belong outside only, at least 20 feet from the house with the exhaust pointed away. Never run one in a garage, basement, crawlspace, or on a porch, even with the doors open.

Put the lawn equipment away. The fall card says to run gas-powered equipment until the fuel is gone. Check your owner's manual too, since storage instructions vary by manufacturer.

How can you lower your heating bill this winter?

Seal up windows and doors. The winter card says to check the caulk and weatherstripping. The U.S. Department of Energy says heat gain and loss through windows accounts for 25 to 30 percent of the energy a home uses for heating and cooling.

Swap the screens for storm windows. The fall card says now's the time, and the flyer points to storm windows as a good option for single-pane windows.

Set a thermostat schedule, with one exception. The Department of Energy says turning the thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day, like while you're asleep or at work, can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling. A programmable or smart thermostat does it for you. The exception is a hard freeze, when the Red Cross recommends a steady temperature day and night to protect the pipes. If you have a heat pump, check with your HVAC contractor first, since DOE notes setbacks don't always pay off with heat pumps.

Insulate, and keep the attic breathing. If you're adding attic insulation, make sure it doesn't bury the soffit vents at the eaves. Baffles at the eaves let the attic have both insulation and airflow. Case Study: Attic Ventilation

A quick note on tax credits. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit ended for improvements placed in service after December 31, 2025, so check with your electric and gas utility for current rebates before you buy, and talk with a tax professional about your situation.

Does your home need anything extra this winter?

Older homes. Plumbing in crawlspaces and exterior walls is on the Red Cross's freeze-prone list, so the pipe tips above matter even more.

Rural properties. On a private well? The pressure tank and any piping in an unheated well house or pit need the same freeze protection as a hose bib. Heating with propane? Keep an eye on the tank gauge and keep a clear path to the tank for the delivery truck.

Winter travelers. Keep the heat at 55°F or higher and have someone check on the house while you're gone. A slow leak is a lot easier to deal with on day two than on day ten.

Newer homes. Bought a new build about a year ago? Check your warranty paperwork for the exact expiration date. An 11-Month Warranty Inspection scheduled a few weeks before the deadline gives you time to document issues and get them in front of the builder.

Hot Tubs. Read the manual, keep it with the circulation pump running 24x7 or drain it if you'll be out of town for an extended period of time.

How does an annual maintenance inspection help?

Some homeowners like a trained set of eyes on the whole house once a year. Our Annual Maintenance Inspection is built for current homeowners: you schedule around your calendar, tell us what's worrying you, and get an updated report that includes the equipment tags (model and serial numbers) for your major systems, plus contractor recommendations for anything we find. Thermal imaging is included at no additional cost.

Planning a home inspection before selling in the spring? A pre-listing inspection this winter gives you time to get quotes and handle repairs on your own timeline. Here's why a pre-listing inspection is a seller's best secret weapon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get my house ready for winter in Missouri? Start with water: disconnect and drain garden hoses, blow out the irrigation system, clean the gutters, and learn where the main water shutoff is. Then cover safety: test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, have the furnace serviced, have the chimney inspected if you burn wood, and clean the dryer vent. Finish with caulk, weatherstripping, and storm windows.

What temperature should I leave my heat on when I travel in the winter? The American Red Cross recommends leaving the heat on and setting it no lower than 55°F while you're away during cold weather, to help keep the pipes from freezing.

Should I turn my thermostat down at night in the winter? Usually, yes. The U.S. Department of Energy says turning the thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling. During a hard freeze, the Red Cross recommends holding a steady temperature to protect pipes. Heat pump owners should check with their HVAC contractor first.

How often should I test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms? Once a month, using the test button. The NFPA recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years. Alarms with sealed 10-year batteries should be replaced as a whole unit when they chirp, and CO alarms should be replaced on the manufacturer's schedule.

How often should a chimney be inspected? At least once a year. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents, calls for an annual inspection, with cleaning and repairs done as needed.

How far from the house should firewood be stored? InterNACHI's winter home maintenance checklist recommends keeping firewood stored outdoors at least 20 feet from the home's foundation.

Are there still federal tax credits for energy-efficient home upgrades? The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) ended for improvements placed in service after December 31, 2025. Check with your utility for current rebate programs and talk with a tax professional about your situation.

What does a home inspector look for during an annual maintenance inspection? At Tech Inspect, the Annual Maintenance Inspection follows the same InterNACHI Standards of Practice as our other complete home inspections, covering the major systems from the roof to the foundation, with thermal imaging included. The report also documents equipment tags for the major systems to help you plan repairs and replacements.

Want help getting your home through the winter?

Grab the free checklists. Our resources page has all four InterNACHI seasonal checklists, plus the life-expectancy chart and planning template we include with every report.

Ask about anything you find. If this list turns up a question, or you want help deciding what to tackle first, reach out. Post-inspection support is part of what we do.

Book an annual check. Schedule an Annual Maintenance Inspection and get an updated report on your home's condition.

Tech Inspect Home Services LLC · 3580 Highway T, Marthasville, MO 63357 · 636-201-6366 · sean@techinspecthome.com