When summer is becoming a distant memory, there's frost on the windshield and you can see your breath in the morning, it's time to finish fall maintenance. There's nothing better than hibernating the winter away in a clean safe toasty-warm house provided in part by your fall maintenance diligence. As a homeowner there will always be unforeseen problems around the house, but many can be avoided by proper maintenance and prevention planning. Winter weather can wear down and age the exterior of the home and even cause damage, but it can all be reduced by regular maintenance.

One important fall maintenance ritual should be making sure the gutters and downspouts are clear and working properly. Summer storms blow leaves onto the roof and into the gutters and annual fall foliage can accumulate in and block the gutter system. This in turn, allows snow and ice to fill and overflow the gutters causing ice to back up onto the roof, gutters to pull away from the house and melting ice to seep into attics and foundations. It is much easier and much less expensive to have the gutter system cleaned in the fall than to repair roof and foundation damage.

After the gutters are cleaned, the leaves are raked and the gardens and lawn are tended for the winter, the landscaping and gardening equipment can be cleaned and put away for the season. Make any repairs and replace any parts as needed to be ready for a fresh start in the spring.

If your home is equipped with a fireplace and it's already been cleaned and the chimney has been swept and inspected by a professional, it's a good time to stack some seasoned firewood in a dry, accessible area for ready use. Order or split more wood and have it stacked, seasoned and ready for when it's needed. Seasoning can take several months, so if you have any fresh green wood, burn the older seasoned wood first.

Mick Telkamp writing for hgtv.com explains, "Green (freshly cut) wood retains a lot of moisture. It'll burn, but it won't burn well. Inefficient, smoky and likely to release a lot of creosote (tar), green wood is not fireplace-friendly." Also, make sure saws and other tools are in good working order and in a convenient place and the furnace has had its annual cleaning.

In preparation for heating season carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working properly. A working carbon monoxide detector can save lives and prevent poisoning as carbon monoxide is odorless and symptoms can be mistaken for the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "Gas- and oil-burning furnaces produce carbon monoxide (CO). CO is an invisible, odorless, poison gas that kills hundreds every year and makes thousands more sick." Install at least one carbon monoxide detector and change the battery once a year. Smoke detectors should also be tested at this time and the batteries changed annually.

Completing these basic, but important, fall maintenance tasks will help provide the peace of mind and security of knowing your home is safe and warm.