Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for Northern Virginia

Finish fall home maintenance in Northern Virginia by the first frost: mid-October at Dulles, early November in Arlington. Those dates are averages, so in about half of years the cold comes sooner. Start with the jobs that have a deadline: book a heating tune-up now, clean the gutters once the leaves are down, and drain the outdoor faucets before the first hard freeze.

Your fall home maintenance checklist

Each row says when to do the job, whether it's one you can do yourself, and where to book it if you'd rather hand it off.

When is the first frost in Northern Virginia?

It depends on which side of NoVA you live on. Arlington and Alexandria, near Reagan National Airport, get their first frost 3–4 weeks later than western Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, near Dulles.

These are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for Washington Dulles and Reagan National airports, as of September 2026. Each date is a 50/50 point: in half of years, that first cold night comes sooner. So use them like this:

• By the first frost: have the heating checked and the alarms tested, because those are the first nights you'll want the heat on.
• By the first hard freeze: have the outdoor faucets and irrigation drained.
• If you live between the two airports, plan by the earlier date.

What should you do outside before the first frost?

When should you clean the gutters in fall?

Wait until most of the leaves are down, then clear the gutters and check that the downspouts run freely and empty away from the house. Gutters packed with leaves can't carry rain to the downspouts, so it spills over the edge next to your foundation. If big trees overhang the roof, plan on a second pass later in the season.

If the roof is high or steep, or you'd rather stay off the ladder, book gutter cleaning and pressure washing.

When should you winterize outdoor faucets?

Before the first hard freeze: on average November 4 on the Dulles side and December 3 near Reagan National. Earlier is better, since those dates are averages.

1. Disconnect every hose, drain it and store it.
2. Close the shut-off valve inside the house that feeds each outdoor faucet.
3. Open the outdoor faucet so the water left in the pipe runs out.

If you can't find an inside shut-off, the valve won't close fully, or the faucet still drips once it's off, book plumbing repair before the freeze.

Shut down the irrigation system

Do it at the same time as the faucets: turn off the water to the system and drain it the way its manual says. If the manual calls for blowing the lines out with compressed air, the company that installed or services the system can do it.

Clear leaves and yard debris

Rake or blow leaves off the lawn, walkways, patio and window wells, and out of the beds you want to keep tidy. Leaf collection works differently in each county and city, so check your local rules before you bag them. For a big yard or a lot of trees, book fall yard cleanup.

Re-caulk around windows and doors while it's still warm enough

Walk around the house and look where window and door frames meet the siding or brick. Cracked, shrunken or missing caulk lets in water and air. Every caulk has its own limits, so check the label for its minimum application temperature, and finish before the days drop below it. If there's a lot to redo, or the windows are high, book caulking and sealing.

Check fences and decks for loose boards

Look for loose or split boards, popped nails and screws, and wobbly posts or railings, and fix the small things before winter. If a post has to come out, contact Virginia 811 at least three working days before you dig, even with a hand post-hole digger. It's free: call 811 or submit a ticket at va811.com (as of September 2026).

What should you do inside before it gets cold?

When should you service your furnace?

Book the heating tune-up now, before the first cold week. For a furnace, heat pump or other heating system, book HVAC maintenance, and ask when you book what the visit covers.

Then test the heat yourself on a mild day. Switch the thermostat to heat and set it a few degrees above the room temperature. If nothing comes on, or you hear, see or smell anything unusual, switch it off and book heating repair.

Replace the HVAC filter

The size is printed on the edge of the old filter, so photograph it before you shop. Write the date on the new filter's frame so you know when it went in.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Press the test button on every alarm, and replace the battery in any that chirps. Heating season is when fuel-burning appliances run the most, so if your home has a gas furnace, a gas water heater, a fireplace or an attached garage, make sure it has working carbon monoxide alarms. While you're up there, check the date on the back of each alarm against the manufacturer's replacement advice.

For hardwired alarms, or to add alarms where you have none, book smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation.

Seal drafts

On a cold or windy day, feel for moving air around window sashes, door edges, the attic hatch, and where pipes and cables pass through outside walls. Worn weatherstripping and door sweeps can be replaced, and gaps around interior trim can be caulked.

Check the water heater for leaks

Look at the floor around the base, and at the pipes and fittings on top, for water, drips or rust. Only look: leave the gas controls, burner and valves alone. If you find water or rust, book plumbing repair.

What should you book early?

Two fall jobs tend to fill up fast: heating tune-ups once the first cold snap arrives, and gutter cleaning after the first big leaf fall. Book the tune-up now, and book the gutter cleaning now too, for a date after most of the leaves are down.

Which fall jobs need a licensed professional?

Anything that involves gas lines, gas valves or the furnace's burners is work for a licensed HVAC or gas-fitting professional, not a do-it-yourself job. In Virginia, HVAC and plumbing work done for pay needs a tradesman license from DPOR (the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation), or the supervision of someone who holds one, and gas fitters need licenses too (Code of Virginia § 54.1-1129, as of September 2026).

Whoever you hire, check before you book gas or HVAC work: look up the license for free on DPOR's License Lookup and ask for proof of insurance. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm with DPOR.

Get the heating tune-up on the calendar

Pick the jobs you'd rather hand off and book them before the first frost. Start with the heat: book HVAC maintenance with an independent local Pro before the first cold week.

Last updated September 2026.