Fall home maintenance checklist

ENERGY STAR says to check the heating system in the fall, and the US Fire Administration says heating equipment should be cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.

ENERGY STAR recommends inspecting, cleaning or changing air filters once a month in a central air conditioner, furnace or heat pump.

The US Fire Administration says to maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.

The US Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources, including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters and candles.

The National Weather Service advises taking precautions so that water pipes do not freeze; a hose left connected is the classic way a sill cock splits.

The National Weather Service advises taking precautions to ensure water pipes do not freeze, and pipes in unheated spaces freeze first.

Water left in lines, valves and heads expands when it freezes and cracks them.

EPA advises cleaning and repairing roof gutters regularly, and Ready.gov's flood advice is to declutter drains and gutters.

Ready.gov advises preparing the home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping.

A small leak gets much worse under snow and ice, and roof work belongs to an insured roofer.

CPSC advises installing battery-operated CO alarms, or CO alarms with battery backup, on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.

EPA says all homes should be tested for radon, and that a level of 4 pCi/L or more should be fixed.

CPSC says to use generators outside only, at least 20 feet away from homes with the exhaust facing away, and never inside a home or garage even with doors and windows open.

Mice move indoors as soon as the nights turn cold, and a gap the width of a pencil is enough.

Ready.gov notes that homeowner's insurance does not cover flooding and that a flood policy typically takes up to 30 days to take effect.