Fall home maintenance checklist for Southern California

Why is a SoCal fall list different?

Most fall checklists are written for snow. Here, the coldest month at John Wayne Airport averages a low of about 48 degrees (NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals), so you can skip the frozen-pipe and snow items. Inland valleys and canyons run colder, so keep an eye on freeze warnings there. What fall brings instead is the start of Santa Ana wind season and the first rains after a dry summer. Our Orange County maintenance checklist has rain by month and the whole year's calendar.

October: before the first rain

• Clean the gutters and downspouts

  A summer of leaves and dust is sitting in them.

• Clear the yard drains

  Run a hose into each one so you know it flows before a storm tests it.

• Look the roof over from the ground

  Slipped tiles, lifted shingles and gaps at the flashing are easier to fix dry.

• Set the sprinklers for the rainy season

  Cut the run times back before rain does the watering.

• Check the door weatherstripping

  If you can see daylight around a closed door, rain and wind get in too.

If your lot takes runoff from a slope or the street, line up sandbags now. The Orange County checklist says where to get them.

Thinking about a rain barrel under a downspout? Several Orange County water districts pay rebates on them; our Orange County home rebates guide lists which ones and how much.

Before the first Santa Ana wind of the season

The gutter and roof jobs above do double duty, because dry leaves on a roof are what flying embers land in. For the rest (the first 5 feet around the house, vent screens and fences), follow our Santa Ana wind and wildfire prep guide. To see whether your address is in a fire hazard zone, use our fire hazard zone guide.

What should I do before turning on the heat?

• Change the furnace filter

  If the filter has been in since the AC season started, it is probably due.

• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

  Do it before the furnace, fireplace or a space heater starts running.

• Book the heating check-up. ENERGY STAR says to check the heating system in the fall, before contractors get busy, and suggests tying check-ups to the time change. This year clocks go back on Sunday, November 1.
• Fireplace or wood stove. The U.S. Fire Administration says to have chimneys and heating equipment cleaned and inspected by a professional every year.
• Space heaters. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away. The Fire Administration gives that rule for every heat source, space heaters included.
• Carbon monoxide alarms. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says to have one on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. If your home has gas heat or a fireplace, this matters most now that they start running.

Every OakTend maintenance plan includes cleaning the gutters and testing the smoke and CO detectors, and you can ask OakTend to add the rest of this list as reminders.

Sources checked October 9, 2026. General information, not safety advice for your home. Follow your fire department and utility in an emergency, and call 911.