Fall Home Safety Checklist: Comfort and Protection for the Season Ahead

As temperatures begin to dip and days grow shorter, fall is the perfect season to check off those often-overlooked maintenance tasks and make sure your home is prepared for the months ahead. Fall home prep isn’t just about staying warm; it’s also about making sure your home runs efficiently and stays protected against seasonal risks.

Smart solutions that can help make these tasks easier, from connected thermostats that optimize comfort and savings to alarms and sensors that help keep families safe.

Taking steps now can help heating systems run more efficiently, reduce energy costs and protect against seasonal risks like frozen pipes or carbon monoxide (CO) leaks. Here are five ways to help prepare your home for a safer, more comfortable fall.

1. Start with Comfort: Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat

   When crisp autumn mornings arrive, a smart thermostat becomes more than a convenience – it’s a comfort essential. Honeywell Home smart thermostats, for example, make it simple to create personalized schedules, remotely adjust settings from your phone and focus heating or cooling in the rooms you use most. Honeywell Home smart thermostats have optional Smart Room Sensors to help balance temperatures throughout the home so everyone enjoys comfort, not just those closest to the thermostat.

   

   Beyond convenience, there are financial and environmental benefits. Honeywell Home smart thermostat users save on average $204.⁺⁺ on their HVAC energy costs each year when using the recommended scheduling feature consistently. One easy way to upgrade your thermostat is during a fall furnace tune-up appointment.



2. Strengthen CO and Fire Safety: Inspect or Upgrade Smoke and CO Alarms

   During a seasonal HVAC tune-up, many technicians inspect the furnace for cracks or other damage that could allow CO to leak into the home. This is a critical step, as CO poisoning is one of the leading causes of poison-related deaths in the U.S., responsible for an estimated more than 400 deaths and 14,000 hospitalizations each year from unintentional, non-fire-related incidents (CDC). Often called the “silent killer,” CO is colorless and odorless, with thousands of poisoning cases reported annually. Many homeowners choose combination smoke and CO alarms that provide both fire and carbon monoxide protection in a single device.

   About one in five households (19 percent) may be at risk of not having at least one functional alarm. The majority of home fire deaths occur in homes without properly working smoke alarms or no alarms at all.

   The fall is the perfect time to test your alarms and consider an upgrade ahead of hosting winter gatherings. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) recommends installing smoke and CO alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

   

   The First Alert^® Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm delivers advanced sensing technology, critical alerts and a seamless smart home experience. Compatible with the Google Home ecosystem and Nest Protect Smart Smoke & CO Alarm, it enables interconnected coverage across multiple alarms. If one detects danger, all of them sound – whether you’re home or away.



3. Be Ready for the Unexpected: Fire Extinguishing Devices

   Even small fires can cause big damage if they aren’t quickly contained. Having the right tools on hand can make all the difference. The First Alert EZ Fire Spray offers a lightweight, intuitive solution – just point and spray. It’s easier to use than traditional extinguishers and small enough to store in a kitchen cabinet, workshop, RV or even a glove box. And with the busy cooking season in November and December, when stovetop and oven use are at their peak, it’s especially smart to keep fire spray within easy reach in the kitchen.

   

   Keeping multiple fire spray canisters or fire extinguishers around your home ensures you’ll be ready in case of an emergency.



4. Stop Water Damage Before It Starts

   While fire grabs headlines, water damage is one of the most common and costly household risks and one of the leading causes of home insurance claims. Frozen pipes, undetected leaks or even high humidity can cause significant repairs, but early detection can prevent thousands of dollars in potential repairs. The First Alert L1 WiFi Water and Freeze Detector helps you stay ahead by sending alerts directly to your phone if it detects leaks, freezing temperatures or elevated humidity levels.

   

   Easy to install and move as needed, this detector is especially helpful in basements, near water heaters or under sinks. It’s also a smart choice for rental properties, second homes or multi-family residences where damage can spread beyond your own walls.



5. Add Seasonal Maintenance Tasks to Your Routine

   Alongside smart devices, traditional fall upkeep plays an important role in home safety and efficiency. Add these steps to your seasonal checklist:

   • Clean or replace furnace filters to improve air quality and efficiency.
   • Seal windows and doors to prevent drafts and lower heating bills.
   • Clear gutters of leaves and debris to prevent water backups and ice dams.
   • Disconnect and drain garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets to avoid freeze damage.
   • Test safety devices like smoke alarms, CO alarms and water detectors to confirm they’re functioning correctly.

Fall is a season of change – and the perfect time to take stock of your home’s safety and comfort. By combining simple tasks with smart technology, you create multiple layers of protection for your home and family. With Honeywell Home smart thermostats and First Alert life safety solutions, you can prepare your home not just for the season ahead, but for the unexpected challenges every homeowner faces.

See also:

• - Preventative Annual Furnace Maintenance Tips
• - Prepare for Cooler Temps with 5 Essential Tips
• - Simple Tips to Tune Up Your Appliances for Fall

Cost savings based on Resideo December 2024 analysis and latest U.S. Energy Information Administration Residential Energy Consumption Survey (2020), which reports average U.S. household HVAC costs of $625 for heating and $350 for cooling. Applying the observed 22% heating savings and 17% cooling savings yields an estimated $204 in average annual household savings.