Before the Rain Really Starts: A Fall Check-In for Your Home
Winter is coming. Not White Walkers winter—Portland winter. Which mostly means rain, more rain, wet leaves, clogged gutters, and the occasional freezing night that reminds everyone they forgot about the hose bib.
The good news? A little attention in early fall can save you a whole lot of aggravation once the wet weather settles in.
So before Portland settles into its annual rhythm of rain, wet leaves and darkness at an offensively early hour, take a walk around the house and give a few things a look.
START AT THE TOP
Those beautiful Portland trees are about to dump approximately eleven billion leaves onto your house. At least that's what it feels like.
Make sure gutters and downspouts are clear and doing their job before the serious rain settles in. From the ground, look for obvious signs of trouble—overflowing gutters, sagging sections, damaged downspouts or anything along the roofline that looks out of place.
If something needs attention beyond an easy, safely accessible cleanup, that's a good one to hand off to somebody with the proper equipment.
And because Portland trees have absolutely no respect for the gutter you cleaned last weekend, check them again as the leaves keep falling.
FOLLOW THE WATER
Portland homes and water have a very long relationship, so drainage deserves a little attention.
After the first good rain, walk around your property. Are the gutters overflowing? Is water pooling next to the foundation? Are drains buried under leaves? Is a downspout emptying directly into a spot that's becoming a small seasonal lake?
You don't have to become a stormwater engineer. You're simply looking for water going somewhere you really don't want it to go.
GIVE THE OUTDOOR FAUCETS SOME LOVE
This is one of those jobs that's easy to forget right up until the temperature drops below freezing.
Disconnect and drain garden hoses and protect exposed outdoor faucets before freezing weather arrives. If you have irrigation or a backflow assembly, make sure those systems are properly winterized too.
And while you're thinking about plumbing, figure out where your home's main water shutoff is before you ever need it. A burst pipe is a terrible time to begin that particular scavenger hunt.
LOOK UP AT THE TREES
Fall is a good time to look at the big trees around your house—especially anything hanging over the roof, driveway or power lines.
Dead limbs, damaged branches or a tree that simply doesn't look quite right are worth having evaluated before winter wind, ice or heavy rain makes the decision for you.
And this is firmly in the call someone who knows what they're doing category. Major tree work, anything near power lines and anything requiring you to get creative with a ladder is not where we're suggesting you discover a new hobby.
MAKE SURE THE WARM STUFF IS READY
Before the first genuinely cold morning, give your heating system a little attention.
Replace or clean the furnace filter if it's due and make sure heating vents aren't buried behind furniture. If something about your furnace or other fuel-burning equipment doesn't seem right, have it checked rather than waiting until the house is freezing.
If you have a fireplace, fall is also a good time to make sure the chimney and fireplace are ready before you start using them regularly.
TEST THE THINGS YOU HOPE YOU'LL NEVER NEED
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms aren't particularly charming fall décor, but this is a very good time to make sure they're working.
Test your alarms, replace batteries where needed and check the manufacturer's replacement dates. While you're at it, take a look at your fire extinguisher and make sure it's accessible and ready if you ever need it.
It's five minutes of mildly annoying beeping for something that actually matters.
FIND THE LITTLE DRAFTS
Older Portland homes have a lot of wonderful qualities. Airtightness is not always among them.
On a cool or windy day, check around exterior doors and windows for noticeable drafts. Worn weatherstripping or small gaps may be relatively simple fixes that make the house noticeably more comfortable once temperatures drop.
While you're walking around outside, look for peeling paint, cracked caulk, loose trim or other little places where months of Portland rain might find an invitation.
MAKE YOURSELF A SHORT LIST
You don't have to tackle everything in one Saturday.
Walk around the house, write down what needs attention, and divide it into two categories: things you can comfortably and safely handle yourself and things that need someone with the right tools, equipment and experience.
That's really the point of a fall check-in. Not making your house perfect. Just noticing the little things before Portland winter has a chance to turn them into bigger ones.
Then go inside, make yourself something warm to drink, and enjoy the rain.
You earned it. 🧡
NEED A HAND WITH SOMETHING YOU FOUND?
One of the nice things about spending years working with Portland homes is getting to know some very good people who take care of them.
If something on your fall check-in belongs in the “I'm calling somebody for that” column, reach out. We may know just the person.