Updated October 2026. A fall home maintenance checklist for the Pacific Northwest covers five areas before the wet, windy months: tune up the furnace or heat pump, winterize hose bibs and exposed pipes, flush the water heater, prepare for storms and power outages, and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Outside, clear gutters, drains and branches. Do it in September or October, before the first freeze. Home Comfort Alliance prices for each professional task are in the checklist below (prices as of September 2026).
The fall checklist at a glance
Print it and tick each box as you go. Print this checklist
| Done | Area | Task | Who | Home Comfort Alliance price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Heating | Furnace tune-up, gas or electric (furnace maintenance) | Pro | $230 ($180 Club) |
| ☐ | Heating | Oil furnace tune-up | Pro | $336 ($288 Club) |
| ☐ | Heating | Heat pump tune-up (heat pump maintenance) | Pro | $230 ($180 Club) per piece of equipment |
| ☐ | Heating | Check the air filter every month (ENERGY STAR) | You | n/a |
| ☐ | Air | Air duct cleaning (duct cleaning) | Pro | $599 |
| ☐ | Air | Dryer vent cleaning | Pro | $250, or $154.88 with a duct cleaning |
| ☐ | Plumbing | Disconnect, drain and store hoses; cover outdoor faucets (SPU, TPU) | You | n/a |
| ☐ | Plumbing | Replace a leaking or cracked hose bib (hose bib replacement) | Pro | Quoted on site ($99 plumbing dispatch) |
| ☐ | Plumbing | Insulate pipes in crawl spaces, attics and near outer walls (SPU) | You | n/a |
| ☐ | Plumbing | Find the main water shut-off (SPU, TPU) | You | n/a |
| ☐ | Plumbing | Water heater flush (water heaters) | Pro | $150; tankless $429 |
| ☐ | Plumbing | Whole-home plumbing inspection (plumbing inspection) | Pro | Included in the Home Comfort Club |
| ☐ | Safety | Test carbon monoxide alarms monthly (USFA); test smoke alarms | You | n/a |
| ☐ | Electrical | Smoke detector replacement | Pro | $46.50 ($36 Club) |
| ☐ | Electrical | Standby generator maintenance (backup generators) | Pro | $465 |
| ☐ | Electrical | Whole-home electrical inspection | Pro | Included in the Home Comfort Club |
| ☐ | Storm | Build an outage kit, charge devices, bookmark your utility’s outage map | You | n/a |
| ☐ | Exterior | Clear gutters, downspouts, roof moss, overhanging branches and street catch basins (SPU); keep leaves off the outdoor heat pump unit | You | n/a |
Prices as of September 2026. Visit fees are listed separately: HVAC $119 dispatch, $72 or $130 diagnostic; plumbing $99 dispatch; electrical $179, which includes a 30-minute diagnostic.
When should you do fall maintenance in Western Washington?
September and October, before the heat runs daily and before the first freeze. ENERGY STAR recommends checking the heating system in the fall and the cooling system in the spring.
Our winters bring heavy rain from atmospheric rivers, windstorms that cut power, and short cold snaps that catch hose bibs and crawlspace pipes left full of water.
Heating: tune up the furnace or heat pump
Book a professional tune-up once a year, before the heating season. At Home Comfort Alliance a furnace tune-up is $230, or $180 for Home Comfort Club members. Heat pump and oil furnace prices are in the table above.
Our furnace tune-up checklist includes these points, among others:
- Thermostat operation
- Flue and piping
- Safety controls
- Gas pressures
- Burner assemblies
We keep service records for warranty validation. See furnace maintenance and heat pump maintenance for the full visit.
Between visits, check the filter monthly and keep registers clear of furniture and rugs. For equipment-specific steps, read how to winterize a heat pump and our winter furnace maintenance checklist.
If the heat stops after you have done all this, heating and cooling technicians work during business hours and are available after hours for qualifying emergencies ($330 after-hours fee).
Air: ducts and the dryer vent
Clean ducts before the system runs for months. Our air duct cleaning is $599. Before the visit, move anything blocking registers or the furnace; the system is turned off during the cleaning. Our current offer is 10% off air duct cleaning; see special offers.
The U.S. Fire Administration warns that uncleaned lint filters and dryer vents raise the risk of a dryer fire. Dryer vent cleaning is $250 on its own, or $154.88 added to a duct cleaning.
Plumbing: winterize hose bibs and pipes before the first freeze
Outdoor faucets and uninsulated pipes are the first things to freeze. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) give the same basic steps:
- Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses.
- Cover outdoor faucets with a faucet cover.
- Insulate pipes in attics, crawl spaces, basements, near outer walls and outside.
- Find your main water shut-off and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
A cover will not save a hose bib that already leaks. Read why an outdoor faucet leaks, or book a hose bib replacement; the plumber quotes the repair on site, and the plumbing dispatch fee is $99.
If a pipe freezes or bursts
If a pipe bursts, close the main shut-off valve right away to stop the flooding. SPU customers can call (206) 386-1800 to have the water shut off at the meter. To thaw a frozen pipe, SPU suggests a heating pad, hot towels or a hair dryer. If it won’t thaw, call a licensed plumber. Our frozen and burst pipe repair page covers what happens next. For a hidden or slow leak afterward, see leak detection and repair. Our current offer is $50 off burst or frozen pipe repairs. If the furnace fails in a cold snap, this guide to preventing frozen pipes covers what to do while you wait.
Water heater and plumbing inspection
A yearly flush clears sediment before the water heater works hardest. A standard flush is $150 and a tankless flush is $429 (see tankless maintenance). A whole-home plumbing inspection checks hose bibs, shut-off valves, the water heater, visible piping under sinks and washing-machine water lines. Book by phone or online. Our plumbers work Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with same-day service when possible.
Electrical: get ready for windstorms and outages
Windstorms can cut power for hours or days, so prepare before the first one. Seattle City Light suggests an emergency kit, charged devices and the outage map on your phone. Tacoma Public Utilities says to use flashlights, not candles. Puget Sound Energy says to leave one light switch on, and never to use a gas range, indoor cooker, charcoal or gas barbecue for heating.
Stay at least 30 feet away from a downed power line and call 911 (Seattle City Light).
Generators
The Washington State Department of Health says to run a generator at least 20 feet from buildings, never in a garage or carport, with a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician so it never back-feeds the lines. Standby generator maintenance is $465, for Generac and other major generator brands; see backup generators and generator service before a storm.
Electrical inspection
A whole-home electrical inspection covers panel connections, breakers and hot spots, required GFCI protection, exterior receptacles, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, security lighting, timers and surge protection. Read about whole-home surge protection and preparing for a power outage. Our current offer is 10% off electrical service or repair. Our electricians work Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with same-day service when possible.
Safety: alarms, heaters and fireplaces
The U.S. Fire Administration says to test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month. Smoke detector replacement is $46.50, or $36 for Club members.
Half of home heating fires happen from December to February, says the U.S. Fire Administration. Its advice:
- Have chimneys and vents inspected every year.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heaters and fireplaces.
- Plug space heaters straight into a wall outlet.
- Put fireplace ashes at least 10 feet from the house.
Carbon monoxide symptoms include headache, dizziness, confusion and nausea (Washington State Department of Health). If an alarm sounds or anyone has symptoms, get outside and call 911.
Outside: jobs to do yourself before the rain
Do these on a dry October weekend:
- Gutters and downspouts: clear leaves; make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation.
- Roof moss: check for moss and debris holding water.
- Branches: trim them back from the home (SPU).
- Catch basins: clear leaves off nearby storm drains (SPU).
- Outdoor heat pump unit: keep leaves and plants clear.
- Doors and windows: repair leaks around them (Seattle Office of Emergency Management).
Keep it on schedule with the Home Comfort Club
The Home Comfort Club turns this checklist into a yearly visit. Plans are $15 a month per trade (HVAC, plumbing or electrical), or $30 a month for all three. The combined plan includes annual furnace maintenance plus a whole-home electrical or plumbing inspection, alternating by year. Members get 20% off maintenance, 10% off repairs and a $100 annual equipment credit.
The Club doesn’t cover trip fees, diagnostic time or after-hours charges, there is no cancellation in the first 12 months, and Club pricing can’t be combined with other offers. See the Home Comfort Club for details.
Fall home maintenance FAQ
What should be on a fall home maintenance checklist in the Pacific Northwest?
A furnace or heat pump tune-up, a filter check, winterized hose bibs and insulated pipes, a water heater flush, storm and outage supplies, tested smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and clear gutters, drains and roof.
When should I do fall maintenance in Seattle?
In September or October, before you rely on the heat and before the first freeze. ENERGY STAR recommends checking the heating system in the fall.
How much does a furnace tune-up cost?
At Home Comfort Alliance a furnace tune-up is $230, or $180 for Home Comfort Club members. A heat pump tune-up is the same price per piece of equipment, and an oil furnace tune-up is $336, or $288 for Club members (prices as of September 2026).
How do I winterize outdoor faucets?
Disconnect, drain and store the hose, then cover the outdoor faucet, as Seattle Public Utilities and Tacoma Public Utilities advise. If a hose bib drips or cracked last winter, have it replaced before the next freeze.
What should I do if a pipe freezes or bursts?
If it bursts, close the main shut-off valve right away. Seattle Public Utilities suggests thawing a frozen pipe with a heating pad, hot towels or a hair dryer, and calling a licensed plumber if it won’t thaw. Our plumbers work Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with same-day service when possible.
Do I need to winterize a heat pump?
Keep leaves, plants and debris clear of the outdoor unit and book a tune-up before winter. A heat pump tune-up is $230, or $180 for Club members, per piece of equipment.
How often should I test carbon monoxide and smoke alarms?
The U.S. Fire Administration says to test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month. Smoke detector replacement is $46.50, or $36 for Club members.
Is it safe to run a generator during a power outage?
Only outdoors. The Washington State Department of Health says to keep generators at least 20 feet from buildings, never in a garage or carport, and to have a qualified electrician install a transfer switch. Standby generator maintenance is $465.
Should I clean my dryer vent in the fall?
If it hasn’t been cleaned in a while, yes. The U.S. Fire Administration says uncleaned lint filters and dryer vents raise the risk of a dryer fire. Dryer vent cleaning is $250, or $154.88 added to a duct cleaning.
Does the Home Comfort Club cover fall maintenance?
The combined Home Comfort Club is $30 a month and includes annual furnace maintenance plus a whole-home electrical or plumbing inspection, alternating by year. Single-trade plans are $15 a month. The Club doesn’t cover trip fees, diagnostic time or after-hours charges.
Book your fall tune-up
Choose a furnace, heat pump, water heater or electrical visit and we’ll get your home ready for winter. 4.8 stars from 5,000+ reviews.
Since 1977. Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington. WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD · Electrical #HOMECCA782DC · Plumbing #HOMECCA751QG.
Sources: Seattle Public Utilities, winter weather and frozen pipe tips, atyourservice.seattle.gov (January 2024); Seattle Office of Emergency Management, winter preparedness infographic (undated, checked October 2026); Tacoma Public Utilities, Winter 2024 customer newsletter; Puget Sound Energy, storm safety and preparation, pse.com (checked October 2026); Seattle City Light, Powerlines, storm and outage preparation (November 3, 2022); Washington State Department of Health, generator safety and carbon monoxide poisoning pages (checked October 2026); U.S. Fire Administration, winter fire safety, heating and clothes dryer fire safety (checked October 2026); ENERGY STAR, maintenance checklist for heating and cooling (checked October 2026).