It’s almost time to fall back!
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, clocks in most of the United States will move back one hour as Daylight Saving Time ends.
While you’re changing the clocks around your home, why not use the reminder to check a few other things, too?
The changing seasons are a great excuse to walk through your home and take care of the small maintenance tasks that are easy to overlook. A few minutes of checking now could help prevent bigger repair issues later.
Think of it as your twice-a-year reminder to check the clocks and check the house.
Fall Back Means Time to Check Your Home
When you change the clocks, take a few extra minutes to work through this quick home maintenance checklist.
Replace Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries
If your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors use replaceable batteries, the time change is a convenient reminder to check them.
Replace batteries as needed and test each detector to make sure it’s working properly. If a detector is past its recommended service life, check the manufacturer’s guidance about replacement.
Pro tip: Don’t just change the batteries and forget about them. Press the test button and make sure everyone in the household knows what the alarm sounds like.
Check Your Weather Stripping
As temperatures change, take a look around exterior doors and windows for worn, cracked, loose, or damaged weather stripping.
Weather stripping helps seal gaps around doors and windows. If you can see daylight around a closed exterior door or feel a noticeable draft, it may be time to replace it.
A small repair around a door can make a big difference in comfort during changing weather.
Take a Look at Your Doors
While you’re checking the weather stripping, don’t forget about the doors themselves.
Look for:
- Doors that stick or drag
- Loose or squeaky hinges
- Damaged door frames
- Loose handles or knobs
- Doors that don’t latch properly
- Gaps around exterior doors
Small door problems can be easy to ignore until they become bigger inconveniences. Fall is a good time to take care of them.
Check Your Caulking
Walk around bathrooms, kitchens, windows, and other areas where caulk is commonly used.
Look for cracking, gaps, peeling, or areas where the seal has started to deteriorate. Damaged caulking can allow moisture to get where it doesn’t belong.
If you’re already making your seasonal checklist, add “check the caulk” to it.
Look Up – and Down
Not every maintenance issue is at eye level.
Take a quick look at ceilings, walls, floors, and trim for signs of damage or areas that need attention. This can include small drywall cracks, damaged trim, loose flooring, or other minor repairs you’ve been meaning to address.
And if you’ve been saying, “I’ll get to that later,” consider this your reminder.
Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Before you move on from your Fall Back routine, make sure you’ve checked:
☐ Set clocks back one hour
☐ Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
☐ Replace batteries as needed
☐ Check exterior door weather stripping
☐ Inspect doors, hinges, handles, and latches
☐ Check window and door caulking
☐ Look for drywall cracks or damage
☐ Check trim and other small repairs
☐ Make a list of projects that need professional attention
You don’t have to complete every repair in one weekend. The goal is simply to identify the small problems before they become bigger ones.
Fall Back. Check Up.
Changing the clocks takes only a few minutes. Checking your home while you’re at it can help you stay ahead of seasonal maintenance and those little repairs that have a habit of getting pushed to the bottom of the list.
If your checklist turns up a project that’s beyond your DIY comfort zone – or you’ve simply run out of weekends to tackle everything – Handyman Connection can help with a variety of home repairs and improvement projects.
Find a Handyman Near You
Or call 800-88-HANDY (42639) at 800-88-HANDY (42639).
So this November 1, fall back, change the clocks, and check the house.
The post Fall Back Is November 1: Your Home Maintenance Reminder appeared first on Handyman Connection.