Your 9 Point Santa Barbara Fall Maintenance Checklist
1. Inspect the Roof
Schedule a professional roof inspection to check for cracked or slipped tiles, missing shingles, and damaged flashing, the thin metal (aluminum, copper, or galvanized steel) around chimneys, vents, skylights, and roof-to-wall joints that keeps water out. In our coastal climate, salt air and seasonal winds can loosen fasteners and lift flashing, causing tiny gaps that can let water seep beneath tiles or shingles. Santa Barbara homeowners should also clear debris from all channels where water needs to flow.
Local companies explain why routine inspections help extend roof lifespan and reduce long-term expenses.
According to the website of Action Roofing, “Small problems like cracked shingles, loose flashing, or minor leaks can quickly escalate into serious damage. An inspection helps catch issues early before they turn into major repairs or full replacements.”
Vazquez Roofing Inc. concurs, writing, “Regular maintenance helps preserve your roofing investment, improve energy efficiency, and reduce the risk of unexpected repairs.”
When scheduling a professional roof inspection, request photos of trouble spots, a written scope of work with priorities (urgent versus preventive), and a maintenance plan you can review each fall.
2. Service Your Heater and Replace Filters
Schedule a professional furnace tune-up and replace dirty filters to improve efficiency, reduce energy costs, and enhance indoor air quality. With our perfect Mediterranean climate, fall evenings can become chilly, so ensure your Santa Barbara home’s heater starts reliably, operates quietly, and vents safely. Ask the technician to test combustion, check for carbon monoxide levels, inspect heat exchangers and burners, tighten electrical connections, and confirm proper venting. If you use natural gas, SoCalGas offers a free pilot relight and furnace safety inspection.
Replace the filter with a fresh one (aim for MERV 8–13 unless your system indicates otherwise) and set a reminder to change it every 1–3 months during heating season. Finally, test your smoke and CO alarms after the tune-up for added peace of mind.
3. Clean Gutters and Downspouts
A top priority on your fall home maintenance checklist should be clearing leaves to ensure that downspouts direct water away from your home’s foundation. This simple step not only benefits your property and neighborhood but also helps keep debris out of nearby storm drains – those grated openings at the curb often labeled “No Dumping. Drains to Ocean– keeping local creeks and beaches cleaner. Once runoff enters a storm drain, it travels through pipes directly to the nearest creek or waterway without treatment, carrying any pollutants along the way. The easiest way to protect our creeks and the ocean is to stop pollutants at the source.
4. Seal Windows and Doors
Hire a licensed handyman or weatherization contractor to re-caulk exterior trim, replace worn weather-stripping, and add door sweeps. Ask them to add foam to hidden gaps around frames and at penetrations, then adjust thresholds so no light shows under doors. You’ll cut drafts, lower energy bills, and reduce moisture intrusion.
Pro tip: prioritize ocean-facing walls and upper stories.
5. Check Fireplace and Chimney
Schedule a certified chimney sweep to remove creosote, confirm the flue is clear, and check all firebox seals. In Santa Barbara County, fall and winter bring more neighborhood smoke complaints, so practice cleaner burning: use only dry, seasoned hardwood, never burn trash or glossy paper, and keep your damper fully open for proper draft.
When it comes to local air-quality guidance and real-time updates, visit the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District at Ourair.org and sign up for alerts on the Station Data page. These notifications help you decide when to skip a fire or run an air purifier, especially on days with poor dispersion or temperature inversions.
6. Tidy Up Landscaping
Hire a licensed arborist or tree service to trim any limbs hanging over the roof and to thin branches near chimneys, skylights, and power lines. You can find a list of companies and professionals through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) website. Additionally, a search of tree care companies in Santa Barbara, such as Bartlett Tree Experts and Branch Out Tree Care, provides local options.
Have them clear leaf litter and needles from roofs, decks, and stairs, and remove debris. This helps reduce moisture-related rot, prevents clogged gutters, and lowers the risk of embers and fires during dry, windy days.
Take some time to make your property fire-safe. “Cut any tree branches within 10 feet of your roof,” advises the City of Santa Barbara Fire Department’s Ready, Set, Go! guide. The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council echoes this and adds "...keep combustible material cleared around and under decks.”
7. Irrigation: Off and Optimized
Turn off controllers when rain is forecast, and consider installing a rain-shutoff sensor so sprinklers don’t run during or after storms.
According to the City of Santa Barbara, “Shutting off your sprinkler system when rain is predicted saves water… It’s typically not necessary to water for a week or more following a storm.”
8. Refresh Outdoor Lighting, Walkways and Driveways
Replace bulbs, clean fixtures, and install motion sensors for safer, brighter walkways as evenings arrive earlier. Patch cracks and level trip hazards that worsen with moisture; clean slippery algae on shaded paths.
9. Update Your Emergency Supplies and Plan
Make sure your emergency plan is current and shared with everyone in your household. Review evacuation routes, meeting points, and key phone numbers.
When it comes to supplies, stock flashlights, batteries, a basic first-aid kit, shelf-stable food and water for at least three days, necessary medications, and pet essentials, keep a smaller version of your kit in your car or at work so you’re prepared wherever you are.
If you want to go through your fall home maintenance checklist in a new abode in Montecito, Hope Ranch, or any of Santa Barbara’s upscale communities, call Cristal at( 805) 886-9378 or email her at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. She’s available to help qualified home hunters find their dream home any time of the year.
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