Stay Ahead of Winter in Denver With Our Fall Maintenance Checklist

Fall along the Front Range is beautiful, but it’s also unpredictable. One week it’s sunny and 70, the next we’re waking up to frost. At Done! Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, we know how quickly Colorado weather can put your home’s systems to the test. That’s why we always recommend using the fall season to prepare plumbing, heating, and electrical before Denver’s long winter sets in. From frozen pipes to furnace failures, we’ve seen how skipping maintenance leads to emergency calls no one wants.

Here’s the checklist our technicians follow to help Denver homeowners head into winter with peace of mind.

Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for Fall

Denver winters hit plumbing hard. Between deep freezes, snowmelt, and older housing stock across the metro, it’s important to shore up your pipes and water systems before the season begins. Here are the top steps we recommend:

Insulate pipes in basements & crawlspaces

Colorado freezes are no joke. Pipes running through unheated basements, crawlspaces, and garages are at risk of freezing and bursting. A simple layer of insulation can protect your plumbing from costly damage when temperatures drop below zero.

Check outdoor faucets & sprinkler systems

Before the first hard freeze, disconnect hoses, shut off outdoor spigots, and blow out your sprinkler lines. We’ve seen too many basements flood from cracked irrigation pipes left full of water.

Test your sump pump

With heavy fall rains and spring thaws ahead, a working sump pump is essential in many Denver basements. Test it by pouring water into the pit to make sure it kicks on—and if it doesn’t, it’s time to call us.

Drain & flush the water heater

Hard water in Denver leads to sediment buildup that makes your water heater work harder and wear out faster. Flushing a few gallons from the tank each fall keeps it efficient and extends its lifespan as part of routine water heater maintenance.

Check for leaks

Small leaks under sinks, around toilets, or behind appliances can become major problems once the house is closed up for winter. A quick inspection now can prevent bigger repairs later.

Schedule a professional plumbing inspection

Not every issue is visible. Our licensed plumbers know where to look for hidden problems and can make sure your plumbing is ready for freezing nights and heavy winter use.

Heating System Maintenance Checklist for Fall

Your heating system is about to become the hardest-working appliance in your home. Furnaces, boilers, and even heat pumps all need a little attention before they’re asked to run full-time. Here’s what to focus on this fall:

Schedule a furnace inspection & tune-up

Your furnace is the backbone of home comfort in Denver. A professional furnace maintenance service includes cleaning burners, testing safety controls, inspecting the heat exchanger, and ensuring efficient operation. A tune-up now reduces the chance of emergency furnace repairs during the first big snow.

Replace or clean air filters

Whether you have a furnace, heat pump, or even a boiler with forced air, clean filters keep air flowing freely. Dirty filters stress your system, waste energy, and shorten equipment life.

Check ignition & heat exchanger

For gas furnaces and boilers, ignition problems and cracked heat exchangers are serious safety risks, leading to carbon monoxide leaks. These are issues only a trained technician can properly identify during a fall inspection.

Clean and inspect ducts, vents, and coils

Dust, pet dander, and debris build up in ductwork and on system components, restricting airflow. Professional heating system cleaning improves indoor air quality and efficiency before the furnace runs full-time.

Test the thermostat

Colorado’s fall weather swings mean you’ll be adjusting your thermostat often. Make sure it responds accurately. If yours is outdated, consider upgrading to a smart thermostat for energy savings and better comfort control.

Boilers & radiators

Older Denver homes often rely on boilers and radiator heat. Bleeding radiators, checking water pressure, and inspecting pumps are key fall tasks to ensure steady, reliable heating all winter.

Electrical Maintenance Checklist for Fall

Cold weather brings heavier electrical loads, think space heaters, holiday lights, and extra time spent indoors. That makes fall the ideal time to make sure your home’s electrical system is safe and reliable. Start with these key checks:

Check your electrical panel & circuits

Cold weather means more load on electrical systems – space heaters, holiday lights, and heating equipment all add demand. Make sure your electrical panel is up to date and circuits aren’t overloaded before winter begins.

Test GFCI outlets

Basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor outlets need to trip properly to protect against electrical shock. Testing them takes seconds but can prevent dangerous hazards.

Inspect and replace outdoor lighting

Shorter days mean more time outside in the dark. Replace bulbs, repair fixtures, and ensure pathways and driveways are safely lit.

Check smoke & carbon monoxide detectors

Furnaces, boilers, and gas appliances all carry carbon monoxide risk. Test your detectors and replace batteries to keep your family safe.

Surge protection & backup power options

Winter storms and outages can hit without warning. Whole-home surge protection and standby generators provide peace of mind and keep essentials running if the grid goes down.

Why Preventive Maintenance Matters

Denver winters push every system in your home to the limit. We’ve seen the difference firsthand—homeowners who schedule seasonal maintenance have fewer emergencies, lower energy bills, and safer homes. A small investment in a fall tune-up is always less costly than a furnace failure or a frozen pipe in the middle of winter.

That’s why we offer our Care Club. Members get scheduled visits twice a year where we handle the details for you—furnace inspections, coil cleaning, ductwork checks, thermostat calibration, plumbing checks, even water heater maintenance. It’s the simplest way to keep your home protected, extend the life of your systems, and enjoy peace of mind all season long.

At Done! Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, we’ve been helping Denver and Aurora families prepare their homes since 1999. Our licensed technicians are available 24/7 to keep your plumbing, heating, and electrical systems running strong all season long.

Call Done! Before Winter Hits

So before winter sets in, let our team take these tasks off your to-do list. From routine tune-ups to last-minute repairs, Done! is here to keep your home running smoothly—so you can spend less time worrying about your systems and more time enjoying the season.