Fall home guide
7 Things San Antonio Homeowners Miss Before Winter
Our summers are hard on a house, and our winters are short but not harmless. A short walk-through in the fall takes under an hour and tells you a lot. Here is what we suggest looking at, in plain terms, with no tools needed.
1. The AC condensate drain line
Your air conditioner removes water from the air all summer, and that water leaves through a small drain line. Find the pipe near the indoor unit and look for water stains on the floor or ceiling below it, or a pan that holds standing water. If the line drips or looks stained, that is worth a closer look before the system sits idle for the season.
Worth noting: Take a photo of the line's outlet and of any stain, so you can compare it next spring when the system starts running daily again.
2. The area around the water heater
Look at the floor around the tank and at the pipe connections on top. Rust-colored streaks, a damp patch, or mineral crust at a fitting are signals to note. Check that the drain pan, if there is one, is dry and that nothing is stored against the unit.
Worth noting: Note the tank's age from the label on its side. Knowing roughly how old it is helps when you talk with a plumber about what to expect.
3. Outdoor faucets and hoses
Disconnect garden hoses and coil them for storage. A hose left attached traps water against the faucet, which matters on the nights San Antonio dips below freezing. Run the faucet briefly and watch for drips at the handle or wall.
Worth noting: If a faucet drips even when closed, jot down which one. A slow drip outdoors is often an easy fix, and it is far easier to deal with early.
4. Gutters and downspouts
Leaves and pine needles collect through autumn. Look for sagging sections, standing water, and downspouts that dump right beside the foundation. Water should travel away from the house, not pool along its edge.
Worth noting: After the next rain, step outside and watch where the water actually goes. Ten minutes of watching shows more than any checklist can.
5. GFCI outlets
Outlets near sinks, in garages, and outdoors usually have test and reset buttons. Press test, confirm the power cuts off, then press reset. An outlet that will not trip or will not reset should be noted for a qualified electrician.
Worth noting: Test them again once a month through the cold season. It takes seconds, and it is a habit worth building into the way you walk through the house.
6. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Press the test button on each one, and check the date printed on the back of the alarm. Heating season is when many households first run a furnace or fireplace in months, so working alarms matter most now. Replace batteries on a schedule you can remember.
Worth noting: Keep the date of each replacement written on the alarm itself or on a calendar, so the next one does not depend on anyone remembering.
7. The attic and roof, from the ground
You do not need to climb anything. Walk around the house and look up. Notice missing or lifted shingles, dark streaks, damaged flashing around vents, and any sagging along the roofline. Inside, a flashlight at the attic hatch can show daylight where it should not be, or stained wood.
Worth noting: Take the same photos from the same spots each fall. Comparing two years of pictures makes slow changes much easier to see.
How to keep a simple record
Use your phone. Make one note per item, add the date, and keep the photos in a single album named for the season. You are not diagnosing anything; you are creating a plain description of what you saw. If something looks different next time, you will know. If you ask a professional to look, you can show them exactly what you noticed and when.
Write down what you see, take a few photos, and note the date. A simple record makes it easier to describe a concern to a professional later, and easier to notice when something has changed from one season to the next.
Want someone to look for you?
$49 Home Health Check - a real person, about 45 minutes, pay after the visit.
Daniel
Local technician, ProActive Home Care
A real local technician comes to your home for an in-person visual checkup.
Why $49?
It covers a real, in-person visit of about 45 minutes. You pay after the visit, and the $49 offsets plan setup or annual dues if you join within 30 days.
What happens at your visit
- 01We confirm a time by phone or text.
- 02We walk your home's main systems from safe access.
- 03You get repair list and quote, including what's fine.
- 04If anything needs work, it's quoted item by item for your approval. No pressure to buy.
The home health check is a visual check of safely accessible areas. It is not a licensed real estate evaluation.