1. Change Your Air Filter. With the winter months quickly approaching, heating systems will need to be turned on again. Before doing so, however, Dodson recommends changing your air filter. This ensures that you won’t have bad or unclean air flowing through your home when you eventually turn on the heat, she says.

2. Look at the Gutters. Dodson says this is also a good time to look at your gutters once again to make sure nothing is broken and that your spouts are clean and unclogged. This will prevent any unwanted water leaks into your walls or yard this fall.

3. Check Roofs and Doors. While the weather is still warm, you should also pull out the ladder and head up to the roof to check for any loose, broken or fallen shingles. Do the same with door seals. Doing this, Dodson says, will keep mold from growing if too much moisture gets inside your house during the cooler months.

4. Flush the Hot Water Heater. Dodson suggests flushing out your water heater, emptying it, and rinsing it at least once a year. This time of year is the perfect time to do so. That way, when you turn it back on “you’ll have great hot water, and clean hot water,” Dodson says. “You won’t have a lot of debris and sediment in your hot water tank.”