The Fall Home Appliance Checklist: 5 Appliances to Prep Before Winter

That first truly crisp fall day has an almost magical effect. We pull our favorite sweaters from storage, start thinking about soups and stews, and get the urge to "nest" for the cozy winter months ahead.

But as we stock up on pumpkin spice and plan holiday menus, we often forget about the real workhorses of our home: our appliances.

The cold-weather season, from the first frost through the New Year, puts our home's systems under maximum strain. We cook more, clean more, and demand more from our machines than at any other time of year. The last thing any of us wants is a holiday disaster—a failed oven on Thanksgiving, a backed-up dishwasher, or worse, a house that just won't get warm.

Before you get lost in decorating, run through this 5-point appliance prep list. A little maintenance now can save you from a major "heck" moment (and a huge repair bill) later.

1. The Oven: The Holiday Hero

This is your holiday MVP. In the coming months, this appliance will be asked to handle a 20-pound turkey, endless trays of roasted vegetables, and batch after batch of cookies. The problem is that all the splatters and grease from the last 10 months are still in there.

• The Problem: Running the "self-clean" cycle right before a major holiday is a huge gamble. The extreme high heat of that cycle is the number one cause of failed thermostats, fuses, and control boards. It’s a common story: someone runs the self-clean on Wednesday, and the oven is dead on Thanksgiving morning.
• The Prep-Task: Run your self-clean cycle now. Do it on a cool fall day when you can open the windows. This gives you plenty of time to identify and fix a problem if one arises.
• The Maintenance: After the cycle finishes and the oven cools, wipe out the white ash. While you’re in there, inspect the rubber gasket around the oven door. Is it brittle, cracked, or missing pieces? A bad seal leaks heat, wastes energy, and leads to inconsistent cooking.
• Bonus Tip: Get a cheap $10 oven thermometer. Just because your dial says 350°F doesn't mean it is 350°F. Test it, see what the real temperature is, and you can adjust your cooking times (or get the thermostat calibrated) before it ruins your roast.

2. The Dryer: The Forgotten Fire Hazard

With winter comes heavier clothes: jeans, hoodies, and bulky fleece blankets. This means your dryer will be working harder, and your lint trap will be filling up faster.

• The Problem: We all know to clean the lint trap. But most of us forget the lint that gets past the trap. This lint builds up in the flexible duct behind the dryer and all the way to the outside vent. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 2,900 home fires every year are started by clothes dryers, and the leading cause is a "failure to clean."
• The Prep-Task: This is a non-negotiable fall task. Pull your dryer away from the wall and disconnect the flexible duct.
• The Maintenance: Get a dryer vent cleaning kit. These are inexpensive brushes that attach to a power drill and allow you to snake the entire length of the duct, from the wall to the outside vent cap. You will be shocked (and horrified) by the sheer volume of flammable lint you remove. This simple 20-minute job not only prevents a fire but also makes your dryer run more efficiently, saving you money.

3. The Refrigerator: The Holiday Storage Unit

Your refrigerator is about to become a high-stakes game of Tetris, packed with prepped ingredients, holiday beverages, and (most importantly) leftovers. An inefficient fridge will struggle to keep up, running constantly and potentially failing to keep food at a safe temperature.

• The Problem: The condenser coils—usually on the back or bottom of your fridge—are its "lungs." They're responsible for releasing heat. Over time, they get caked in dust, dirt, and pet hair, forcing the compressor to work overtime.
• The Prep-Task: Pull the fridge out and unplug it. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment and a long, flexible coil brush to thoroughly clean those coils.
• The Maintenance: Check the rubber door seals. Try the "dollar bill test": Close the door on a bill. If you can pull it out with zero resistance, your seal is weak. This lets cold air escape 24/7. First, try cleaning the seals with warm, soapy water. If they're still not grabbing, it may be time to replace them.

4. The Dishwasher: The Post-Party Workhorse

After a big holiday meal, the last thing you want to do is hand-wash a mountain of plates because your dishwasher is leaving food particles on everything.

• The Problem: Most people don't realize their dishwasher has a filter that needs to be cleaned manually. When it gets clogged with old food, it stinks up the machine and sprays dirty water back onto your "clean" dishes.
• The Prep-Task: Locate the filter. It's almost always in the bottom of the dishwasher, under the lower spray arm. Twist it out, take it apart (it's usually two pieces), and scrub it in the sink with a brush and hot, soapy water.
• The Maintenance: While the filter is out, look at the spray arms. Are the little holes clogged with hard water deposits? Use a toothpick or paperclip to poke them clean, ensuring a powerful, effective spray.

5. The "Big One": The Most Important Appliance You're Forgetting

It’s not in your kitchen, but it's the single most important appliance for your family's comfort and safety all winter. It’s your furnace. We ignore it all summer and then expect it to roar to life and work flawlessly the moment the temperature drops.

• The Problem: Firing up a furnace for the first time in 6–8 months is a moment of truth. Dust has settled, parts have sat dormant, and new problems may have developed. Finding out you have a major issue during the first freezing cold snap is a nightmare.
• The Prep-Task (DIY): Change your furnace filter. This is the #1 easiest, cheapest, and most important piece of maintenance you can do. A clogged filter suffocates the system, forcing it to work harder, driving up your energy bills, and risking a complete shutdown from overheating.
• The Prep-Task (The "Test Run"): Don't wait for that first frigid night. On a cool fall afternoon, go to your thermostat. Switch it to "Heat" and set the temperature a few degrees above the current room temperature. Let the system run for a full 20-minute cycle.
• Listen and Smell (The "Uh-Oh" Signs):
• Smell: It's normal to smell a faint "burnt dust" odor for the first 10-15 minutes. This is just the dust on the heat exchanger burning off. However, a strong, acrid, "burnt wire" smell that doesn't go away is a major red flag.
• Sound: A "whoosh" as the burners ignite and the hum of the fan are normal. Loud banging (which could be ductwork or a serious burner issue), a persistent scraping, or a high-pitched screeching (a classic sign of a failing blower motor belt or bearing) are NOT.

If you hear or smell any of those "red flag" warning signs, turn the unit off at the thermostat immediately. Those are not "normal" sounds of an appliance waking up; they are clear signs of a failing component. Don't wait for the first freezing night; that's when you'll find every furnace repair near me service is booked solid for a week. A pre-season inspection can catch a failing part before it leaves you and your holiday guests in the cold.

By taking a single afternoon to check on these five key appliances, you’re not just doing chores. You're buying peace of mind for the entire winter and holiday season.