This week: get ready for the first freeze.
For Knoxville, Farragut & Lenoir City · Fall freeze preparation
Start with the four steps below. Use the other reminders if they fit your home.
Disconnect hoses & prepare outdoor faucets
Do this before the first freeze. If one is forecast, do it today. Check local weather
You’ll need: gloves, a dry cloth, a place to drain the hose and dry storage.
- Turn off the faucet. Remove the hose, splitter, timer and nozzle so water can drain.
- Work on a mild, dry day. If a connection is stuck, stop and get help.
- Lay the hose on a slope or lift it from one end to drain it completely.
- Coil loosely. Drain the nozzle and accessories, then store everything in a dry, protected place.
Which faucet do you have? Prepare each one for its own setup.
You may have more than one type. Check the model or ask a plumber if you cannot identify it.
Do not force a valve or guess at an unfamiliar shutoff.
- Check each faucet again after drainage stops. Look for a cracked body, continuing drips or dampness inside near the pipe.
- Note anything that needs repair. A cover can supplement the correct winterization, but cannot replace it.
Call a licensed plumber for continuing leaks, damage or a suspected frozen pipe.
Optional extra protection
- After the hose is disconnected and the faucet is prepared for its type, fit an insulated outdoor faucet cover snugly against the wall as its instructions direct.
- Choose a cover that fits your faucet and siding. Check it after severe weather.
A cover adds insulation. It does not replace correct shutoff and drainage or guarantee protection during prolonged freezing weather.
Watch: How to Prevent Frozen PipesThis Old House · Richard Trethewey
A broader guide to preventing frozen pipes. Watch on YouTube · Read the guide
Other maintenance this week
Spread these out. Skip equipment you don’t have and monthly checks you’ve already completed.
Inside
- Look under sinks and at ceilings. Read a hygrometer if you have one. Aim for 30-50% relative humidity and keep it below 60%.
- Fix leaks promptly and dry wet materials within 24-48 hours. Get professional help for extensive, hidden or contaminated damage.
- Check actual appliance thermometers, not just the control setting. Refrigerator: 40°F or below. Freezer: 0°F or below.
- Investigate unsafe temperatures promptly. Use food-safety guidance if food may have warmed.
- Check the manual to see whether the filter is removable and when it needs cleaning. Switch off before access.
- Remove debris from a serviceable filter, rinse as directed and lock it back in place. Watch for sharp fragments.
Do not force out a maintenance-free filter.
- Use the model’s cleaning cycle and approved cleaner. Clean the dispenser, gasket and any serviceable filters as directed.
- The machine cycle adds time. Do not open an unfamiliar pump filter or mix cleaning products.
- Inspect safely accessible pipes in unheated spaces. Repair small gaps with suitable pipe insulation.
- Keep insulation away from combustion vents. Electrical heat cable must follow its listed instructions.
Hire help for unsafe access, damaged pipes or unfamiliar heat cable.
Monthly safety
- Use each test button as the manufacturer directs, including on hardwired alarms. Replace failed or expired units promptly.
- Check the manufacture date. Smoke alarms generally need replacement at 10 years; follow the model instructions.
Never disable an alarm. Hardwired electrical work needs a qualified electrician.
Test as directed and check the unit’s end-of-life date. Replacement age varies by model.
If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911.
- Turn the system off for safe filter access. Check condition, size and airflow direction.
- Clean or replace as the system and filter instructions require. Use a compatible filter.
- Check that access is clear, the pin is in place, the body is undamaged and the gauge is in its operating range if fitted.
- Follow the label for service or replacement. Have used, damaged or undercharged units serviced or replaced.
Do not discharge an extinguisher to test it.
Outside
Empty and scrub, turn over or cover small water-holding containers such as birdbaths, buckets and plant saucers.
Stay out of unsafe water and away from electrical equipment.
These estimates are additional to the 25-minute focus. Machine cycles, repairs and professional service add time.
A little cleaning along the way
Use what fits your home and actual use. Check care labels, ventilate and never mix cleaning products.
Regular routine · about 2 hr 23 active min
Use products that suit the surface. Follow product labels, ventilate and never mix cleaners.
Vacuum first, then clean compatible hard floors. Keep cords and wet floors out of walking routes.
Follow fabric care labels. Use the upholstery attachment and avoid moving heavy furniture alone.
Use compatible products and safe access. Keep separate cloths for toilets and other surfaces. Never mix bleach with ammonia or acids.
Use safe-storage guidance for leftovers. Food date labels alone do not tell you whether food is safe.
Wash and dry according to fabric labels and actual use. Clean the dryer lint screen before or after every load.
This week’s detail · about 30 min
- Switch the fan off and let it stop. Unplug portable fans before cleaning.
- For compatible ceiling-fan blades, slip a dry pillowcase over each blade and gently pull it back to catch dust. Finish with a compatible cloth.
Use a stable, suitable step stool. Hire help for height. Do not wet motors or bend blades.
- Vacuum compatible treatments with a soft brush attachment. Dust reachable moldings and sills.
- Check care labels before washing fabrics, using liquids or treating delicate finishes.
Keep window-covering cords secured. Leave high or heavy treatments to a professional.
Laundry and drying cycles add time. Use safe access and hire help for height or heavy items.
Household & vehicle reminders
Additional time. Check vehicle service dates against your manual, mileage and condition.
- Have the installer or a qualified irrigation professional winterize your particular system before freezing weather.
- Ask about backflow protection and local testing requirements.
Do not attempt a compressed-air blowout yourself.
Sort reading, check unfamiliar transactions, and review inboxes, due bills and paperwork. Avoid duplicate payments.
Use trusted account access. Keep personal and financial records off this page.
Check and replace according to the product’s directions. This does not replace cleaning or safe food storage.
- Check service dates, mileage and the vehicle manual. Replace only when due. Some vehicles have no engine air filter.
- Use a qualified technician for unfamiliar disassembly; avoid damaging trim, wiring or safety equipment.
Check cold pressures against the vehicle placard or manual. Look for damage, abnormal wear and worn tread.
Use the vehicle target pressure, not the tire sidewall maximum. Have damage assessed.
Check lights and appropriate cold-weather supplies. Secure the kit and follow battery and product storage limits.
Between weekly reminders: clean the dryer lint screen before or after each load. Check your property after significant storms. Deal with failed alarms, active leaks and unsafe equipment immediately.
Shopping links are optional examples. Compare fit, current price and local availability at the store.
Start with trusted guidance: American Red Cross · Woodford · NWS Morristown
More sources are beside each task under How. Guidance checked October 23, 2026. Times are planning estimates. Equipment instructions come first. Independent links do not imply endorsement.