November home maintenance checklist

By Pau Cozar Navas · Last reviewed October 2026 · Tasks from the HouseByMonth calendar

November is the one month when every zone shares a seasonal task. The clocks change, and that makes it an easy time to replace smoke alarm batteries. Beyond that, the work depends on where you live: the North is settling into winter, while the South is just starting its mild cool season.

November tasks by climate zone

Climate zone	Tasks this month
Zone 1 (very hot) Miami, Honolulu, Key West	Replace smoke alarm batteries Inspect the roof
Zone 2 (hot) Houston, Phoenix, Orlando, Dallas	Replace smoke alarm batteries Schedule a heating tune-up (if you have gas or oil furnace, boiler (radiators or radiant heat), heat pump) Disconnect hoses and protect outdoor faucets Inspect the roof
Zone 3 (warm) Atlanta, Nashville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles	Replace smoke alarm batteries Clean the gutters (if you have gutters) Set ceiling fans to winter mode
Zone 4 (mixed) Washington DC, New York City, St. Louis, Seattle	Replace smoke alarm batteries Clean the gutters (if you have gutters) Set ceiling fans to winter mode
Zone 5 (cool) Chicago, Denver, Boston, Salt Lake City	Replace smoke alarm batteries Clean the gutters (if you have gutters) Get snow equipment ready
Zone 6 (cold) Minneapolis, Fargo, Burlington (Vermont), Helena	Replace smoke alarm batteries
Zone 7 (very cold) Duluth, Caribou (Maine), Anchorage	Replace smoke alarm batteries
Zone 8 (subarctic) Fairbanks and interior Alaska	Replace smoke alarm batteries

Not sure of your zone? Find it by ZIP code, or build your calendar to see only the tasks that fit your home.

What to focus on

In every zone, replace smoke alarm batteries. Do it at least once a year; sealed 10-year alarms do not need it. Replace any alarm older than 10 years. The smoke and CO alarm guide explains how to check an alarm's age. In zones 6, 7 and 8, this is the only seasonal task in November.

Zones 1 and 2 do their fall roof inspection now, looking for missing or damaged shingles, flashing problems and sagging from the ground or with binoculars (roof guide). Zone 2 also schedules a heating tune-up if the home has a furnace, boiler or heat pump (tune-up guide), and disconnects hoses and protects outdoor faucets before any cold snap (frozen pipes guide).

Zones 3, 4 and 5 clean the gutters once the leaves are down, checking that downspouts drain away from the foundation (gutter guide). Zones 3 and 4 switch ceiling fans to winter mode. Zone 5 gets snow equipment ready before the first storm.

Every month

Alongside the new batteries, run the monthly test on every smoke and CO alarm (alarm guide). Check the HVAC filter as well (filter guide).

See the October checklist, continue to December, or open the calendar for your zone.

Want every task on one schedule? Build your free maintenance calendar for your ZIP code and add it to your phone.