It may still feel like summer well into October, but there’s no time like the present to do fall household chores. Here are a few of the key home maintenance activities you should complete before the snow flies.

• Garden
  You may be tired of working in the garden, but fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs as well as fall bulbs like tulips and daffodils. Continue to water regularly until you shut off your water.
• Rake
  Preventing thick layers of leaves to collect on your grass stops mold and damage, so you’ll want to rake your lawn. However, a covering of leaves on garden plants provides good protection for winter, so don’t bag up all of your leaves.
• Clean gutters
  Whether you do it yourself or hire a gutter cleaning company, clearing out debris from your gutters prevents water damage. It’s also a good time to inspect your roof for loose shingles or other damage.
• Shut off outside spigots
  Prevent your pipes from freezing by shutting off the valve to the outside spigots. Drain hoses and store in garage or indoors.
• Clean garage
  Make room for your vehicles in your garage so you’re not scraping ice and snow this winter.
• Check furnace/boiler
  You don’t want to have an outage in your furnace during Minnesota’s winters. Have your furnace or boiler serviced regularly. If you have hot water heat, check and bleed radiators.
• Caulk windows and doors
  Check for air leaks around doors and windows. You can lower your heating bills by caulking gaps.
• Clean dryer vents
  Clogged dryer vents can pose a safety hazard. Be sure to clean regularly—spring and fall are both good times. Always use rigid aluminum venting, not flexible.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
  Fall is as good a time as any to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning. Test and replace batteries twice a year.

Based on Home Maintenance Checklist NYT.com