Autumn Home Maintenance
Fall is in the air. The days are getting shorter, the leaves are changes colors and the temperature is feeling a little cooler. It is time to prepare your home for cold weather! Here’s a checklist of some important autumn home maintenance tasks you should think about:
Clean, or possibly replace, your gutters: If your gutters are clogged, you can end up with a flooded home interior and damaged exterior. It is important to clean them at least twice a year, and if necessary, replace them.
Seal windows and doors: It’s a good idea to seal leaky windows and doors to help keep the chilly air out and the warm air inside. Weatherstripping is a simple cost-effective way to keep your heating costs down.
Drain your outdoor faucets: Drain and disconnect all garden hoses from outside spigots to prevent any water freezing. Not doing this can result in pipes bursting.
Inspect and clean the fireplace chimney: It’s important to have a professional chimney sweep clean and inspect your fireplace and chimney for any blockages that could cause a chimney fire. Also, a professional should check the gas lines and vents for leaks and repair them, if needed.
Fix any cracks in your driveway: when water gets into cracks it freezes, expands, and can make the crack even bigger until eventually the concrete crumbles. A concrete crack sealer can help fill it up.
Change your filters: If your filters are clogged, it’s harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature and that will increase your heating bills. Clean the filters monthly, not just before the fall.
Fertilize your lawn: If you want to keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Applying fertilizer will prevent winter damage and will also help your lawn turn green faster in the spring.
Test winter equipment: Check to make sure your snow blower is working before you need it and get it serviced if necessary.
Change your batteries: You should check to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices are working at least once a year.
With the weather cooling down, it’s the perfect temperature to spend some time inspecting your home inside and out. If you have any questions, be sure to contact us! We are always here for you.
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