Whether you are a brand new homeowner or have lived in your home for years, it is never too late to know how to maintain your home for the fall and winter months. To help prevent unexpected repair bills below you will find a list of helpful maintenance tips that should be completed this fall:
Exterior
- Inspect exterior of home for loose mortar in brick, or siding that has pulled away from the home due to the summer storms.
- Keep all horizontal and vertical trim pieces well caulked.
- Keep all trees and shrubbery trimmed away from siding and/or brick and remove any foliage hanging over the roof.
- Clean gutters & downspouts, check for damage, looseness, leakage and misalignment.
- Check exterior drainage. Make sure rain water will continue to flow away from the house.
- Check for loose, damaged, or missing roof shingles.
- If you have a crawl space, open the vents and check for any standing water.
- Inspect flashings around chimneys, skylights, plumbing stacks, etc.
- Check vents, louvers and chimneys for bird, insect nests, or other obstructions.
- Check fascia and soffit boards for water penetration or decay and replace as needed.
- Tree branches should be kept clear of wires.
- Have your furnace serviced prior to moving from A/C to heat. Hose off debris on exterior A/C unit.
- Inspect the refrigerant lines for missing or damaged insulation.
- Keep the exterior unit free of debris and vegetation.
- Check windows for broken, cracked, loose or missing glass, peeling paint, drafts and smooth operation.
- Check double-paned units for signs of seal failure (fogging between glass).
- Wall units should be removed for the winter.
- Outdoor faucets, pool equipment, and sprinkler systems should be drained in the fall.
Interior
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Have your furnace serviced prior to moving from a/c to heat.
- Vacuum lint from clothes dryer vent.
- Inspect sinks, showers, and bath caulking for deterioration.
- Remove shower heads and clean sediment.
- Inspect plumbing for leaks, clean aerators in all faucets.
- Make sure fire extinguishers are fully charged; recharge or replace if needed.
- Clean grease filter in range hood.
- Clean appliances inside and out including coils under refrigerator.
- Deep clean and inspect basement.
Fall is a good time to take care of big home repair projects before shorter days (and in many areas, ice and snow) make outdoor work too difficult. And if you do live in an area with cold winters, take some time this fall to boost energy efficiency throughout your home, and prevent damage from winter storms with proper tree care.
