Prepare Your Home for Winter with These Fall Maintenance Tips
As the seasons shift, it is time to prepare your home for falling leaves, cooler temperatures, and possible winter storms ahead. By tackling a few fall maintenance tasks now, you can help pevent potential issues later, making it easier to enjoy all Autumn has to offer. Many of these tasks are manageable for the average homeowner or tenant, but hiring a professional can be a worthwhile investment to protect your home. Take preventive steps now can save you money in the long run by avoiding costly and potentially hazardous repairs.
Clean out your home’s gutters
Each year, your roof’s drainage system directs thousands of gallons of water away from your home’s exterior and foundation, making it essential to keep it functioning properly. Clogged gutters can damage your home’s exterior surfaces, and accelerate rust and corrosion in the gutters themselves.
Seal up any air leaks
According to the US Department of Energy, sealing up a drafty house can save up to 20% on your heating bills! Weatherstripping and caulking are easily the most cost effective way to control heating and cooling costs. To test weatherstripping, try closing a door or window on a strip of paper. If the paper slides easily your weatherstripping isn’t properly sealing the opening and should likely be replaced. Additionally, check for missing or damaged caulk around windows, doors and entry points for electrical, cable and gas. Seal any gaps with a suitable caulk.
Inspect your roof- cautiously!
Few homeowner issues are more pesky than a leaking roof. Once it begins to leak, finding the source can be time consuming. Start by inspecting your roof from top to bottom, using binoculars or a drone and check shingles for cracks, wind and hail damage, noting any missing. You can also look in your gutters for ganuale accumulations, a sign your roof is deteriorating. Repairs and replacements are best handled by a professional.
Protect faucets from freezing termperatures (contains Amazon affiliate links)
Close any shutoff valves serving outside faucets, then open the outside faucet to drain the line. If you do not have shut off valves or your faucets are not “freeze proof” types , purchase faucet covers such as these or these, sold at many home centers or online. Purchase now to avoid the seasonal out of stock frustrations. Don’t forget your irrigation systems! Follow the manufacturer’s procedures for draining and protecting it.
Freshen your furnace filter
Furnace filters trap dust that would otherwise be distributed throughout your home. Clogged filters make it harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature therefore increasing your utility bills. Filters should be regularly changed throughout the year but how often depends greatly on your system, lifestyle, number of returns and filter size. Fall is a great time to contact your HVAC professional for a furnace tune up before those freezing temperatures drop.
