The summer is fantastic while it lasts, but before you know it there's a chill in the air and fall is breathing down your neck. Autumn is a truly beautiful time of year, as the world transforms around you, but this time of year calls for a time out away from nature walks, football tailgates, and weekend bonfires to make sure your house is properly prepped and ready for the upcoming seasons!
It doesn't need to take long, but a fall home maintenance checklist will help not only protect your home but save you from costly repairs later on down the road. Here are some things you'll want to be sure to check off your list:
One of the most important fall home maintenance steps is to clean out your gutters. This is something you may want to hold off on doing until most of your property's trees have shed their leaves for the season – nothing worse than cleaning your gutters and then needing to do it again. So put this project off until a little later in the fall if possible. Once your trees have lost their leaves, it will be time to clean them out, which will prevent blockages from forming in the gutters, and it's far easier to clean it now than wait and remove the decomposing sludge that forms once leaves begin to break down.
This is also an important project as dead leaves will weigh down the gutters, possibly causing damage to the house, and it can force water back up under the shingles and onto your roof.
If you can feel a draft coming from your windows or doors, you have an air leak and it will need to be addressed. Even if you can't notice a large draft, it's always a good idea to double-check for cracks in the seals around windows and doors and inspect the area around your foundation where the ground meets it. Sealing up the air leaks will prevent warm air from escaping, which will help you save money on your energy bills during the winter months.
Checking and sealing air leaks also helps prevent little critters from crawling into your home to escape the frigid outdoor temperatures. This project is something you can do on your own, in most cases, but you can also have a professional visit your home to give a complete look-over.
If you've ever dealt with a burst pipe before, you know how much of a problem it can be. To protect your plumbing from freezing temperatures, you'll need to insulate the pipes. Inexpensive foam insulating tubes are available from your local hardware store (just make sure to pick up the right size for your pipe), and you may also look into purchasing insulating tape. Focus first on any plumbing that is exposed outside, then work on plumbing that is inside, such as pipes running through your basement and utility room.
Remember: if you go on vacation to escape the cold, make sure your temperature is set to be warm enough to avoid freezing. Pipes generally start to freeze when the outdoor temperature is 20º or below, and most professionals suggest an inside temperature of 55-65º. If you can, have a friend stop by while you're out of town to flush toilets and run faucets from time to time to keep water moving and lessen the chances of frozen pipes. If you can't have someone stop by periodically, leaving sinks dripping will help.
One of the most important fall home checklist items is an annual roof inspection, which would be best done by a professional. They can determine if you need to repair damaged shingles, clean off debris from the roof, and do what is necessary to avoid potential damage.
Roof damage is more likely to occur during the fall and winter months due to excess weight on the roof of your home from wet leaves, snow, and ice than any other time of the year – and repairs to a fully damaged roof can be costly. It's best to perform annual inspections to avoid going down a costly road in the future!
If you have a fireplace, have it inspected and cleaned out prior to use, as far too many house fires start because of a dirty fireplace.
Likewise, have your furnace and HVAC system inspected. This will make sure there aren't any leaks and that your equipment is running as it should. Another thing you will want to avoid is your furnace dying on you during the middle of the winter – having your heating systems inspected by a professional will ensure you can stay warm until spring!
If you have porch items that are not built to withstand cold weather, you'll want to take them inside. Similarly, if you have any equipment you use during the colder months to allow you to continue using the porch and deck, now is the time to break them out of storage.
Whether this is a propane heater or different cushions for seating, you'll want to use the fall months to ready your porch. This is also a decent time to apply a new coating of wood conditioner to your porch, deck, or patio because there will be more moisture during this time of the year.
You don't want to damage your wood deck because it's in constant contact with the snow. Ideally, you will do this in the spring - but if it was put off, now is the time to do it.
While the summer is perfect for enjoying long days outside with friends and family, the cooler months make it a fantastic time to get outside and work on your checklist.
As you're inspecting your home for the approaching winter months, you may find yourself racking up ideas for remodeling projects – and we'd be happy to help. Whether you're finally ready to remodel your basement into an all-seasons hangout or remodel your kitchen to be ready to host next year's holiday events, reach out to our team today.
Remember, when it comes to preparing your home and improving your home, don't stop at "good enough" – make it Compelling!