Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
- Fall Maintenance Checklist: 10 Steps You Should Take To Prepare For Fall and Winter
- Gutter Maintenance Program
- Contact All Season Gutters to Schedule Your Next Maintenance Appointment
Before the temperature drops and winter arrives, it’s important to prepare your home. The right preparation can prevent damage from cold and snow and keep your family safe and warm until the spring. Fall is a busy time for homeowners, as many balance family responsibilities as well as home maintenance.
To help you make the most of your time, here’s a list of 10 things you should do to prepare for fall and winter this year. Though fall home maintenance can be a hassle, it’s an investment that pays off in the long run.
Fall Maintenance Checklist: 10 Steps You Should Take To Prepare For Fall and Winter
Home maintenance is a chore that never seems done. However, by knocking out these 10 fall home maintenance musts, you can feel confident about moving into winter. In no particular order, here’s a checklist to follow when preparing your home for the upcoming seasons.
1. Inspect and Clean Gutters
Your gutters are designed to catch rainwater and direct it away from your home. When gutters are clogged or misaligned, all that water can end up leaking into your home and damaging your structure or property. Unfortunately, autumn often fills gutters with leaves and other debris. Call a professional service to help you clean and maintain your gutter system — it’s safer and saves you the time and hassle.
2. Seal Exterior Gaps And Cracks
When the temperature drops, you may notice cold air blowing in through cracks around your windows and doors. In addition to being uncomfortable, these gaps can increase the cost of heating your home.
Before you have to turn your heat on, walk around the exterior of your house and look for places that need caulking or weatherstrips. You might also want to add a door jamb to block air from flowing beneath the door.
3. Check Your Roof
While you’re outside, take a good look at your roof. Wind and rain can damage the tiles that keep your home secure throughout the year. If a missing shingle isn’t fixed early on, it could lead to water damage down the road.
Replacing an entire roof is expensive. You can maintain yours for much longer if you do routine checks and keep it clean of debris. Flashing is another place where cracks and leaks tend to occur. Like with your gutters, it’s safer to hire a service to check your roof.
4. Inspect and Clean the Chimney And Fireplace
If you use your chimney during the fall and winter, it’s a good idea to have it professionally cleaned. Soot buildup can eventually lead to an unsafe situation and potentially a house fire — not something you want to worry about!
Your fireplace should be cleaned at least once a year, although it’s not a bad idea to clean it both before and after the season you use it. If you want to start enjoying cozy fires in the fall, make sure to call a cleaning service during the summer.
5. Clean the Dryer Vent
Modern dryers use filters to catch lint and remove it from clothes. However, when this lint builds up, it creates a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 92% of house fires between 2010 and 2014 were caused by dryers.
Of these, 26% were sparked by lint in the machine. Simply locate your vent and clean out the lint several times a year to avoid potential danger. It’s a good idea to check the ductwork too, if possible.
6. Check Your Sump Pump
Your sump pump works to drain water out of your basement and home. If it’s broken, you can have sustained water damage to your property — impacting your basement, foundation and more. If you live somewhere with regular rain or snow, it’s important to install and maintain a sump pump.
Before it gets cold and starts snowing, check to make sure your sump pump is in good shape and working properly. To examine it, first unplug it from the power source. Next, check to see if there’s any damage and lubricate the parts. You can see if it works by plugging it back in and dumping water inside.
7. Insulate Exterior Pipes/Winterize Outdoor Plumbing
If you have an outdoor spigot, it’s a good idea to turn off the water to it before winter. This will help prevent frozen pipes and water damage in your home. To completely eliminate the chance of water damage, disconnect the hose and drain both it and the faucet after you turn the water off.
Store your hose out of the elements over the winter, and consider buying a cover for your faucet as well. Some outdoor faucets are weatherproofed for the cold, but most of them aren’t able to handle harsh temperatures.
8. Have Your Heating System Serviced
Ideally, your furnace and heating system should also be checked over before you turn it on for the winter and chilly fall days. Every furnace is different, so it’s important to read the instructions or call in a professional service.
Regularly change the filter to help your furnace function at its best. Regular furnace maintenance will keep your energy costs down and your family safe from any malfunctions. It will also ensure you don’t have a sudden problem with your heating when it gets cold!
9. Reverse and Clean Ceiling Fans
While it may sound strange, using your ceiling fans during the winter can actually help you stay warm and minimize heating bills. The trick is to use the switch on your fan to make sure it’s turning in a clockwise direction.
Because warm air rises, a slow ceiling fan can help recirculate warm air throughout your space. While you’re changing the setting, take a moment to vacuum the dust off the fan blades. This chore is easy to forget, and you don’t want dust spinning through the air!
10. Store and Clean Outdoor Furniture
If you have any outdoor furniture, now is the time to think about storage. You may want to use some of your furniture throughout the fall, but it’s important to have a plan when winter comes. Most people store their outdoor furniture in sheds, basements or attics. Invest in furniture covers if none of these options are available to you.
Before you put everything away, take time to wash any fabric materials and wipe down outdoor tables and benches. Organize outdoor decor in clearly labeled boxes so everything is ready to pull out again next spring.
Gutter Maintenance Program
Like other routine maintenance, checking your gutters before winter is easy to forget. You can reduce the hassle by scheduling ahead and following an annual routine that keeps your gutters debris-free year-round.
Depending on where you live, it’s recommended to clean your gutters twice a year or more. Homeowners who live near pine trees should consider getting their gutters checked every three months, as falling pine needles can quickly cause blockages.
At All Season Gutters, we offer a gutter maintenance program that can help you maintain your home. If you’re not home or busy when we’re working, we have contact-free payment options. Those who join our program receive free inspections with each cleaning, priority scheduling and personalized pricing.
At All Season Gutters, we offer gutter examination services, cleaning services, fast repairs, detailed reports and friendly seasonal reminders so you don’t forget the next time your gutters need maintenance. The fall and winter season gets busy, so it’s a good idea to schedule ahead.
Contact All Season Gutters to Schedule Your Next Maintenance Appointment
Use this autumn home maintenance checklist to prepare your family for the fall season. When the snow starts falling, you can rest easy knowing your home is prepped to avoid winter damage and carry you safely into spring.
While you’re prepping, don’t forget to take special care of your gutters. Without the proper maintenance, small issues can spiral into thousands of dollars worth of damage. Contact All Season Gutters to learn more about how we can partner with you in home maintenance!
