13 Fall Home Maintenance Tasks

Posted by Jenni Barnett on Monday, October 17th, 2016 at 2:52am.

Fall Maitenance
Along with decorating your home for fall, there are some important home maintenance tasks that you should attend to this season to ensure that your home is in tip-top shape all year-round. Autumn is a great time to take care of the following:

  • Clean out your gutters – There’s a reason we’ve nicknamed autumn as “fall” – because of all of the leaves fluttering to the ground. Naturally, many of them will end up in your gutters, leaving them clogged and ineffective. Clean them out several times a year, but most importantly in, after most (or all) of the leaves have fallen closest to your home.

 

  • Examine exterior for peeling paint or mildew – If you need to repaint your home’s exterior, fall is the best time to make it happen because the heat of summer has passed, and the biting cold of winter has yet to arrive.

 

  • Check your roof for leaks – Because winter is just around the corner, you want to make sure your roof is in good shape now so that you don’t have to brave the freezing elements that will be coming soon.

 

  • Redirect airflow by changing ceiling fan directions

 

  • Weather-proof windows with caulking – Doing so not only keeps you more comfortable during the colder months, it also cuts down on your heating bill!

 

  • Remove window AC units

 

  • Store outdoor furniture – Failure to put your outdoor furniture away for the winter could lead to them being damaged by the cold weather.

 

  • Have your chimney and fireplace cleaned – Hire a professional fireplace/chimney inspection and cleaning company to ensure that your home isn’t at risk of a chimney fire.

 

  • Change out your heating filters – Ideally, your heating and AC filters should be changed on a monthly basis, especially if you live in a particularly dusty area or have pets in your home. Realistically, you should change them seasonally and more often if they seem exceptionally dirty when you do switch them out.

 

  • Protect perennials – Although you may think that your perennial plants have died right along with any annuals you planted, most perennials have quite hardy root systems that can stay alive right through the cold winter months. In order to give them the best chance at coming back up in the spring, cover your perennials with a layer of mulch after the first freeze of the season.

 

  • Repair and seal any cracks in your driveway – Do the same for any concrete walking paths or sidewalks on your property, including steps and porches. It’s best to repair and seal asphalt driveways and concrete after the heat of summer has passed.

 

  • Check your humidifier – Given how dry winter air can be due to turning on your heating system, running a humidifier through the coldest months will help you avoid severely dry skin and will make breathing easier. In fall, give your humidifier a thorough inspection to make sure it is running efficiently, and give the pads and plates a good cleaning.

 

  • Have your heating system inspected – You should make and keep a regular appointment with your HVAC company every fall and spring. They’ll check all of your heating system’s parts, like the motor and blower as well as your thermostat and heating ducts. By keeping your heating system regularly maintained, you’ll avoid system failure in critically cold weather.
Leave a Comment
Format example: you@domain.com
Format example: yourwebsitename.com