8 Home Maintenance Tasks You Need to Complete in October

As autumn finally arrives in Middle Tennessee, it’s time to start thinking about your home maintenance task list for the month of October. Each month you should be completing one or more of these tasks to ensure the stability and longevity of your Middle Tennessee home. Before November comes along, complete these home maintenance tasks ASAP!

Check Your Heating System

While Middle Tennessee doesn’t experience extremely frigid temperatures often during the fall, we still rely on our heating systems to help us stay cozy during the autumn season. However, if the first chilly night arrives and your heating system conveniently is broken, you and your family will be far from thrilled.

Instead, take time out of the month of October to have your HVAC (specifically heating) system inspected and repaired, if necessary, by a professional HVAC technician. Middle Tennessee has plenty of reputable and reliable heating and cooling companies ready to assist you this month!

Seal All Windows

Speaking of heating, you don’t want your precious heat to leak out of your windows and into the great outdoors. Think of the expensive energy bill you will receive in November if you fail to seal your windows in October!

Sealing your windows helps keep all of the heat produced by your HVAC system inside your home where it belongs! There are multiple ways to seal your windows for the fall and winter seasons. Common methods include caulk, window insulation film, and rubber weather sealing.

Inspect Your Roof For Damage

During the fall and winter seasons, leaves, twigs, and other environmental debris land on your roof. Some of this natural debris can cause serious damage to your roof. If left unattended, damage to your roof can become costly and cause more harm to your home. The winter season can bring strong ice storms to our area, which have the potential to cause significant damage to your roof. If you already have a damaged roof and an ice storm comes along, you may be in for more than you can manage!

Take 5 minutes this October to look for visible roofing damage (from the ground) including missing shingles, clear holes, and dents. If you need assistance inspecting your roof, trust one of the many residential roofing experts located around the greater Middle Tennessee area.

Completely Clean Your Gutters

While you’re inspecting your roof, be sure to clear out your gutters. With the leaves continuing to fall, a clogged gutter is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. By having a clear gutter, you allow rain water to properly flow without obstruction. It doesn’t take too long to take leaves, twigs, and other natural elements out of your gutters, so what are you waiting for?

Word of advice: when you climb up the ladder to your gutters, make sure you have a friend or family member available to spot you. Safety first at all times!

Clean Deck and/or Patio

During the spring and summer seasons, everyone gathers on the deck or patio for quality time together. From barbecues to late night sunsets, your deck or patio is trafficked quite frequently during these seasons. However, during the fall and winter seasons decks and patios across Middle Tennessee do not see as much foot traffic. With this in mind, you need to clean your deck and/or patio and get it ready for cooler weather.

Tasks include thoroughly cleaning the deck/patio floor, emptying potted plants that won’t survive the winter, looking for and completing any necessary repairs, and covering or storing deck and patio furniture including grills.

Seal Your Driveway

During the colder seasons, driveways (especially asphalt driveways) should be repaired and sealed to avoid any cracks or additional damage during the winter. Remember, our area is still affected by snow, ice, sleet, and hail! These natural elements can severely damage a driveway that is not properly sealed.

Start by cleaning your driveway and getting rid of any leaves or other debris. Then fill any cracks, holes, or imperfect areas with your choice of driveway filler. After, simply seal/coat your driveway with the product of your choice (or at the recommendation of the professional who installed your driveway).

Close Your Pool

If you haven’t already, get your pool ready for the winter by treating it with the proper chemicals and covering it up. The worst thing for a pool is to not be treated or covered and experience significant damage to the structure and/or lining.

Stock Up On Winter Supplies

While our area does not experience a mass amount of snow, you should still be prepared! Take a day in October to go to your local hardware and garden center and stock up on any winter supplies you may need. From ice scrapers, to shovels, to salt for your driveway and sidewalks, you can never be too prepared for the frigid winter seasons.

Do you plan to complete any additional home maintenance tasks in October?