Fall is the perfect time to prepare your home for colder weather, especially with some essential maintenance. Here are some tips to keep your home safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient throughout the season:
1. Test Your Detectors
Smoke detectors typically last up to 10 years, and carbon monoxide detectors up to six, but it’s essential to check them each season to ensure they’re functioning properly. Examine the batteries (including expiration dates), and test each device on every floor of your home. As you do this, make sure windows are closed and that your heating system and furnaces are on for optimal effectiveness.
2. Inspect Your Roof
Perform an annual maintenance inspection with a qualified roofing contractor to ensure good condition of the roofing materials and roof vents.
3. Clean and Inspect Plumbing
Clean aerators on faucets and shower heads. Inspect and repair immediately water leaks in plumbing fixtures.
4. Winter-Proof Windows
Windows can be a major source of heat loss if they’re not properly winterized. Start by checking for drafts and sealing any gaps you find. Remove debris from window tracks, weep holes and screens and lubricate where applicable. Adding energy-saving treatments like weatherstripping is another effective way to improve insulation.
5. Check Your HVAC System and Change Filters
For optimal energy efficiency and safety purposes, your HVAC system should be serviced annually by a professional technician to inspect systems and replace filters. Clogged or dirty filters make it harder for your system to work efficiently, leading to higher energy bills.
6. Inspect Grout
Inspect and repair the grout or calking on counters, flooring and bathroom fixtures.
7. Clean and Maintain Gutters
Gutters and down spouts channel water from your roof away from your home, but they also collect leaves and debris. To keep them working effectively—and to help prevent ice dams in freezing weather—clean them out, straighten any that are misaligned, and replace any that are damaged.
8. Drain Outdoor Water Lines and Sources
Ensure there is no water left in outdoor pipes, faucets, or hoses that could freeze and expand, potentially causing significant damage to your plumbing. Clean out debris in drain lines under concrete by flushing with a hose. Failing to do this could lead to costly repairs or replacements.
9. Maintain Drainage Swales
Maintain drainage swales for the flow of surface water away from the home and fence to flow to the street.
10. Yard Care
Adjust yard sprinkler timer for the season. To keep your lawn healthy before freezing temperatures set in, take a few key steps: mow the grass shorter than usual, water and fertilize it, and aerate the soil—ideally more than once—to give the roots the best chance to thrive.
11. Inspect Fence and Garage Door
Inspect fence and garage door for weather damage. Replace damaged areas on fence. Lubricate fence and all moving parts with the garage door.
12. Inspect Kitchen Hood
Inspect and clean kitchen hood vent grease trap.
Preparing early allows you to tackle these tasks before temperatures drop and ensures your home is ready for the colder months!
