As the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures start to get a little cooler it is a great time to start doing some fall maintenance on your home. These tips are a great list of things you should do this fall to ensure your home is ready for the winter months.
Fall Tip #1 – Clean Your Gutters
Gutters naturally get full of leaves as they begin to fall off the trees so make sure you are clearing them out as you begin raking your lawn. It is important that your gutters are free from leaves, debris and other items so your roof can drain into the gutters properly. Learn more details on how to clean your gutters this fall here.
Fall Tip #2 – Seal Air Leaks and Check For Drafts
Air leaks around windows let cold air into your warm home. It is important that your home is efficient during the winter months so be sure to check your weather stripping and seals around windows and doors to make sure they aren’t letting in a draft. If they are, make sure you replace weather stripping and caulk where needed to help keep your home efficient.
If you’re unsure if your home is losing energy a home energy audit might be something you should have done to your home! It will help you determine where your home is lacking insulation or improperly sealed so you can fix it before it becomes a larger problem. It may even help you save money on energy bills too.
Fall Tip #3 – Check your Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
Now is a great time to test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your home. Make sure you check batteries and the expiration dates.
Fall Tip #4 – Inspect Your Roof
If your roof has a leak, now is the time to figure out where it is coming from and fix it before it becomes a larger issue. Winter snow and ice are hard on a roof so it is important to make sure your roof is in great shape before the snow is piled on top of it.
Fall Tip #5 – Replace Your Furnace Filter
Furnace filters should be replaced every 3 months. If your filter is not replaced frequently it can become clogged with dust and the furnace will not run efficiently. Make sure you to take the time to replace it so your furnace can continue to run efficiently.
Fall Tip #6 – Clean Furnace
Just like the furnace filter, the furnace can collect dust and dirt. Make sure you take the time to vacuum out your furnace (Please turn it off prior to vacuuming) and clean it from any dust or particles to help it run well. If you are nervous your furnace is getting old or in need of repairs a check up may be helpful too. You can contact an HVAC company to have them check over the furnace and see if any repairs are recommended.
Fall Tip #7 – Prep Your Lawn for Winter
As winter approaches it is important to continue to take care of your lawn. Be sure to rake the leaves off your lawn, fertilize your yard, aerate the soil and over seed the yard prior to the first frost. Doing a little extra maintenance on the yard will be extra beneficial for the following spring.
Fall Tip #8 – Clean Your Carpets
Another quick maintenance tip to complete in the fall is steam clean your carpets. Carpets get a build up of dirt, pet hair and many other substances. To keep the carpets in your home for years to come it is important to deep clean them every once and a while and the fall is a great time to check it off your cleaning list.
We hope these tips are helpful to you in the fall months as you begin to prepare your home for winter. If you complete small maintenance tasks on your home weekly or monthly it will prevent you from having a massive list a few times a year and hopefully prevent major issues as well. Happy Fall, Ya’ll!
