Regular home maintenance is necessary throughout the year, but some additional chores are important to get your home ready for fall. Fall maintenance helps keep your home comfortable and energy-efficient. Prepare for the colder months ahead with these tasks.
Clean Out and Repair Your Gutters
Clean gutters regularly, particularly if you’re on a wooded lot with many trees surrounding your home. Gutters keep water away from the foundation and siding and protect your home from water damage.
Clean gutters will function properly to redirect water away from your home’s foundation and help keep everything dry. Clean them out every spring and fall and inspect them for cracks and loose areas. This is an important step in getting your home ready for fall.
Don’t Neglect Your Lawn
Continue to care for your lawn even as the weather gets cooler. Fall is a great time to fertilize and aerate the soil. You can rent a machine to aerate your lawn or hire someone else to do it.
Drain and put away garden hoses before temperatures dip below freezing. If you have an underground sprinkler system, have it winterized by a professional to prevent burst pipes.
Eliminate Cracks and Holes to Get Your Home Ready for Fall
Inspect your home for any cracks and holes where pests can enter. Fix any breaches in your home’s foundation with a sealant. Inspect the rubber seals around doors and check for drafts around windows where cold air can get in and heat can escape.
Protect Items That are Stored Outside
Winter weather takes a toll on anything stored outside. To help your outdoor furniture last longer, cover it up or store it inside a shed or garage. Cover outdoor items like your AC unit and grill.
Change Your Filters and Batteries
To get your home ready for fall, change your furnace filter and check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. More house fires occur during colder months, so make sure that your home is equipped to protect you from fire risks. Fall is also a great time to get your furnace serviced so you can make any needed repairs early in the season.
Get Your Home Ready for Fall by Having the Chimney Cleaned
If you have a chimney, be sure to get it inspected and cleaned to reduce the risk of a chimney fire. Hire a professional chimney sweep for a thorough cleaning and inspection. You’ll be alerted to any damage that needs to be fixed before building fires in your fireplace.
Catawba Island Home Inspections serves Northwest Ohio. Contact us to schedule an inspection for your home.