The leaves are changing and the air is crisp, which means that fall is finally here! Use these maintenance tips to ensure that your home is ready for the autumn season.
Indoors
Check Smoke and CO Detectors As with any other time of the year, it’s important that you regularly check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Swap out dead batteries and malfunctioning devices, and review that you have enough for your home. You should have a smoke detector inside and outside every sleeping area and on every floor of your home, and a carbon monoxide detector on every floor as well. If you have an attached garage, it’s best to place a CO detector inside it to prevent gas and other fumes from leaking inside.
Get Your Fireplace in Shape There’s nothing more relaxing than lighting a warm fire on a chilly fall day. But before you ignite anything, have a professional chimney sweep inspect and clean your fireplace’s flue and damper. Even if you only use your fireplace a few times each year, it’s still best to have it looked at. Small deposits of burned wood called “creosote” can buildup in your chimney and create a safety issue. An annual sweep will keep your chimney looking and working in perfect condition.
Test Your Garage Door Your garage door is a major piece of your home, and regular maintenance is essential for its operation. Use extreme caution when testing your garage door by yourself. Grab a piece of wood or a cardboard box to act as a helping “arm” to avoid injury.
Keep Pipes from Bursting Fall can bring with it teeth-chattering cold temperatures, and your home’s plumbing is highly susceptible to the freezing weather. To prevent your pipes from bursting or cracking, add some extra insulation in your attic or crawl space.
Outdoors
Clean Debris from Your Gutters If you choose only one task to complete this fall, make sure it’s cleaning out your gutters! Clogged gutters prevent rainwater from draining away from your home. With nowhere to go, water can cause leaks and severe damage to your roof and foundation. That’s why it’s crucial to clear gutters of leaves, twigs and debris in the fall and spring.
Trim Back Tree Branches A frozen or snow-laden tree branch is a falling hazard to your home. When doing your exterior maintenance, also trim branches away from your roof and gutters. There should be a minimum distance of 10 feet between your home and any branches overhead. While trimming away on your roof or a ladder, be careful and never work alone. In fact, it’s best to hire a professional tree trimmer to quickly and safely clear branches.
Keep Mowing We’re all eager to put away our mowers for the year after a long summer of cutting grass. But it’s still perfectly appropriate, not to mention necessary, to mow your lawn well into fall. Grass will keep growing until the first hard frost, so you’ll likely need to keep trimming it down to the ideal three-inch height. Leaving grass too long can leave it vulnerable to snow mold, and cutting it too short can weaken it against dry, frigid winter weather. So stick to what you know for now, and keep a lookout for news of the first hard frost. When you’ve finished lawn care for the year, run your gas-powered equipment until the fuel is gone.
Seal Out the Critters You aren’t the only one looking to get cozy inside your home this season. You could have some furry friends joining you for the holidays, unless you take the time to seal things up. Check for cracks and gaps both inside and outside on your home’s siding, roof and exhaust vents. Even the tiniest opening can be pried away at by mice, squirrels and racoons. Chicken wire and caulk can cover up smaller holes, but larger ones will need a bit more work to be repaired. If you suspect you may already have a new house guest, contact your local animal control company.
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