If your spring brings cleaning and your fall brings maintenance, then know that your home is not alone in this pattern. While you likely conduct maintenance every season, there is something about the spring and fall shifts taking us from one temperature extreme to another that invites those checklist type of tasks. So, keeping with that theme… here is a fall home maintenance checklist for you to tackle before it becomes too cold to do so.
#1 Prepare your grounds for winter
This doesn’t mean start sprinkling the salt and sand on the walkways, but as a step prior to this you should examine your walkways for needed repairs before the paths are too slick to walk on. Also make a point to fix those leaky sprinkler heads and faucets before a slight problem becomes something major requiring repair in the winter. Most likely it will be worth the money now to avoid the cost and headache of winter repairs. Take a moment to fertilize your lawn; this will help feed your lawn for the winter and protect against springtime weeds. And to make fertilizing the lawn even easier, first pack away all of your seasonal lawn furniture. Let’s face it, you won’t be using that hammock or lounge chair again for months, so you might as well clean it and put it away for a while to prevent any unnecessary wear and tear from the cold weather.
#2 Protect against drafts
Check your home for drafts especially around doors and windows. The majority of your air conditioning and heat is lost through doors and windows, and this is the place your home is most vulnerable to outside air making its way into your home. You might want to use the fall season to prepare your windows with heavier drapes, repair cracked or missing caulk, and replace worn weather stripping.
#3 Conduct fireplace maintenance and inspection
Some people will reach for a log of firewood more frequently than they turn up the thermostat. Fireplaces create a wonderful winter ambiance as they help to heat your home, but if left un-serviced they can also be a hazard. Hire a professional chimney sweep if necessary.
#4 Examine roof and gutters
Perhaps while you are outside conducting your evaluation of the grounds (fall chore #1 in this list), it would be a good time to clean those gutters and ensure your roof does not have any leaks that can prove much more troublesome if you try to brave the winter without attending to them.
#5 Change your air conditioning filters
Just set a calendar appointment now and this way there is a reminder in place to have you change the central air conditioning filters in your home on a regular basis. If your home has other air filters such as filters for fans and humidifiers, then this is a good time to clean or replace those as well. Fall is the time to make sure you are keeping your family breathing healthy and clean as your approach the colder months.
