It’s getting a bit cooler outside these days, so get the inside and outside of your home ready to handle these colder temps with these fall home maintenance projects and tips.
Outside Your Home:
Clean out your gutters and downspouts on a regular basis this fall. Be sure that all drainage areas are not blocked by debris and leaves and sticks. Inside tip: Consider purchasing gutter guards to make this job easier on yourself.
Less daylight means you need more lighting outdoors. Add an extra measure of safety and security by installing low voltage outdoor lighting. These exterior-grade fixtures can be placed along walkways and driveways, but are also great for illuminating stonewalls, steps, trees, fences and other garden features.
Be sure to inspect your roof and shingles, or hire an experienced professional to examine your roof and flashing to make sure there are no leaks or wear, to withstand ice and snow and heavy winds. If the shingles are curling, buckling or crackling, replace them. If you discover that you have too much damage, then it’s time to replace the whole roof.
To prevent exterior water pipes from bursting when the weather gets colder, turn off the valves to the exterior hose bibs ahead of time near the end of the fall season. Run the water until the pipes are empty. Make sure all the water is drained from the pipes, if not; then the water can freeze up and damage the pipes. You can also then wrap water pipes that run along exterior walls with heating tape, saving energy and prevent them from freezing.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and prevent possible chimney fires, have your wood burning fireplace inspected, repaired and cleaned by a qualified pro.
Fall also make is a good cooler season to paint any exterior parts of your home.
Install and maintain paths and walkways. If there are too many slips and cracks, then fill them now, so water cannot seep in and freeze, making those cracks even larger come spring. Resurface worn concrete now, which will save you more time and money in the future.
Fall is also a good time to seed or re-seed your lawn, start a compost pile, and trim shrubs and trees.
Inside Your Home:
Check the attic to make sure your insulation is installed properly. Or add new insulation or replace older insulation.
The fall season often means cleaning too, especially when it comes to cleaning out the garage. Start a garage storage plan, rotate the lawn mower with the snow blower up front, put all your summer gardening tools away. Here is a tip: You can also replace the concrete garage floor with an epoxy-coated garage floor, that will resist oil stains, dirt and to be able to wipe clean more easily.
If you use a hot water system for heating your home, drain the expansion tank and check the water pressure and bleed the radiator.
Clean and replace filters in your furnace or heating system as well. Contact a licensed HVAC contractor to come service and inspect your gas heater or furnace to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Sometimes your local utility company may provide this service for free.
This is also an equally good time to go through all the closets and donate old clothes, clothes you no longer wear anymore or that don’t fit any more, to make room come spring for some spring clothes shopping as well.