Preventive home fall maintenance is key to prepping your home before the freezing cold winter season arrives. Here is part 2 of the article continued from October 2019.
6) Check Your Furnace: Schedule an appointment with your local HVAC company to get your heating system checked and tuned up for the coming winter season. Expect to pay somewhere between $50 to $100 for a checkup from them. Some companies include an annual maintenance contract, which will ensure you’re at the top of their customer list for checks and saves you up to 15-20% off the cost of a single visit. At the same time, change your furnace filters as well. This is a job you should do every few months anyway, but if you haven’t, now is definitely the time. If your HVAC includes a built-in humidifier, make sure the contractor also replaces that filter.
7) Seal Any Outside Potential Air Leaks: Grab a couple of tubes of color-matched exterior caulk and make a trip around your house’s exterior, sealing up any cracks between trim and siding, around window and door frames, and where pipes and wires enter your house. Preventing moisture from getting inside your walls is one of the most important and least expensive fixes of all of your fall maintenance jobs. You’ll also seal air leaks that prevent energy from being wasted. Pick a decent day when temps are at least 50 degrees so caulk flows easily.
8) De-Gunk Your Gutters: Clogged rain gutters can cause ice dams, often leading to expensive repairs. After the leaves have fallen, clean your gutters often to remove any trapped gunk, leaves, and twigs. Make sure gutters aren’t sagging or trapping water; tighten gutter hangers and downspout brackets. Replace any worn or damaged gutters and downspouts. Your downspouts should extend at least 5 feet away from your house to prevent foundation problems. If they don’t, add downspout extensions.
9) Eyeball Your Roof: If you have a steep roof or a multistory house, stay safe and use binoculars to inspect your roof from the ground or hire a professional roofing company to check for you. Look for warning signs: Are your roof shingles missing, buckled, or cracked? Any rust areas on flashing? Any loose, damaged, or missing shingles should be replaced immediately.