It’s autumn! You know what that means: nature changing colors, cozy sweaters, bonfires, candy in all the stores, crunchy leaves. It also means it’s time to do a home maintenance check. There are always maintenance or repairs to do on any property. We recommend keeping to a schedule where you keep a checklist for every season. That way, you know that these tasks are completed at least once yearly when you consult your seasonal checklist. For example, perhaps you make sure the windows are cleaned every spring.
There are optimal times to do different tasks. It makes sense to re-stain the deck in summer when it will dry quickly. Many fall maintenance tasks are getting ready for the winter ahead. Fall is the time you want to make sure your home is ready for winter so you don’t get any unpleasant surprises when it turns cold. Here’s our recommended maintenance list:
- Test your outdoor stairs and railings. The last thing you want is to be coming in from the cold, grab the porch railing, and fall.
- Store outdoor items for the winter. Many of us have deck furniture, umbrellas, BBQs, and other accessories. Clean these and put them away before they get damaged by rain or wind.
- Walk around the outside of your home. Look for any cracks in the foundation or blistering in your siding. These problems should be fixed before cooling temps can damage the house further.
- Carefully consider your roof. Do you know how old it is? Are there any signs of leaking? Repairing the roof before rain is always preferable to waiting until you have a flood of water in your home.
- After leaves have fallen, clean out your gutters. Leaves and debris clog gutters, which can lead to water overflow and gutters falling because they are too heavy.
- Weather-strip and/or insulate your garage door. These changes can make a big difference on the temperature inside your garage. The seal on the door also keeps out little critters who are looking for warmth.
- Apply weather stripping and caulk to windows and doors. Air leaks around openings cause drafts and can significantly increase your heating bill.
- If you have a humidifier, clean it at the beginning of the season before using it and make sure to regularly clean it. Humidifiers can harbor bacteria and spores if left uncleaned.
- Change the direction of your ceiling fan. In the winter, you want your fan to create an upward draft, which will send the warm air by the ceiling down into the room.
- Have your HVAC system checked by a professional before it gets cold. It’s better to make sure the system works before you get chilly!
If you need assistance with your home maintenance checklist, be sure to contact your local professionals at PECO. We would be happy to help!
