Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
It's almost time
Whether you are getting ready to put your home on the market or just preparing for the upcoming change in seasons, anytime is a good time to spruce up the nest!
Here's a fall home maintenance checklist to cover all the big and small tasks that will help keep your home safe and comfortable when cooler weather arrives.
Exterior Maintenance
Check foundation for cracks; caulk around areas where masonry meets siding, where pipes and wires enter the house, and around windows and door frames.
Install storm windows and doors and remove screens.
Inspect exterior walls for any peeling or blistering paint.
Have a licensed, certified roofing professional check the condition of your roof.
After the last leaf falls, clear out the gutters and downspouts, flush them with water, inspect Joints and tighten brackets. Point downspouts away from the foundation.
Examine your pool cover for damage and replace if necessary.
Weather-strip your garage door, making a tight seal between your garage door and the ground.
Inspect your driveway for cracks. Clean out and repair any damage with driveway filler, then coat with a commercial sealer.
Yard and Garden
Clean and store summer garden tools
Rake the lawn, reseed patchy areas and plant spring flowering bulbs.
Trim any tree limbs that interfere with power lines or might break under the weight of snow and ice.
Drain fuel from all gas-operated yard equipment.
Store your snow-clearing gear in a place that is accessible when you need it.
Inspect and fill bird feeders.
Interior Maintenance
Check for proper sealing and insulation on all windows and doors, and apply weather stripping and caulk where it's needed.
Have a licensed heating contractor check your heating system, including ducts and furnaces.
Examine your wood stove or fireplace insert's door gasket for a tight seal. Clean and inspect the glass door for cracks and have a licensed chimney sweep clean the chimney.
Change the direction of your ceiling fan to create an upward draft to redistribute warm air from the ceiling.
Check that the attic is insulated, ventilated and critter-free.
Test and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and keep extra household batteries on hand.
Vacuum internal parts of air conditioners. Remove units from windows or wrap outside boxes with an approved tarp or plastic air conditioner cover.
Clean your humidifiers regularly during the heating season to avoid bacteria and spore growth.