10 Fall Home Maintenance Musts

Here are ten easy fall maintenance steps to keep your house in prime condition throughout the winter.

  1. Check for Peeling Paint. It is your job to check your exterior walls for any paint peeling or blistering on the house or outbuildings. If paint begins to peel then it is a sign that the existing paint layer is deteriorating. If not corrected, the siding itself will fall in disarray.
  2. Clean the Gutters. During the fall season when the leaves have fallen, it is your job to clean out the gutters and downspouts. You must clean them with water, inspect joints, and tighten brackets if necessary. Replace old or damaged gutters with new ones that have built-in leaf guards.
  3. Caulk Windows. Make it your prerogative to caulk around windows and door frames to prevent heat from escaping. If there are portions in the structure that are open, this can cause water to invite itself in and freeze over the structure which will result in cracks and mold buildup.
  4. It is your job to check the roof. Check to see if your roof is in good shape. Look for missing and loose shingles. If ice, rain, snow, and wind is combined with rapidly changing temperatures and humidity, a great and tumultuous manifestation will appear and deteriorate your roofs. It’s the roofs security and peace of mind that is the first defense in protecting your home.
  5. Make sure your fireplace is locked and loaded. Make sure that your heating system is overseen and looked over by a licensed heating contractor. If the heating systems are properly maintained then they will use fuel more efficiently, last longer, and have fewer problems.
  6. ill in your Driveway. Check to see for cracking and shifting in your driveway. Clean out and repair any damage with driveway filler. After checking the driveway, coat your driveway with a commercial sealer. The sealing the driveway better extends the life cycle of the asphalt in the winter months and throughout the coming year.
  7. ake sure that your Ceiling Fan is Reversed. Reverse the directional flow of your ceiling fan to manifest an upward draft that transports warm air from the ceiling to many different areas inside the house. Take care of your humidifiers frequently during the warm weather.
  8. Envelop your Air Conditioners with a nice cover. Vacuum internal parts of your air conditioners. It’s in your best interest to remove your air conditioners from windows or envelop the external air conditioner with a cover made for air conditioners to prevent rusting of vital components.
  9. Clean your outside Yard Equipment. Make sure to prep your yard equipment for storage. The details that this entails is the draining of fuel from all gas-operated machinery such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and chain saws. Make sure to reevaluate all your snow equipment and see if it’s all in working order before snowfall begins.
  10. Make sure to prep your Deck for Winter. Make sure that you clean your porch and deck furniture. Check to see if any of your porch or deck furniture need any repairs. Envelop your outdoor furniture with a cover then store them as well as your Barbecue Grills in a protected area. Check to see if your soil from all your pots and planters are empty. If there is any dirt left in your clay pots, they will freeze and cause the pots to crack if they are left outside.
Ryan Davidson