Don’t Forget These Fall Home Maintenance Jobs

Fall is a good time to get your home ready for winter. Most of us remember the bigger jobs, such as cleaning the gutters, raking leaves and putting away patio furniture. But there are plenty of smaller jobs that are easy to forget. Adding these tasks to your fall home maintenance checklist can help you catch problems before they become bigger issues once the temperature drops.

1. Check Your Outdoor Faucets and Hoses

Don’t leave your garden hose attached to the outdoor faucet once the weather starts getting cold. Water left in the line can freeze and cause damage.

Disconnect and drain your hoses, then store them somewhere protected. If your home has a shut-off valve for the outdoor faucet, turn it off and drain any remaining water from the line.

While you’re there, check the faucet for leaks or dripping.

2. Check Windows and Doors for Drafts

A small draft around a window or door may not seem like a big deal, but several drafts can make your home harder to heat.

Check the weatherstripping around doors and look at the caulking around windows. If you can feel cold air coming in or see cracks and gaps, now is a good time to deal with them.

Want to know more about how weatherstripping can help? Read How Weatherstripping Windows Really Cuts Energy Costs.

This is one of those simple fall home maintenance jobs that can make your home more comfortable during the colder months.

 

3. Test the Furnace

Don’t wait until the first really cold night to find out your furnace isn’t working properly.

Turn the heat on while the weather is still mild and make sure warm air is coming from the vents. Change the furnace filter if it needs it, and pay attention to any unusual noises or smells.

If something doesn’t seem right, have it checked before the winter rush.

4. Clean the Dryer Vent

Cleaning the lint trap after every load is important, but that’s not the only place lint collects.

Check the dryer vent and the area around the exhaust. A buildup of lint can reduce drying efficiency and increase the risk of a dryer fire.

If the vent hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, professional cleaning may be worthwhile.

5. Take a Look at the Roof and Attic

You don’t have to climb onto the roof to check for obvious problems.

From the ground, look for missing or damaged shingles and anything that doesn’t look right around vents and flashing.

If you have safe access to your attic, look for water stains, damp insulation or signs that mice or other pests have moved in.

Checking the roof and attic should be part of your fall home maintenance routine, particularly before snow and ice arrive.

6. Check Your Plumbing

Fall is a good time to look for small plumbing problems before they become bigger ones.

Take a look under sinks for leaks or water stains. Check washing machine hoses for cracks, bulges or other signs of wear.

And make sure you know where your home’s main water shut-off valve is. If a pipe ever bursts, knowing how to turn the water off quickly can make a big difference.

7. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Press the test button on your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and make sure they’re working.

Replace batteries when needed and check the age of the alarms. Smoke alarms generally need to be replaced after about 10 years, while carbon monoxide alarms have different replacement recommendations depending on the model.

This is an easy item to add to your fall home maintenance checklist and only takes a few minutes.

8. Walk Around the Foundation

Take a few minutes to walk around the outside of your home.

Look for new cracks, areas where water collects and downspouts that aren’t directing water away from the house.

Water sitting beside the foundation can eventually find its way into the basement or crawl space, so it’s worth dealing with drainage problems before winter.

9. Check the Garage and Outdoor Steps

Your garage and outdoor areas need a little attention too.

Test the garage door and make sure it opens and closes properly. Check outdoor steps, railings and decks for anything loose or damaged.

It’s also a good time to find your snow shovel, ice melt and other winter equipment. You don’t want to be searching for them during the first snowstorm.

10. Do One Last Walk Around

Before winter really settles in, take one final look around your home.

Make sure:

• The furnace is working
• Gutters and downspouts are clear
• Outdoor faucets are drained
• Windows and doors are sealed
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work
• Winter equipment is easy to reach
• You know where the main water shut-off is

Don’t Wait for Winter

Fall home maintenance doesn’t have to mean spending an entire weekend working on the house. Many of these jobs only take a few minutes.

The important thing is to catch small problems while the weather is still reasonably comfortable. A little time spent checking your home now could save you from dealing with a much bigger problem in the middle of winter.

So before the first serious cold snap arrives, take a walk around your home and see what needs attention. Those forgotten little jobs may be more important than you think.