Fall Home Safety & Maintenance

Fall Home Safety & Maintenance
It’s hard to believe, but winter is right around the corner. Preparing your home for the cold months can save you money in the long run. Here’s a checklist of items we put together to make it easier for you:

Inside your home
It’s time to make sure the inside of your home is ready for the cold weather switch. These are the items you should consider tackling:

• Save some money on heating costs this winter by sealing leaks around doors and windows with weather stripping and caulk.
• Have your furnace and heating system checked by a professional and change furnace filters. Consider signing up for an annual maintenance contract, which could save you money on maintenance visits.
• Change batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Clean humidifiers – bacteria can develop if the water in the tank is dirty.

Outside your home
Make sure the exterior of your home is up for the challenge of the cold weather months by performing these tasks:

• Use caulk to seal cracks around windows and doors and where trim and siding meet.
• After leaves have fallen, clean your gutters. Replace any gutters or downspouts that are worn or sagging.
• Inspect your roof. Replace missing shingles and check flashing around pipes, chimneys and skylights.
• Remove hoses from outdoor faucets and turn off shutoff valves that supply exterior faucets. Drain the hoses and store them.
• Drain your irrigation system if there is danger of the buried lines freezing, which can cause them to burst.
• Address any exterior yard and landscaping needs so your home’s exterior is prepped for winter and comes to life in the Spring!

​While it might seem like this is a lengthy to-do list, regular maintenance and repairs each season will go a long way to make sure your home stays in the best shape possible.  If you need any contractor recommendations or other to do items, please feel free to reach out to me.  I have lots of connections.

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