The leaves are turning and the cider is flowing. As you enjoy wearing cozy sweaters and smelling the cold crisp air, don’t forget to take the time to prepare your home for the colder weather ahead. Take care of these fall maintenance musts now and it will take care of you when the snow flies and the wind howls.
Windows and doors
Caulk around your doors and windows to guard against drafts and heat loss. This may seem like a small thing, but it will equals big savings on your heating bills. If there is even a small gap, your heat will be sucked out causing your furnace to put in overtime. Inspect your weather stripping too; old and peeling strip will produce the same adverse effects.
Clean the chimney
Nothing is as cozy as sitting by the fireplace, but remember to keep the chimney clean. Creosote is a waste product produced from burning wood. It’s a tar-like substance that sticks to the interior of your chimney. It is flammable and poses a high risk of chimney fires. It will also begin to burn and flake off, sending embers to land on your roof and ignite the shingles. Call a chimney sweep service now so you don’t have to call 911 later.
Create a safety plan
It is a frightening fact, winter brings fire hazards. As cautious as you are, several things can contribute to a house fire; old wiring can short, hot embers from your fireplace can jump or your holiday lights could have faulty wiring. This is the time you want to put a fire safety plan together and stage a few practice runs so everyone gets out safe.
Service the furnace
Schedule a yearly check-up for your furnace. A professional will lubricate all parts, test all connections and calibrate the thermostat to keep it running smoothly. It is also a good idea to change your filter every few months to keep your family safe and healthy.
Inspect smoke alarms
It is recommended that you change the batteries in your smoke alarms when you change your clocks. Vacuum the units to clear them of any dust or buildup that could affect the sensors. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be cleaned and given fresh batteries. All fire extinguishers should also be inspected for weak or cracked seals. If your extinguisher is used constantly or is over five years old, it needs to be replaced.
Clean the gutters
Once the trees are bare, check your gutters for leaves. Gutters can get clogged up with leaves and other debris that will hold moisture rather than of washing it away, this is bad news in the winter. The debris and moisture will freeze and collect buildup; this frozen mass is called an ice dam. If you notice icicles hanging like a suspended waterfall from your gutters, deal with it immediately. The ice is imposing itself between your gutter and the edge of the roof, this could potentially allow water to seep in between the siding and outer wall. Clean the gutters during the fall to avoid this potential mishap.
Clean up those leaves
Before you swop out your garden tools for snow shovels, give the yard one last raking. Did you know if dead leaves are left on the lawn they can stop the grass from growing in the spring? You may opt to mulch the leaves instead of raking. If you choose to mulch, put a cozy mulch blanket on your flower beds.
Tend the hoses
Drain the water from the hose and store it during the winter months. Failure to do this will result in trapped water freezing inside the hose and around the water spigot. Beware water can get trapped inside the hose and freeze into the spigot, potentially bursting the pipe and causing water damage to the foundation of your home. Make note, sprinkler systems also need to be drained and winterized as well.
Take a stroll down the driveway
Prepare your driveway and sidewalks for the abuse that they’ll endure all winter. Look for cracks and broken areas, cracks allow water to seep in and freeze. As the water goes through the freezing and thawing cycles, it expands and contracts. Unfortunately, your cement or asphalt is not as flexible. Cracks now can become large crevasses by the spring thaw. The damage could be catastrophic if a plow blade or shovel gets caught on the edge of a crack.
The ceiling fan
Clean the blades of your ceiling fan after the summer. Look for a switch on the fan that reverses the direction of the blade, this pushes heat down and around the room.
Empty flower pots
Empty the soil out of all the pots otherwise the soil will freeze and crack the flower pots.
Emergency supplies
Stock up on batteries and candles instead of waiting for a storm to cause an outage. Make sure to have bottles of water and a battery powered radio handy too.
Fall cleaning
Just like spring cleaning, give your home a thorough cleaning now, and you will have more time to enjoy the holidays. Expecting guests won’t be as stressful if you have cleaned the guest room and put out fresh linens in advance.
Prepare your home for the colder weather ahead. Take time to check off items on your fall maintenance list and you will be relaxed and ready to enjoy your warm cozy home
