As the days roll by and the year goes on, the weather progressively spurts through its seasonal cycles. Autumn is surely one of those cycles. As you savor the last days of summer, do not forget to prepare your home for the coming changes. Fall is here folks.
Now is the moment to ensure your home is ready. It’s important to embrace preventive maintenance that will keep your house in good working condition. Here are a few examples of what you can do to prepare your home for fall.
Clean the Chimney
If your house has a fireplace, then regular maintenance is vital. Hire a professional chimney sweep, and ask that they do a thorough cleaning. Fall is also the ideal time to check up on cracks in the bricks and mortar of the chimney itself. If left undone, there is a higher risk of fire and crumbling.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
When the leaves finally stop falling, it’s time to tidy up downspouts, gutters, and also window wells. Leaves and debris will accumulate in these places, hold water, and start rotting. As they decay, insects, rodents, and other outdoor creatures can move in and take up residence in your home’s vulnerable areas. Take extra care when balancing on a ladder near the roof as leaves will often be slippery as well.
Inspect Your Roof
You should have your roof thoroughly inspected each year. Repair any damaged sheets, tiles, or shingles. Consider replacing them with new ones if they are excessively damaged. To avoid ice dams, you should consider adding insulation in your attic. You can also install leaf guards to prevent clogging in gutters and potential water damage from backups.
Repair Leaking Pipes
You can easily forget leaking pipes. It’s paramount to repair leaking pipes before the temperature plummets. If leaks go unfixed, they can end up freezing and even bursting pipes in the winter months. Trying to fix leaks and prevent flooding in the cold weather makes a bad situation worse. Take the opportunity to fix these problems before they become an emergency.
Check the Heating System
Autumn is the ideal time for repairing and servicing the HVAC unit. You want everything, and especially heating to work correctly during the coming winter. Inspect the heating vents to ensure that they aren’t blocked. Leaves, dust, and debris can accumulate in the system and cause unpleasant smells when turning the heat on initially, as well as larger problems if blockages occur. Here is more info on how you can prepare your HVAC unit for winter.
Do a safety check
Ensure that the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. You and your family can also practice emergency preparedness and safety training. Training will ensure that appliances such as fire extinguishers can be handled correctly and the whole family is prepared in an emergency.
What’s not to love about fall? From chirping birds to falling leaves, to cooler temperatures, everything seems to be perfect. You can enjoy the season in peace when you’re well prepared for fall.