Fall is upon us. That means colder temperatures, leaves that are changing color, and seasonal home maintenance!

In fact, while spring gets a lot of attention each year, it’s fall maintenance that will have the largest impact on the long-term condition of your home and how comfortable it is during those cold winter months.

Here are some of the most common tasks that should be on your Fall Maintenance To-Do list and why!

Clean Gutters and Downspouts

During the summer and fall, leaves and debris can collect inside your gutters.  If not cleaned each year, this can not only cause drainage issues, but it can allow snow and ice to back up along your gutters / roof edge, which can cause ice dams.  This can lead to water intrusion through your roof, exterior walls, or foundation where it can result in significant water damage and even mold growth.

Homes in wooded areas that have trees nearby may need to have the gutters cleaned more frequently, but it’s recommended to have your gutters cleaned at least once a year.

Turn Off Outdoor Spigots

One of the most common causes of water damage during the winter is frozen outdoor spigots that can either break outside or inside your exterior wall.  Not only can this result in water damage inside your home, but depending on the severity and location of the break, it may not be noticed right away and may not be covered by your insurance policy.

Fortunately, this is easily avoided by turning off the water supply to outdoor spigots when you’re done with them for the year, draining your garden hoses, and putting everything away.  You’ll even find that your garden hoses last longer!

Winterize your Home

With winter quickly approaching, fall is the last chance you have to prepare ahead of time.  A well-insulated home that has good weather-proofing around doors and windows, can not only be more comfortable on those cold nights, but also save you a lot of money in energy costs!

Proper winterization can be a large project, but every little bit helps, so it’s a great idea to look at what is feasible for you to complete now.  Winterization may include reinsulating exterior walls, floors, or ceilings, replacing windows, or replacing weather stripping around doors and windows.  Start with what you can do now and complete a little more each year – you’ll be glad you did!

Have your Furnace Serviced

A furnace that has not been serviced is not only inefficient and more costly to operate, it can even cause furnace puffbacks (where fuel ignites improperly and smoke is released through your home), or even catch fire!

It’s recommended to have your furnace serviced each year, before you fire it up for the season.  That way you know that everything will work as it should and you won’t have any problems.  You’ll even save money on fuel costs, as a furnace that has been serviced will operate much more efficiently.

Have your Chimney Cleaned

Do you have a fireplace?  If so, we’re sure you can’t wait to sit by the fire on those cold winter days.  Unfortunately, creosote can build up inside the chimney over time, presenting a serious fire hazard.  For this reason, it’s recommended to have your chimney cleaned each year before you start using it again.

A chimney cleaning company can often complete their services in a single day, ensuring that your chimney is ready for those cozy nights by the fire this winter.

Have your Ductwork Cleaned

When was the last time you had your ductwork cleaned?  If you don’t know, or it’s been more than 3 years, you should probably have them cleaned before you fire up your heat for the year.  Your ductwork is like the lungs of your house, all of the air that you breath passes through them.  If your ductwork is dirty, the air that you are breathing will be dirty.

A qualified duct cleaning company will be able to complete the cleaning in most cases in a day, ensuring that your HVAC System operates efficiently and your indoor air is clean.  You may even find that you have to dust less!

Trim Tree Branches

Do any of the trees around your home look like the branches might give way under the weight of snow and ice?  Are there any branches that have been damaged, appear weak, or are dying?  This is the perfect time to trim those branches before they fall and potentially cause property damage.

We always recommend walking around your property to look for any signs of potential issues.  If you do see problems with trees that are on your property, it’s always a good idea to have them trimmed, or removed, now before they fall.  Winter can be extremely harsh on trees, so if anything looks questionable now, you’re better off erring on the side of caution.

Clean Through your House

Everyone does spring cleaning, but did you know that Fall cleaning is where it’s really at?  Think about it, you’re preparing to be closed up inside your home for the next several months, without being able to open a window, air out your home, or use outdoor space.  Cleaning through your home now will not only make things more comfortable for you and your family, but they’ll ensure you have less dust in the air and everything is clean!

We always recommend completing a fall cleaning to get ready for the winter season.  It’s even a great time to start to decorate for the holidays!

We hope this was helpful and that you’re well on your way to being ready for fall.  With a little preparation, you can not only avoid disasters like ice dams and roof leaks, but you can ensure that your home is more comfortable year-round!

As always, if we can ever be of service, please don’t hesitate to Contact Your Local Disaster Blaster.  We’re always happy to help!

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