Fall is almost over and winter is just around the corner, now is a perfect time for some seasonal maintenance on your home before the winter chill arrives. Your home will operate best when properly maintained and here are a few items you can add to your “honey-do” list to keep your home in top shape for the winter season ahead.
Have Your HVAC System Inspected Have your heating system inspected now before the weather gets cold and you could save yourself some money. Many HVAC companies run specials on heating checkups in the fall before the weather turns cold and be sure to have your air conditioner system checked at the same time to potentially save even more money and be ready for next spring.
Caulking and Weatherstripping Check all areas originally caulked by the builder, especially windows and doors. Caulking is one of the least expensive, easiest and most critical maintenance actions a homeowner can perform themselves. Along with proper caulking replacing worn or missing weather stripping helps to seal gaps and reduce energy loss that could increase your heating and cooling costs.
Inspect Your Roofing From the ground walk around the house and look for any shingles that may have lifted or are missing and also look for gaps in the flashing. Fall is also a perfect time to check and clean your gutters and downspouts, to help prevent overflows and water damage in your home.
Exterior and Interior Painting With the cooler temperatures fall is the perfect time to either touch up the exterior paint on your home for more curb appeal or go for an entirely new look with a change of color! Proper ventilation is essential for interior painting projects and fall is a perfect time. You can open up the windows in your home to ventilate the harmful fumes associated with painting without a dramatic increase in heating or cooling costs.
Check Your Filters and Vents Help reduce allergens by replacing your HVAC filters on the filter manufacturers prescribed schedule and be sure to use a MERV 8 or greater air filter for more allergen stopping power! Also, be sure to check your dryer vents, range hood and ceiling fans for dust or debris buildup. This buildup can be a fire hazard and it also increases the amount of potentially harmful allergens inside your home.
Fire Extinguishers and Detectors The upcoming holidays mean family gatherings with lots of cooking and with increased cooking comes an increased risk of fire. Be sure your fire extinguishers are easily accessible, fully charged and that everyone knows how to use them. Also, fall is the perfect time to make sure both your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and be sure to test them as well.
Each season brings its own set of problems and challenges for homeowners. Follow these and other tips to move into winter with a house in top shape and a potentially smaller “honey-do” list.