November 3, 2021
As the season begins to change, it's time to prepare your home for falling leaves, cooler weather, and, eventually, cold winter weather. Tackling a few fall home maintenance tasks now can help ward off issues later in the season, so you can enjoy everything you love about autumn and winter worry-free. Most of the tasks listed below are well within the average homeowner's ability but even if you'd rather hire a professional to handle them, it can be well worth the expense. You'll save money in the long run by preventing costly (and potentially dangerous) damage to your home. Follow these fall home maintenance tips and create a checklist for cleaning gutters, fireplaces, checking faucets and more.
Gutters are your roof's first defense drainage system, diverting thousands of gallons of water from your home's exterior and foundation walls annually. It's important to keep this system flowing smoothly to help prevent rainwater from damaging your home’s exterior surfaces or ending up with water in your basement.
Hire a professional to come trim and/or prune any trees that may be hanging over your home, parking space or within swinging distance to your home. Fall and winter storms may cause branches to sway or snap causing costly damage to items around them. Along with protecting your home and assets, trimming your trees can help keep them healthy, strong, and uniform for the next season.
Gaps in caulk and weather-stripping let cold air into your warm home, and sealing up a drafty house can save up to 20% on your heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Weather-stripping is easily the most cost-effective way to rein in heating and cooling costs. This humble material also reduces drafts and keeps your home more comfortable year-round. Visionary Homes uses high quality materials in all builds to ensure they last the test of time while keeping homes comfortable.
If you live in an area with freezing weather, take steps to inspect your exterior faucets for leaks as well as in-ground irrigation systems so that they don't freeze and burst. After doing so, close any shut-off valves serving outside faucets, then open the outside faucet to drain the line. (There may be a small cap on the faucet you can loosen to facilitate this draining.) If you don't have shut-off valves, and your faucets are not "freeze-proof " types, you might benefit from Styrofoam faucet covers, which are sold at many home centers. To freezeproof an in-ground irrigation system, follow the manufacturer's procedure for draining it and protecting it from winter damage.
Once a year, it's a good idea to have your heating system inspected by a professional. Fall is also the ideal time of year to have your water heater serviced by a professional. Keeping your water heater working year-round is important. Some systems require regular tank flushes and maintenance. To avoid the last-minute rush, consider scheduling this task in early fall before the heating season begins.
Furnace filters trap a lot of the dust that would otherwise be distributed throughout your home. A clogged filter makes it harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, increasing our use of the system and raising your utility bills. Simple monthly cleaning is all it takes to keep these filters free of debris. Disposable filters can be vacuumed once before replacement. Foam filters can also be vacuumed, but they don't need to be replaced unless they are damaged. Use a soft brush on a vacuum cleaner. If the filter is metal or electrostatic, remove and wash it with a firm water spray.
Lint builds up in your dryer vent and this can cause your dryer to work less efficiently…and can even cause a fire. You can clean out the vent yourself, or you can hire a professional duct cleaner to clean your vent(s) for you.
This is the best time of year for a chimney inspection and routine cleaning. Even if you use your fireplace only occasionally, you should check it annually for damage and hazards. For most people, the best option is to have your entire chimney system inspected by a chimney sweep. Once you know what to look for, you can perform the inspection by shining a bright flashlight up the flue, looking for any deposits approaching 1/8 inch thick. These deposits should be cleaned by an experienced chimney professional.
Damaged walkways, drives, and steps are a hazard year-round, but their dangers are compounded when the weather turns icy. Fixing issues in the fall is also critical to preventing little cracks from becoming expensive headaches. Look for cracks more than 1/8-inch wide, uneven sections, and loose railings on steps. Check for disintegration of asphalt or washed-out materials on loose-fill paths. Make sure to pull weeds that are between paver joints as they can shift pavers over time. Fill paver joints with polymeric sand. This helps hold pavers in place and helps prevent weeds from growing.
Test and replace the batteries in each smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detector, then vacuum them with a soft brush attachment. Test the detectors by pressing the test button or holding a smoke source (like a blown-out candle) near the unit. If you haven't already, install a smoke detector on every floor of your home, including the basement.
To ensure your lawn's health and beauty come spring, there are a couple important steps to complete in the fall. Rake up the leaves and aerate your lawn to help prevent your lawn and garden beds from suffocating. Fertilizing and winterizing grass, trees, and shrubs will allow your greenery to enter its winter dormant state comfortably and properly nourished. Professional lawn care services will make quick work of these projects, freeing up your time for family, friends, and football.
There is no better time to prepare your home for Utah winter than during the Fall. We hope this fall home maintenance tips will give you a clear vision for what needs to be accomplished to keep your home comfortable and functioning optimally all season long. For additional Fall inspired tips please visit our blog. Looking for a new place to call home and spend your holidays? We have a number of quick-moves available or model homes to inspire your search! Please fill out the form below or call (435) 228-4702.
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