Fall Maintenance Guide

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine!

Everybody lives busy lives and making time for home tasks can be hard.  Spending an afternoon watching college football or enjoying outdoor activities is a lot more fun than doing maintenance.

But consistent upkeep of your home helps to preserve your home’s value and can prevent some avoidable and costly damage…which can translate to more money in your pocket to spend on things you enjoy.

Maintenance in the Fall is essential since it’s sandwiched between the hot days of Summer and the harsh freezing weather of Winter. It can be a productive time for you to complete certain tasks that are better suited for cooler days.

Plus, these projects in the early and late Fall can prepare your home and yard for the cold days ahead.  Many homeowners are hit with expensive damage that could have been prevented in the first place. Don’t let that happen to you!

Now is a good time to look at your calendar and schedule some must-do projects over the next couple of months.

Some things to keep in mind:

• Even if you live in a condo unit, there are still some yearly tasks that you should check off your list, such as HVAC maintenance. Your condo association should handle common areas but each association can vary on unit owners’ responsibilities. Double check your HOA agreement and keep the tips below in mind.
• Some projects can be DIY jobs but others may require a professional. For some tasks, it’s better to sign up for a yearly service contract (i.e. HVAC, chimney, pest control). I can provide you with a list of vetted contractors, if you need a recommendation.

Get Organized Today

Don’t feel overwhelmed with this list of Fall tasks. It is longer than other seasons’ To-do’s but some of the items many might not pertain to your particular home. If you approach this in an organized way, you’ll find that it’s very do-able.

Stay organized by creating a maintenance binder or downloading a maintenance app for your smart phone or other device so you can schedule and record your repairs and upkeep.

That way, you’ll know exactly what you have to do each month and how to budget for it. On certain apps, you can even set up alerts to remind you.

Having a system in place means you’ll be able to store information on repair dates and costs, contact info for contractors, receipts from purchases, warranties, model numbers and manufacturer materials. This is great for reference now and for when you want to sell your home someday.

Your Fall To-Do List

You can customize the list below and then put it in a binder/app for future Fall maintenance.

Doors, Windows & Attic

Fall is a good time to do these tasks so that you can save on winter heating bills:

• Add or replace weather-stripping around doors and windows to keep out drafts.
• Caulk around windows where cold air gets in.
• Get a good storm door for your entrance.
• Consider getting plastic shields to protect basement window wells.
• Insulate your attic.
• Give your windows one more thorough cleaning (it’s still warm enough to do this and have nice clean windows before winter hits).

Chimney

These are important safety musts before building fires when the cooler air hits:

• Hire a professional to inspect and clean your chimney.
• Check to make sure the damper works properly. Close the damper when not in use, but don’t forget to open it before lighting a fire.
• Examine your chimney for loose bricks and mortar and get it repointed if necessary. The earlier you catch this, the better. You want to avoid water damage or the need to rebuild.
• Make sure your chimney is lined, even if you don’t have a fireplace. Many gas hot water heaters and heating systems are vented through a chimney.
• Cap or screen the top of your chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
• Buy firewood but store it away from the exterior of your home where it can attract pests and rodents.
• Consider installing a gas fireplace if you have a gas line nearby. There are natural-looking logs that are easy to use, making them ideal for many homeowners.

Furnace, Ducts, AC Unit & Etc.

Get your heating system and other units in top shape now before you start cranking up the heat:

• Hire a HVAC professional to inspect and clean your furnace. Also check your whole-house central humidifier if you have one.
• Stock up on furnace filters and change or clean them monthly depending on which type you use. Dirty filters make it more difficult for your HVAC system to work efficiently. A clean filter will limit the amount of dust, lint, and airborne molds that go through your system, and keep it operating efficiently as well.
• Drain air conditioning pipes and turn off its shut-off valve if you have one. Your HVAC professional may do this for you.
• Hire a professional to inspect air ducts for leaks in their joints and have them cleaned if necessary.
• Ducts in cold spaces such as attics, basements, or crawl spaces should be insulated.
• Remove and store window AC units if you have them.
• Clean your dryer vent by vacuuming the tube that leads to the vent and then vacuum from the outside dryer vent. *This should be done every six months, so include this task on both your Fall and Spring maintenance schedules.

Thermostat

Be ready to keep your home warm when the weather changes:

• Buy a programmable thermostat that allows you to set temperatures lower when you’re not at home or when you’re sleeping. You’ll save money and increase your home’s energy efficiency, among other benefits.
• To prevent pipes from bursting, never set your thermostat below 55 degrees.

Home Exterior

Prevent small issues from becoming huge issues:

• Clean out your gutters and downspouts to remove leaves and debris. Depending on where you live, you may have to clean your gutters several times in the Fall. Consider installing gutter-guards if you don’t want to mess with repeat cleanings. Blocked gutters can cause water damage to your home at any time. But in the Winter, blocked gutters will trap water that can freeze, causing gutters to detach from your home.
• Make sure your gutters are directed so that they drain as far away from the house as possible and on a downslope. Check on this regularly during rainstorms to prevent major water damage.
• Inspect your roof for any shingle damage and double check the seals around vents and chimney to prevent any leaks.
• Seal foundation cracks to prevent mice from sneaking in.
• Drain outdoor faucets and winterize in-ground watering systems to prevent burst pipes.
• Inspect your driveway for cracks. Seal it now to prevent winter damage, if necessary.

Yard

Enjoy your yard now, but also prepare it for Winter weather:

• Rake leaves regularly so you aren’t overwhelmed with one big job at the end of the season. Check your neighborhood’s leaf pick-up services, requirements, and schedule.
• Remove any dead plants from your flower beds and containers.
• Prune shrubs before they go dormant. Cut back perennials; divide and transplant as needed.
• Aerate, fertilize, and seed your lawn in early Fall.
• Plant bulbs now for beautiful flowers in the Spring. Look at catalogs and online for ideas. Perennial flowers are less costly and time consuming in the long run, making your yard look nice with less work each year.
• Trim tree branches that hang too close to your home or electrical wires. Consider hiring a tree service to inspect all your trees and prune or remove as needed.

As colder weather approaches:

• Drain garden hoses and store them inside.
• Clean and cover outdoor furniture (or store it inside).
• Winterize sensitive plants such as roses and stake any shrubs or young trees.

Power Failures & Severe Weather

Always be prepared for a weather disaster:

• Buy and store flashlights, batteries, candles, and matches in easy-to-reach locations. Stock up on battery operated candles too, which are safer than traditional candles and easy to use.
• Have a solar or portable cell-phone charger ready to use.
• Keep bottled water, nonperishable food (for pets too), blankets and medications on hand.
• Buy a snow shovel before it snows! Don’t forget bags of ice-melt (pet-friendly) for your walkways. You definitely don’t want the Amazon driver to slip and fall…or skip your house completely!
• Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and add them to your contact list on your phone, as well as any alert apps/text services you might need.

Let me know if you have any questions or if you need any suggestions for contractors who can help get your list of to-dos done.