As autumn approaches, prepare your home for the upcoming weather and seasonal changes by performing regular home maintenance activities. Take advantage of the change of season and fall’s moderate weather to prevent any damages before the winter freeze arrives. Your future self will thank you!
Exterior Home Maintenance
The exterior of our homes face ordinary wear and tear and should be regularly cared for to avoid any major problems. Check your home’s foundation for cracks and inspect the exterior walls to see if any paint has peeled or chipped. Noticing this kind of damage now can help prevent major issues down the line and now that the weather is cooling off, it’s the perfect season to do a full assessment.
Make sure that the roof is in good shape before ice, snow, or rain wreaks havoc on it. As winter weather approaches, also consider periodically cleaning out the gutters and downspouts. Flush them with water, inspect the joints, and tighten any necessary brackets. Clogged gutters are even harder to care for when snow and ice are in the mix.
Lawn & Garden Prep
While the weather is more bearable, use this time to care for your lawn and garden in addition to the physical exterior of your home. Keep up with and bag leaves as they fall, fertilize and reseed your lawn, prune trees and shrubs, and cut any limbs near power lines.
You should also store your outdoor equipment during the fall, as you most likely won’t be using much of it once winter comes. Remember to drain fuel from all gas-operated yard equipment like mowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws. Shut off your outdoor water valves once the temperatures start to drop to avoid any frozen pipes.
Your yard has passed its busiest season. Now is the time for your deck, patio, garden, and yards to take a much-needed break in action. Clean your porch and deck furniture and look for what needs to be replaced. Cover and store any furniture that won’t be used for the next few months to avoid unnecessary damages.
Around the House
There are countless to-dos around the house that are forgotten throughout the year and the change of a season is the perfect reminder to check them off the list. Use this time to perform regular maintenance on natural stone countertops that need extra cleaning and deep clean your kitchen appliances like the oven and stove, refrigerator and freezer, and microwave. Run a clean cycle on the dishwasher and washing machine to ensure a fresh wash. Finally, don’t forget to check or replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
The change of a season always brings reminders to change out your wardrobe, switch your heating and air preferences, and run through your task list of home maintenance items. Prepare for unexpected issues by performing regular home check ups throughout the year. Use this list as a guide next time you tackle some of these home projects.