Fall is the cozy season but it is also the busiest for your home. It is when you have to prepare your home and garden for the arrival of winter while simultaneously getting ready for the festivities: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. While holiday decorations can be left to the final moment, you should not defer fall home maintenance to the last minute. This home maintenance to-do list needs to be taken care of before winter arrives. Doing so mid-fall ensures your home stays in good condition when the weather turns unforgiving.
These tasks also prevent damage from cold and snow, keeping your family safe and snug until spring. You should make a checklist and go about performing these tasks from outside to inside. Start with the garden space, then check the HVAC and plumbing systems, inspect and clean the gutters, ensure the roof and chimney are intact, and check for any drafts or cracks.
To help you prepare this to-do list, we have listed mandatory fall home maintenance tasks you should get on with right away. These are five key tips you should never skip.
Also Read: 10 Simple Tips to Prepare Your Garden for Fall Season
Prepare the Outdoor Space
The space outside your home is a haven in spring, summer and fall. But winter does not allow many activities in the garden, backyard, or lawn. You are mistaken if you think during winter there is no maintenance required; it’s the time to prepare the garden for a blooming spring.
That said, it is necessary to prepare the soil before the first snow. After hot summer months, the ground is dry and dull. It needs love, you can pamper it by aerating the ground. This would depend on the type of space you have. If you have a yard or a lawn, aerating and fertilizing it would suffice. If you have a garden, you must aerate the ground, treat it with compost and a layer of fresh soil, and cover it up with mulch.
The second thing is clearing the fallen leaves and debris. Remove the weeds, trim the shrubs and trees, and overseed the area for spring growth. If you use the outdoor space for relaxing and have furniture there, it is important to move it to a dry place.
By following these steps, you will give yourself an outdoor space that becomes as new once the warm weather arrives and you can enjoy new grass, blooms, saplings, and all that you sow.
Also Read: Things You Can Plant in Your Fall Garden Now – All You Need to Know
Clean the Gutters
The gutters need to be cleaned without any excuse before winter. Falling leaves and other debris find their way into the open rain gutters, leading to buildup that keeps rain and melting snow from draining efficiently. While this may not seem a big issue, if left uncleaned, clogged gutters can lead to flooding outside and even inside the house.
You can use a leaf blower to clean the gutter. If there is moisture, dust, or debris buildup, a garden hose can do the trick. Once you clean the rain gutter, you need to inspect it for any damage or leaks. If you are unsure of how to perform this particular task, hiring a professional is safer and quicker than DIYing it.
Inspect the Roof
The roof of your house is your shield. If there is damage or a crack in it, nothing and no one inside the house is safe. Therefore it becomes necessary to inspect the roof before winter. It is especially mandatory in places with harsh monsoon and tornado seasons.
Here is what you are looking for: loose or missing shingles, water damage, and cracks. If you think one or two missing shingles are not a big deal, consider this: replacing a few shingles is a lot cheaper and less stressful than replacing the entire roof. Failing to do regular roof maintenance can lead to extensive water damage throughout the house.
Fall is the perfect time to get this job done as the weather is pleasant. There is no rain or harsh sun. However, if you don’t feel safe climbing onto the roof, you can seek professional help.
Also Read: Tips to Prepare Your Fireplace for Fall and Winter
Fix Cracks and Leaks
Unrepaired cracks are a tragedy waiting to happen. From your driveway to any crawl space – walls or roof – unattended cracks can lead to significant damage. Inspecting cracks can be easy once the temperature drops as you may notice drafts through cracks around windows or doors.
Start fixing the cracks and leaks from the outside making your way in. You need to encircle the exterior of the house and look for places that can use some caulking or weatherstrips. A door jamb under the door can help block cold air from entering the house.
These tasks must be done before snow or rain arrives as the cold elements can settle into cracks and freeze to cause the cracks to widen.
Check on HVAC and Plumbing Systems
Both your outdoor and indoor plumbing is affected in the cold weather. If you have any water features in your outdoor space, it is a good idea to turn off the water and disconnect the hose before draining the water from it. This will prevent the possibility of frozen pipes that burst and cause water damage. You also want to have the water heater serviced before cold weather arrives so it doesn’t become dysfunctional in the dead of winter.
Simultaneously, you need to get a maintenance check for your HVAC system before it is time to turn it on on chilly days. Your furnace and heating system should be in proper working order and there are a few things you can do yourself to ensure that. You can change the air filter and write the date on the side of the filter to know when to change it next. Also, consider cleaning and sealing the air ducts. However, it is important to read the instructions before getting started or seek professional assistance.
Also Read: How to Clean Your Fireplace
Once you have accomplished these fall home maintenance tasks, you can now snuggle up on the couch under a blanket all stress-free.
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