Home Maintenance for Fall

The best way to protect your home, most likely your largest investment, is through preventative maintenance on a regular basis.  Below is a list of Home Maintenance Tips for Fall.  Set aside a couple weekends to get through this checklist so you an rest easy (and cozy) for the remainder of the season!

Clean Behind the Fridge
Fall is a great time to defrost and clean your fridge and freezer.  Pull your fridge away from the wall in order to vacuum the condenser coils.  Use a long, narrow brush to dust off the bottom-mounted coils.

Inspect your Furnace
Buy a Winter's supply of furnace filters now to save you time later.  To get the maximum energy savings, it is recommended that you change your furnace filter once a month.  Also, schedule an annual furnace inspection now.  It's best to schedule this appointment for 3 to 4 days after you have started running your furnace for the season.

Clean the Gutters
Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional, getting your gutters cleaned twice a year is one of the best ways to protect your home.  Wait to do it until all the leaves have fallen.  Replace any gutter pieces that are damaged.

Inspect your Roof
Look for signs of deterioration, such as loose shingles or tiles, rotting wood or cracks.  Trim heavy branches that are hanging over your roof.  If there are branches near power lines, call a professional tree-trimming company to do the work.  They may need to call your power company to briefly turn the power off while they do their work.

Check All Windows and Doors
To save money and energy, replace any weather stripping that is loose or damaged and caulk around doors and windows to reduce a draft.

Inspect Laundry Room
Check your dryers exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint and debris.

Secure Cracks
Protect your home from unwanted invaders.  Inspect the perimeter of your home for cracks or holes where they could enter and seal them well.  If you see evidence of animal activity, such as droppings, footprints or gnaw marks, call an exterminator.

Detector Check
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly.  This should be done once every month.  Change the batteries in all of them at least twice a year.  If you don't have any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, now is the time to get them installed!

*Picture source: www.google.com (fall leaves)