The chill of fall is finally here, and with the changing seasons comes a little bit of upkeep for homeowners. As temperatures start to drop, it’s important to ensure your home is ready to handle the colder months ahead both comfortably and safely. But where do you even start? Luckily, we’ve got a handy fall home maintenance checklist for you!
Clear your gutters
In an ideal world, you’d have clean gutters year-round, but fall is an especially important time to keep them clear. Falling leaves can clog your gutter and keep water from flowing away from your home, which could lead to water damage. And if your gutter’s source of clogs gets too heavy, they can even start to pull away from your home. Fortunately, cleaning gutters is easy to do yourself with a ladder (and some caution)!
Have your roof checked
Your roof needs a checkup approximately every 3-4 years, so if you’re due for one, fall is a great time to get ahead of any issues before winter comes. You’ll want to make sure your roof is leak-free before any snow or hail falls on it, and an inspector can help you look for signs of damage like missing or broken shingles.
Clean and inspect furnaces and fireplaces
You probably didn’t use heat sources like furnaces and fireplaces much over the summer, so before they go back into your rotation, it helps to know what state they’re in. Clean or replace your furnace filters if they’re dusty to prevent any clogging. As for your fireplace, shine a flashlight up the flue to check for any visible buildup or debris. You may be able to do a basic cleaning of furnaces and fireplaces yourself, but proper inspection for any functional or safety issues is best left to a professional— like me!
Turn off exterior faucets
As temperatures drop, it’s time to retire your garden hose for the season. Water left to freeze in pipes can cause them to burst, so close shutoff valves to outdoor faucets and drain and disconnect any hoses. If you’re having trouble finding the spigot, check on the other side of the wall it connects to. Depending on the layout of your home, it may also be in your basement, crawlspace, or utility closet.
The best way to know if your home is ready for the colder months is to have it checked out by a home inspector. If you’re looking for one on Long Island, don’t hesitate to contact me!
