With the strange year we’ve had so far, it’s almost hard to believe it’s almost October. The cooler weather months are coming whether we like it or not, so it’s best to be prepared for those shorter days and chilly winter nights.
Following a fall maintenance schedule for your home will help ensure everything is in first-rate shape, especially if you reside in a bitterly cold winter climate. By being proactive, you’ll be protecting the investment you’ve made in your home, and will help save aggravation and any potentially costly repairs down the road.
DomiDocs instantly relieves any home maintenance stress from you by streamlining your home maintenance needs into an organized and easy-to-use online platform. You’ll receive a task list in a calendar format of routine home maintenance tasks and alerts of when they should be performed. Need some outside help? DomiDocs offers an extensive list of trusted national service providers you can refer to, plus you can enter your personal service provider information, including adding notes, contact information, and uploading receipts, for future reference.
As per DomiDocs’ upcoming New Homeowner’s Guide for the Digital-First Generation, DomiDocs recommends undertaking these tips to prep your home for fall.
Interior Home Maintenance prep would include:
- Change smoke, radon gas, and carbon monoxide detector batteries
- Check caulking both interior and exterior
- Clean the humidifier as per the manufacturer
- Consider installing a programmable thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature within your home. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends setting your thermostat to 70° for heating and 78° for cooling. Keeping steady temperatures without a huge fluctuation year-round is a great way to save money overall
- Don’t overload electrical circuits when decorating for the holidays
- Ensure your heating system is in good working order
- Establish a mudroom to prep for winter’s wet and cold weather; protect the floor with a waterproof rug, have adequate coat racks and shoe/boot racks available
- Have an emergency generator on hand for any unexpected power outages
- Inspect drywall for cracks, repair as necessary
- Monitor your home’s flooring regularly
- Open windows periodically to encourage fresh air circulation
- Remove and clean all of your faucet aerators
- Replace your furnace filter (as per manufacturer recommendations)
- Schedule a furnace inspection by a professional
- Take a look at your plumbing lines/underneath sinks for leaks
- Test GFCI breakers
Exterior Home Maintenance prep would include:
- Check locks on exterior doors; lubricate rollers and tracks if necessary; tighten screws where necessary Pro Tip: a quarter works in a pinch if you can’t find a screwdriver
- Check sliding glass doors and your garage door to ensure they’re in proper working order
- Check to ensure door weather stripping is in good condition, repair or install as necessary
- Check to see if your fireplace and chimney are clean and in good working order
- Check your roof for damage and debris; inspect supports and caulking
- Clean and inspect your gutters and downspouts
- Drain your sprinkler system
- Clean and organize your garage
- Clean and put away any outdoor flower pots, or bring plants inside for the winter
- Ensure basement drains are free of debris
- Ensure your garage door is in good working order
- Inspect trees and landscaping for any low-hung or broken branches that are too close to the roof or electrical power lines
- Plant perennial flower bulbs such as tulips or daffodils
- Prep for winter by cleaning/storing unused gardening tools and outdoor furniture; it’s also a great time to organize your garden shed
- Rake up the leaves and then aerate your lawn; if you’ve got a small pile of leaves, it’s okay to mow over them, as they’ll help fertilize your lawn. Compost any large amount of leaves from your gardens. You can work them into your garden next spring. Leaves are also great insulators for small plants during winter.
- Repair any cracks in your asphalt and concrete sidewalks/driveways
- Remove and store screens from your lower windows if you receive heavy snowfall that could reach and damage them
- Remove, drain, and store outdoor hoses from exterior faucets; protect faucets using insulated faucet covers
- Review your emergency escape plan/route with your family
- Service and store any summer-only vehicles such as ATVs and motorcycles
- Service your lawnmower for spring by sharpening the blade, emptying the fuel, and changing the oil
- Service your snowblower by changing the spark plug and oil, as well as by inspecting belts
- Stock up on firewood
- Wash windows, screens, lubricate tracks, and clean out any drainage holes; clean windows will help emphasize natural light during the darker winter months
- Winterize your air conditioning by covering the outdoor unit; remove and store any window-style air conditioning units
- Winterize your irrigation system, including the backflow preventer if you have one
Undertaking seasonal preventative home maintenance is the best way to save money overall. It’s no different than going to the dentist for regular cleanups or changing the oil in your car.
Author: Connie Motz
