Prep Your Home for the Winter with Our Fall Maintenance Checklist

It's time to prepare your home for the changing weather. Performing fall home maintenance duties early can prevent problems later in the season. Now is the perfect time to do these chores because the hot summer weather is finally behind us and there’s still time before the cold chill of winter sets in.  

The majority of the tasks below are well within the abilities of the typical homeowner. Even if you'd prefer a professional to handle them, it could be well worth the cost. In the long run, you'll save money by avoiding costly damage to your house. Here are some indoor and outdoor tasks you can do to prepare your home.

Exterior Maintenance

Touch up your paint. 
Touch up the exterior of your home with a fresh coat of paint! Dry and cold weather can leave paint cracks or chips that don’t look so fresh or clean.

Clean your roof & gutters.
Keeping your roof free of moss and debris will ensure a long lifespan, and clearing leaves from your gutters will reduce the amount of water your roof has to handle! 

Seal your driveway.
The ground expands and contracts with the changing temperatures, and small cracks can give weeds the opportunity to root and destroy your driveway. Sealing it before freezing temperatures will prevent weeds from growing.

Check the seal on your deck. 
The sealant should be preventing moisture from entering the wood. If it is not working properly, consider resealing your deck. The wood on your deck can be damaged by water; it will swell and begin rotting, thereby losing most of its structural integrity. Not only can this be a slippery situation but a dangerous one.

Check your crawl space.
Moisture under your house can cause a lot of damage. Find possible leaks before it’s a busted pipe! Also, make sure your crawlspace has sealed access, as animals living under your home could turn into a smelly situation.

Trim the trees. 
If there are any hanging limbs over your roof, it might be best to remove them before you encounter any wind storms. Even a small branch could leave a gaping hole in your roof!

Interior Maintenance

Check your alarms.
Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and maintain them properly. With you and your pets staying indoors for the majority of the next few months, be sure your monitors are in tip-top shape!

Check your furnace.
Clean your furnace filter or have it professionally cleaned. Dust and debris that may be caught in the filter have a higher likelihood of causing a fire during the winter months with the increased dryness of the air and the use of heat.

Change the direction of your ceiling fans.
Here’s an easy one! Fans should rotate counterclockwise during the summertime to push the cool air down and clockwise during the winter months to circulate warm air. It’ll just take a minute and will warm your house more efficiently.

Check for drafts.
Avoid drafts by caulking cracks in windowsills and doors. Small drafts can make a big difference in your heating bill! If you have any air leaks in your home, you may not have noticed them this summer with the warm air, but they can hurt you in the cold.

Replace your drapes.
Replace old curtains or drapes so you won't have to heat as much when it gets colder outside. Opting for thicker drapes could save you a bit on your heating bill! Don’t let the cold creep through your windows.

Clean your dryer vent.
Lint can build up and keep your dryer from working properly, as well as become a fire hazard during colder months when the air is dry.. Did you know that 29,000 homes catch fire from this issue every year? Get that lint out of there!

Choosing to do one or more of these tasks will help you in the long run. Maintenance is easier than repairing damage or having to replace entire parts of the home! Plus, when it comes time to sell, you want to make sure your house is in healthy condition. 

Thinking of buying or selling a home this fall or winter? Give us a call to see how one of our experienced Brown McMillen agents can help!