Fall Home Maintenance Tips
With summer winding down now is the time to start a to-do list for fall maintenance on your house. It’s one of your biggest investments and continual maintenance will save you money in the long run.
· Caulk exterior joints around windows and doors. Caulk helps keep your house weather tight. In areas where it gets windy and cold having a tight seal will also lower your heating bills over the winter. Install weather stripping as needed to close gaps around doors.
· Have your heating system professionally cleaned and serviced. Annual maintenance is a lot cheaper than an emergency call if the system breaks and will extend its useful life. Be sure to change the filters regularly.
· If you burn wood schedule a chimney cleaning before it cools off. Once the weather is cold the professionals will be booked up for weeks.
· Have your roof, gutters, and downspouts examined. Leaves and dirt can build up in the gutters and cause clogging. Over time the sun and storms can cause caulking to come loose. All of which should be fixed before the cold weather hits. Some of you might be able to do this on your own but, use caution.
· Clean and store outdoor furniture. September is a great month for weather in Northern VA and the perfect time to clean outdoor furniture and get it stored for winter. You’ll thank yourself when Spring arrives and it’s ready to go back out on the patio.
· Walk around your house – are there any tree branches that need trimming? It’s a good idea to take care of that before any snow or freezing rain hits our area. Keeping trees trimmed and away from the house lessens the risk of a branch breaking and falling on your home.
When was the last time you had a home inspection? Probably when you bought the house – it’s always a good idea to get a home inspection every couple of years, even annually if you can afford it. They are trained experts on pointing out the little things and it will give you a to do list to work on over the next month. Homes are physical investments that need to be maintained in order to grow. Putting a little time and money in regularly will save you from spending a lot of time and money later fixing problems.
Comments (38)Subscribe to CommentsComment