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Tips for Preparing Your Home for the Fall

By following some basic maintenance procedures every autumn, your home will last longer, provide better insulation in winter, and provide for low-maintenance solutions later on.

1. Annual check up for forced-air or water heating system. For electrical heat, vacuum the baseboard units and check thermostats. For forced air, replace filters and vacuum registers and intake grills.
2. Clean gutters after most of the leaves have fallen. You might even clean them twice if you have a lot of trees hanging near them. This would be good time to consider installing some type of leaf guard on your gutter system. Check the wood behind the gutters to see if it is in need of repairs.
3. Check for caulk anywhere masonry meets siding, where pipes or wires enter the house, and around window and door frames and the corner joints framed by siding. Redo the caulk if necessary. Caulking is good for weather proofing, and also keeps out moisture and dirt.
4. Check for proper insulation and add to it if necessary. Your attic floor is one of the most important spots, since the heat from your home will rise and be lost. Seal any air leaks in your home, especially around windows and doors.
5. Protect your plumbing, even if your pipes have never frozen in the past. Check the lines that run through the exterior walls. Wrap with pipe jackets, fiberglass insulation or electric heating tape.
6. Inspect your roof for missing, loose or damaged shingles. Check and re-caulk if necessary around plumbing stacks, cable brackets, antennae, etc. Check and replace your chimney flashing if necessary.
7. Have your chimney inspected every year, and cleaned if necessary.
8. Check for loose or peeling paint on the exterior of your house. This is the time to paint your house if necessary, or just touch up the problem areas. Follow the manufacturer's advice for weather conditions and wall preparation.
9. Now , of course, is the time for leaf raking. After you are done raking for the last time, mow your grass as short as possible to prevent matting, disease and possible rodent damage.
10. After cutting grass for the last time, run the lawn mower out of gas. Change the oil, grease the engine, pull and inspect the spark plug. While the plug is out, place a few drops of 5wt. oil in the hole and pull the start cord a few times to lubricate the engine.
11. Fertilize the lawn with a high phosphorous mixture to promote root growth and make your lawn greener next year.
12. If you have a snow blower, get it in good working order. Place your snow blower, and your snow shovel in a handy spot.
13. In late fall, drain and remove your garden hose, and either shut off the water to it or install covers over the spicket.
14. Mulch your gardens and around your trees to keep them warm for the winter. Plant flower bulbs, including lilies, daffodils, and tulips.

Please check out these related articles:

• Home Tips for Preparing Your Home for the Spring
• Home Tips for Preparing Your Home for the Summer
• Home Tips for Preparing Your Home for the Winter

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