Don't FALL Behind on Home Maintenance

It seems these days people fall into two categories:

A) Those who are trying desperately to hold on to the last moments of summer and enjoying the heat and the longer days OR

B) Those cheering the upcoming change of weather, the ones longing for cooler nights and pumpkin spice.

Whether you fall into category A or B, it is important to remember that regardless of how you feel about it, fall and then winter are approaching, and your home needs to be ready to weather things. A little preparation now goes a long way later.

So, here's our TOP EIGHT list for ways to prep your home for the months to come:

1. CLEAN THOSE GUTTERS! Put on the gloves and get those leaves and debris out of your gutters and downspouts. This simple act helps prevent water from pooling on your roof and creating things like roof damage and wood rot.
2. CLEAN YOUR ROOF. Speaking of roofs - get up there (or hire someone to do it if you aren't able) and check out its health. Yes, a roof needs an annual exam just like you! Identifying potential small damage now reduces your risk of large expensive repairs later.
3. CHECK THAT CHIMNEY. We know there are months ahead before Santa has to make his trip down the chimney, but cleaning it now can help prevent harmful toxins from entering the air AND also reduces the risk of fires you don't want.
4. DRAIN THE WATER HEATER. Did you know you should technically drain and flush your water heater annually? This prevents sediment buildup that can damage the unit.
5. CHECK DOOR AND WINDOW SEALS. Now is the time to make sure the seals around your doors and windows are air tight and conserving the energy. This is important to keep that heat in when the nights are cold but also to keep you cool in the remaining warm days.
6. CHECK THE DRYER VENT: While this doesn't necessarily fall into a specific seasonal maintenance period, it is a great idea to check the dryer vent in the fall when cooler temps cause moisture to condense on dryer walls. It's the perfect environment for lint buildup.
7. CHANGE BATTERIES IN SMOKE ALARMS.  And while you're at it remember the carbon monoxide detectors. Setting this task as part of your larger task list ensures each year you remain protected from harm.
8. CHANGE YOUR CEILING FAN DIRECTION. Simply changing the fan direction helps improve your home's comfort level and saves money. * In colder months, set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise. This creates an updraft that pushes warm air down away from the ceiling and into your room to keep you toasty!

A final tip to consider is flushing your sprinkler system. Not everyone has a system in their yard, but if you do, it's a good idea to blow them out to prevent water from freezing and breaking pipes when the weather turns cold.

Keeping a simple list like this and then completing tasks prior to the upcoming season helps you stay one step ahead of those pesky problems that can arise. So put on your gloves and grab this "TO DO" list. Come January, you'll be glad you did.

CLICK HERE for a simple downloadable checklist version.