Fall Home Maintenance

With the cool fall temperatures upon us, now is a great time to get your home ready for the winter.  Below are a few home maintenance tips to get you through the fall and winter.

On The Outside...

• Examine your windows from the outside to ensure that there are no holes or wood in need of replacement. Fill in any gaps around the window and trim with caulking and replace any rotten wood that is discovered.
  
• Fall is the perfect time to paint the outside of the home and a fresh coat of paint can greatly enhance the appearance in a dramatic fashion.
• Is the roof of the home showing signs of wear and tear? If it is, proper steps must be taken to repair the roof before major damage occurs. Use this time of the year to check the roof, or hire a pro. Look for shingles that have cracked, are bulging, curling or cupping. Also look for any missing shingles that you may see along the roof or that have even fallen to the ground.

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• Ensure your water lines are protected.  Turn the exterior hose bibs off and drain the pipes when done. Ensure that no water is left in the pipes, because freezing water will cause pipes to break.
  
• Clean the gutters and downspouts of the house, removing leaves, dirt and other debris that causes blockages. Ensure downspouts are properly connected to the underground drain so that water does not accumulate along the foundation wall.
  

 
Stay Warm this Winter...

• Check your duct work for leaks at joints and fitting. Heating tape is relatively inexpensive and and can be used to prevent hot air from escaping the duct work in the basement before it reaches the intended location.
  
• If you use a fireplace that burns wood, clean the chimney and repair any gaps or cracks in the flue.
  
• If you have an attic, check the insulation. It should be well insulated, which will greatly reduce heating costs.
  
• Replace air filters inside your furnace.
  
• Check the doors and windows for wear and tear on the seals. Drafts can let cold air in and increase heating costs. Caulk can be used to repair windows and doors.
  

For Your Lawn...

• If you have a garden, fall brings danger to your beautiful flowers. Remove annuals and mulch the garden.
  
• Trim the branches from trees that could fall and damage your house.
  
• Aerate your lawn.
  

 
Other Tips...

• Pests come inside when the temperatures get cool outside. Install screens to vents to prevent pests from entering and seal any other holes through the exterior walls especially around utility penetrations such as the AC refrigerant line and electrical line.
  
• Check the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they are still working properly. This is also a good time to replace the batteries in these units.

Let us know if you have any questions regarding the proper maintenance of your home's multiple systems. Our Home Inspector's can perform a maintenance inspection and guide your through the systems that are in need of maintenance. Contact a Columbus Home Inspector today for more information.