Regularly maintaining the inside and outside of your home not only keeps it looking good and functioning well but it also helps to avoid costly renovations and repairs. Small chores like cleaning the leaves from gutters or spending a couple of hours touching up the paint on a fence or deck can make all the difference. All it takes is a little organization, elbow grease and a checklist of what to do each season. Here are a few tasks to complete this fall to ensure your home is in tip-top shape.
EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Backed up gutters can cause all sorts of wintertime hassles such as roof leaks, ice dams and wall-focused water damage. Before the snow comes, have your gutters cleared out by a professional — leave ladders to the insured experts. Also check that gutters are in good condition with no sags or missing brackets and repair where necessary. Tip: Make sure all downspout extensions run at least 1.5 metres away from your home’s foundations.
Inspect the Roof
With a pair of binoculars, examine your roof for any signs of damage including missing or loose shingles. Have loose shingles replaced and repair damaged portions immediately to avoid more serious issues that can occur when the snow starts to accumulate and the freeze and thaw cycles begin. Tip: Take time to investigate the flashing around chimneys and vent stacks, too.
Store Pots & Planters
If you decide to keep your pots outside for winter, ensure you empty the soil before you do. The moisture in the earth will expand when frozen, which may crack plant containers. Tip: Removing the soil now will make it easier to reposition and replant the pots come springtime.
Drain Hoses
Garden hoses should be removed from outdoor faucets, drained of water and stored indoors. To avoid cracked hoses and burst faucets over the winter, turn off water valves in your home and drain all remaining water from the taps and hoses. Also, remember to turn off the sprinkler system. Tip: Unrolling the hose down a gentle slope will let the water run out completely.
Store or Protect Patio Furniture
Either store patio furniture in a garage or other enclosed space for the winter or protect them using weather-proof covers. Ensure patio cushions and pillows, hammocks, umbrellas, and other items are also stored away or protected.
Winterize the A/C
Remove all debris from the air conditioning unit and cover. While it may be tempting to wrap your entire external air-conditioning unit in miles of plastic wrap, resist the urge. Doing this can cause corrosion and is an inviting spot for nesting rodents. Instead, place a protective cover over the unit or use a piece of made-to-measure plywood to protect it during winter from large, falling icicles and snowdrifts. For window units, you may remove them completely, or cover to prevent drafts.
Yard Equipment Maintenance and Preparation
Prepare your yard equipment for storage. This includes draining fuel from all gas-operated equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws. Ensure your snow equipment is operating well before the first snowfall and organize your snow removal gear. When snow arrives you’ll want to have shovels, roof rakes and snow blowers easily accessible.
INTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Tune Up the Furnace
Hire a professional to inspect, test, and clean your furnace and ducting or heat pump to ensure they are working well. Clean your humidifiers regularly during the heating season. Bacteria and spores can develop in a dirty water tank resulting in unclean moisture misting out into your home. Tip: Ask for a carbon monoxide measurement as well as a laundry duct inspection and clean at the same time.
Clean the Chimney
Hire a professional to inspect and sweep your chimney to rid of excess creosote and accumulated debris, including soot, leaves, and bird nests. This will prevent dangerous chimney fires and gases from seeping into your home. Also examine your wood stove or fireplace insert’s door gasket for a tight seal as well as clean and inspect the glass door for cracks. Tip: Run the point of a fire poker inside the chimney liner and if there’s more than three millimetres of gunk, call a certified chimney sweep.
Check Weatherstripping and Caulk
Drafty windows and doors can increase your annual heating and cooling bill by up to 30%. Large gaps on exterior walls and around windows and doors may also provide a route of entry for critters and water. Replace worn or damaged weatherstripping, caulk gaps around windows, door frames, exterior pipes, and faucets. Spray foam is very helpful for more extensive gaps.
Inspect Attic Ventilation and Insulation
Ensure your attic is well-insulated to save on energy costs. Check attic vents to ensure they are free of debris and are providing adequate ventilation which will prolong the life of your roof. Inspect the attic door for gaps that leak warm air into the attic and predispose your roof to ice dams and other winter damage.
Maintain Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors and keep extra household batteries on hand.
Reverse the Ceiling Fan Direction
If your home has ceiling fans, check the settings for a reverse option. Running fans in the opposite direction creates an updraft, pushing down heated air, which can help reduce your energy bill. Tip: If you have high ceilings, consider switching out the fan units for ones that have this setting.