Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

WINTER IS COMING. Do you know what that means? It means it’s time to look at our Fall Home Maintenance Checklist to make sure you are taking the correct preventative measures before the frozen tundra takes over! Regular home maintenance can help preserve your home, keep your family safe, and lower expenses year after year. Although these tasks are imperative, it is important to schedule regular professional inspections throughout the year. Call a professional to perform any tasks with gas or electricity. Below is a list of fall home maintenance tasks to help ensure your home is in tip-top condition before wintery weather. If you would like to check tasks off as you go, download our Fall Home Maintenance Checklist! DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST

TASKS

To make the job easier, choose a lightweight rake, wear gloves to protect your hands and use hand-held “leaf scoops” to bag leaves quickly. Sweep dry leaves from the garage floor. Clean Gutters and Downspouts Clogged gutters during rainstorms can cause water to pool and damage your roof or siding. Make Exterior Repairs Take a walk around your property, looking for signs of damage to the roof, siding and foundation. Seal Gaps To keep critters out, fill small holes and cover any larger gaps securely with heavy-duty hardware cloth to keep the wildlife outdoors. Check Walkways, Railings, Stairs, and The Driveway Make navigating around your home safer by checking that all stairs are in good shape and have sturdy railings, and that the driveway is in good repair to make for easier shoveling. Stock Up On Winter Supplies Minnesota winters can be rough. Check the condition of your snow shovels, get some ice melt, restock your emergency kits for your car and home and have your snow blower serviced and purchase fuel. Shut Off Exterior Faucet and Store Hoses Protect your pipes from the freezing temperatures by shutting off your water to exterior faucets before temps dip below freezing. Drain hoses and store them indoors. Add Weatherstripping Apply around the frames of windows and doors to help boost winter warmth and energy costs. Add door sweeps to the base of doors to keep heat in and cold air out. Check Safety Devices Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries. Check expiration date of your fire extinguisher and replace if needed. Check For Radon As the weather gets cooler and windows stay shut more often, radon is more likely to become trapped in your home. Hire a contractor to test and fix any radon issues. Clean Dryer Vents Lint buildup in dryer vents can make your dryer work less efficiently and even cause a fire. You can hire a duct cleaning specialist to clean the vents if needed. Conduct An Energy Audit A trained auditor can assess your home’s current energy efficiency and give you a list of recommended improvements you can make. Schedule A Chimney Cleaning and Heating System Maintenance Making sure your chimney and furnace or boiler are cleaned, maintained and in working order before you need to turn on the heat is an important safety measure.