Watching the leaves from the window of my home office, I’m reminded that this is a good time to get my home ready for winter. Of course, I plan to have help with that (hint, hint, Merle), but here are some of the things on our fall home maintenance “to do” list:
- Seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors with weather-stripping and caulk to save energy and preserve heat inside your home.
- Replace dirty furnace filters.
- Do a fall safety check by testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Check your roof for loose, damaged or missing shingles, leaky vents or other problems that could grow worse over the winter.
- Schedule a fall check-up for your furnace to be sure it’s ready when you need it.
- Have your fireplace cleaned and remove soot and other build-up, so it is safe for fall and winter use.
- Clean gutters and downspouts, so they won’t get clogged in the soggy months to come.
- Drain outside faucets and irrigation system, if you have one, to prevent pipes from leaking and freezing.
- Trim dead branches from trees to prevent them from falling and doing damage during storms.
- Rake fall leaves to use for compost or mulch.
By spending a little time and money now, we can be sure our home and its systems are ready for winter. Merle and I will be ready. Will you?