Fall is an exciting time of the year for many people. The weather gets cooler, the leaves start to change color, and the fun fall-themed festivals start to pop up around the area. For some, fall is a season they look forward to every single year. Fall can also be a stressful time for homeowners. They may have a lot of home projects to tackle before the winter weather hits but could have issues narrowing down what those projects entail and how to prioritize them. This can be a simple problem to fix as long as homeowners get some insight into properly maintaining their homes. Here are ten tips for maintaining your house in the fall and how each project contributes to your home’s overall function.
Clean The HVAC System
When maintaining your house in the fall, one of the first things you should do is clean your HVAC system. Your HVAC system is the system that controls the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of your home. Your HVAC system can become clogged and dirty when it runs throughout the summer, so make sure you take time to clean it out in the fall.
When you clean out the HVAC system, the main things you should be cleaning out is the air ducts and vents. You can dust and vacuum your vents as you see fit. If you do clean out the ducts and vents and notice that your HVAC system is still not functioning properly, you may have bigger issues at hand. As the system controls residential air conditioning as well as heating and ventilation, it is rather complicated and the issues aren’t always something you can fix yourself. If you notice strange sounds coming from the HVAC system, something may need to be repaired. Other signs your HVAC system is not working is a lack of airflow, bad odors circulating through your home, and leaks coming from the system.
If you notice any of these signs, call professionals who specialize in HVAC repair to get it fixed. Even if you notice it’s only impacting the air conditioning, get a residential air conditioning professional to help you get it repaired. The HVAC system impacts the heating in your home and the last thing you want is to have your heating compromised just before winter hits.
Repair The Essential Fixtures
While you’re looking at the HVAC system, you should also look into repairing other essential fixtures in your home. Part of maintaining your house is looking at these essential fixtures and evaluating if they’ll last throughout the fall. Essential fixtures can be defined as the fixtures that significantly contribute to the overall function of your home. These include the foundation, hot water heater, and plumbing system. Look at these structures and evaluate if you see any signs of damage. These signs include rusting, cracking, and leaking.
If you do notice there’s damage to your essential fixtures, make sure you get the right help when repairing it. For any cracks or apparent damage to your home’s foundation, contact foundation contractors in your area for professional help. If you have leaks or concerning issues in your plumbing, get in touch with professional plumbers to get your system up and running. You should also think about contacting water heating repair professionals this fall if you notice that you’re having issues with your hot water. These people will help you get your essential fixtures properly fixed and running throughout the fall. The more professional help you can get through this time, the fewer problems you’ll have once spring comes around.
Clean The Gutters
A small but effective thing to do when maintaining your house in the fall is cleaning the gutters. Gutters catch rainwater and direct the water away from the roof and house. It’s meant to prevent water from damaging the siding and roof of your home. During the fall, your gutters can get clogged with dead leaves and other debris from trees. If the gutters are clogged, the rainwater won’t be able to drain and it could cause water damage to your home.
It can take you a couple of hours to clean out your gutters. You can take a large garbage bag and scoop out the debris from the gutters to clear them out. Alternatively, you could throw a large plastic tarp on the lawn and drop the debris onto the tarp if you don’t want to carry a plastic garbage bag with you onto the ladder. You should wear a long-sleeved shirt and gloves when you’re cleaning the gutters so that you don’t get scratched from the debris. If you don’t feel comfortable cleaning the gutters on your own, you can ask a friend or family member to help you or you can hire professionals to help. The sooner you get the gutters cleaned out, the sooner you can cross it off your fall maintenance to-do list.
Rake The Yard
Your yard can get covered in debris in the fall. This debris includes dead leaves, twigs, and even dead branches that fall from trees. To avoid your yard being filled with debris, make sure you rake it thoroughly throughout the fall. Raking your yard will get rid of all the debris and keep it looking good throughout the fall.
Raking the yard is especially important if you’re planning on selling your home during the fall. About 60% of potential home buyers believe that a well-landscaped yard influences their home-buying decisions. If your yard is unkempt and has debris all over it, it could influence potential buyers to move on to the next home and not make an offer. Make sure the landscaping is kept up with and the yard is raked well throughout the fall to ensure your home has curb appeal.
Check For Drafts
Another aspect of maintaining your house in the fall is to check for drafts. Drafts are when cold air enters your home through cracks and crevices. If your home is drafty during the fall, it could let in a lot of cold air and cause warm air to escape. This could lead to an increase in your energy bill and end up costing you more money than you expect.
To prevent this from happening, check your home for drafty spots. Check the doors, windows, and window sills for cool air blowing through. If you notice any drafts coming through, seal the drafts as quickly as possible. You can seal those drafts via weatherstripping, foam tape, or applying new foam or film if they’re coming from a door. If they’re coming through cracks in a wall, seal the cracks with caulk. You can try sealing the cracks in the window sill if drafts are coming through the windows. If that doesn’t work, you may need to fix the glass. Call a glass repair expert to help you figure out how to get it fixed if that’s the case. You could also look into replacing your windows altogether if the drafts are severe enough.
Fix The Driveway
As you’re making a list of projects for maintaining your house in the fall, don’t forget to focus on fixing up your exterior, too. Part of the exterior includes your driveway. If you couldn’t do it in the spring or summer, make sure you get it fixed in the fall. This is important because if you live in an area where it snows in the winter, your driveway could become more damaged due to the winter weather.
If your driveway has cracks or holes in it, fill them before winter hits. Moisture could make these issues become larger during the winter, so be proactive and get these issues fixed beforehand. If there are a lot of cracks and holes in your driveway, you could also look into repaving your driveway. Research the rates for residential paving services in your area to get an idea of how much it’ll cost. Then, decide if redoing the driveway altogether or just repairing it will best fit your budget.
Repair The Roof
One of the key things to do when maintaining your house in the fall is to inspect and repair your roof. Your roof is essential to your home’s overall function. It’s what protects your home from the effects of debris and winter weather. If your roof is not in good shape, you’re leaving your home vulnerable to developing serious damage over the course of the fall.
Have your roof inspected and make sure it’s intact. Look for signs of water damage, discoloration, and cracks. These issues could cause the roof to leak and therefore damage other parts of your home. If there is damage to your home, hire a roofing company to repair the damage. Depending on what the issues are, it could cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands of dollars to fix your roof. It may seem like a lot of money upfront, but if you leave the damage untouched, it could end up costing you way more in the long run. Be proactive and get the roof repaired before any serious fall weather hits.
Fill In Any Holes You See
Part of maintaining your house in the fall includes filling in any holes you see in your yard and in your home. These holes could have formed from gardening experiments in the summer or simply animals trying to get into your yard or home. Be sure to fill in these holes as fall hits. Look for holes in your yard, as well as holes near the base of your home. Smaller animals could dig their way into your basement to make their new home for winter. Check your basement for any signs of animal activity. If there isn’t any, fill in the holes as quickly as you can.
Anyone who lives near the beach, may have a seawall near their property. If you notice holes in the seawall, contact a company for seawall maintenance and tell them about it. The fall and impending winter weather could damage the wall even further if the holes are left unattended.
Properly Maintain Your Pool
Your pool is a great asset to your home, which is why part of maintaining your house in the fall should include maintaining your pool. If you want your pool to function next summer, be sure to skim it properly throughout the fall if it’s uncovered. Get rid of all the debris in the water and make sure the filter is cleaned out.
If you’re closing your pool in the fall, make sure you cover it correctly. Put your pool cover over the pool evenly so there’s no room for debris to get in. If you don’t have a pool cover, consider putting a large tarp over your pool to cover it. The more debris you can prevent from getting in, the better.
Store Your Outdoor Furniture
Fall is the time where the weather gets cooler, which means you may not want to lounge outside as much as you did in the summer. If you’re not planning on using your outdoor furniture, make sure it’s properly stored away. Store it in a place where it won’t get damaged. Be sure to put the furniture in a place where animals won’t get to it. You can also put rodent traps in your storage area to help limit the chances of a rodent chewing up your furniture while it’s in storage.
Another thing to do is make sure your tools are properly stored away for the fall. If you aren’t gardening in the fall, put your gardening tools in a safe and secure place where they won’t get dirty or rust over. If you have an air compressor that you’re not planning on using in the fall, store it, along with any air compressor accessories, where it can stay safe but also be accessed if necessary. The more tools you properly store during the fall, the less likely they’ll sustain damage.
There are a lot of projects you can take on when maintaining your house in the fall. The key is to prioritize them and be proactive about getting them done. Start with the ones that are the most important to your home’s structure. If it directly impacts your home’s functionality, make it a top priority. This is one way you can take all the projects you have on your list and organize them. That way, you can enjoy the fall season instead of stressing over the home maintenance projects you need to complete.
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