Have You Completed Your Fall Home Maintenance Check List?

Keeping your home in good condition will ensure your family’s safety, increase your home’s value, and save you money in future home repairs. Here are some things you should check in and around your house.

Roof and Gutters
Clean your gutters and drain pipes of leaves and debris. Your drain pipes should be positioned so that any precipitation drains away from your house. Check your roof for any missing shingles or damage. You also need to check your ceilings indoors for any water damage or leaks around windows, vents and corners that are prone to leakage over time.

Heating System and Hot Water Heater
You should have your heating system serviced and all the filters changed every year. Draining your hot water heater and removing the sediment that has gathered at the bottom of the tank over the last year, will not only prolong the life of your water heater, but will ensure that it stays in top condition year round.

Siding and Paint
Do a slow walk around your home and look for any cracks or peeling in your house siding or paint. Replace any caulk that may be dried out and cracking. You can use a carpet knife as a simple effective tool to cut away old caulking from house siding. Slide the blade alongside it from both directions and then use the carpet knife to lift the old caulk intact.

Windows and Doors
Check all of your doors and windows for drafts. Replace any seals that seem worn or damaged. Those small cracks that get neglected can be the equivalent of leaving a window open year round, wasting energy and increasing the work of your heating and cooling systems.

Filters and Water Faucets
The filters in your home should be replaced or cleaned once a month or as needed. Remember to check and clean your air conditioner, dryer vent, room fans and stove hood. Always keep furniture and draperies away from heating vents.

Check all faucets throughout your home for leaks. Repairing minor leaks prevents larger issues from happening and can lower your water bill. To fix leaky faucets, you may need to replace worn-out washers and gaskets.

Safety Devices
Check and replace batteries in carbon monoxide, and smoke detectors at least twice a year. If you have a fire extinguisher, make sure it is in good working order and kept out of reach of children.