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It’s Time to Complete Your Fall Season Home Maintenance Tasks
Summer is on the wane and the fall season is just around the corner. That means welcome changes are afoot: a painter’s pallet of beautiful reds, oranges, and greens on trees, cooler weather for hikes and outdoor events, and for parents, it’s a great time to have the kids back in school. But put the hold on the celebration for just a minute. It’s also time to do some home maintenance before leaning into the season. Here is a simple to-do list from Family Handyman. Clean your gutters: Gutters stuffed with debris will cause rainwater and melting snow to spill out, damaging your home’s exterior and foundation. It’s recommended that you use a plastic spatula to scoop out debris. It doesn’t scratch the gutter and grime wipes off the spatula easily, making cleanup a breeze. Check you smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Fall is the perfect time to check batteries and expiration dates on these important safety devices. Make it an annual duty so that this task doesn’t get overlooked. Bleed hot water radiators: Trapped air can clog a hot water radiator and prevent it from working efficiently. Turn the small valve at the top of the radiator until water starts dripping out. This lets the air out and helps restore proper function. Schedule your sprinkler blow-out: Professionals book up for this task, which is best tackled in late September or early October. Set a date and prevent pipes from cracking in winter. Likewise, drain all garden hoses and make sure they are disconnected when freezing weather arrives. Also, some sprinkler systems are self-draining and should not be blown out. Clean chimneys: As you burn logs, creosote and soot build up on your chimney and can spark a dangerous chimney fire. If you haven’t cleaned your chimney in a few years, hire a professional to inspect your chimney and give it a thorough cleaning. If you have a gas fireplace(s), it’s a good time to vacuum accumulated dust and clean the glass enclosure. Get an HVAC tune-up: Schedule your annual furnace inspection now before the first major storm hits. Also, have your air-conditioning system winterized.
Summer is on the wane and the fall season is just around the corner. That means welcome changes are afoot: a painter’s pallet of beautiful reds, oranges, and greens on trees, cooler weather for hikes and outdoor events, and for parents, it’s a great time to have the kids back in school. But put the hold on the celebration for just a minute. It’s also time to do some home maintenance before leaning into the season. Here is a simple to-do list from Family Handyman. Clean your gutters: Gutters stuffed with debris will cause rainwater and melting snow to spill out, damaging your home’s exterior and foundation. It’s recommended that you use a plastic spatula to scoop out debris. It doesn’t scratch the gutter and grime wipes off the spatula easily, making cleanup a breeze. Check you smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Fall is the perfect time to check batteries and expiration dates on these important safety devices. Make it an annual duty so that this task doesn’t get overlooked. Bleed hot water radiators: Trapped air can clog a hot water radiator and prevent it from working efficiently. Turn the small valve at the top of the radiator until water starts dripping out. This lets the air out and helps restore proper function. Schedule your sprinkler blow-out: Professionals book up for this task, which is best tackled in late September or early October. Set a date and prevent pipes from cracking in winter. Likewise, drain all garden hoses and make sure they are disconnected when freezing weather arrives. Also, some sprinkler systems are self-draining and should not be blown out. Clean chimneys: As you burn logs, creosote and soot build up on your chimney and can spark a dangerous chimney fire. If you haven’t cleaned your chimney in a few years, hire a professional to inspect your chimney and give it a thorough cleaning. If you have a gas fireplace(s), it’s a good time to vacuum accumulated dust and clean the glass enclosure. Get an HVAC tune-up: Schedule your annual furnace inspection now before the first major storm hits. Also, have your air-conditioning system winterized.
