Get ready for fall

Fall is here. It’s time to get your house in shape for the cooler months ahead.
Although autumn can be one of the busiest seasons for homeowners who are preparing for winter, it’s also the best time to take advantage of the moderate weather to repair any damage before the first hard frost sets in.
Here are some home maintenance ideas that will keep your home running in peak condition all winter long.

Exterior

Check the foundation for cracks and caulk around the areas where masonry meets siding, or where pipes or wires enter the house. Caulk around the windows and door frames to prevent heat from escaping.
Caulking and sealing openings is one of the least expensive maintenance jobs. Openings in the structure can cause water to get in and freeze, resulting in cracks and mold build-up. Winter can bring very harsh conditions, resulting in water or ice damage. A careful check of the outside structure combined with inexpensive maintenance can save you money in the long run.
Install storm windows and doors and remove screens. Before storing, clean and repair screens, spray with a protective coating and place in a dry area in the basement or garage.
Inspect exterior walls to see if any paint is peeling or blistering on the house or outbuildings. Peeling paint is a sign that the existing paint film is failing and can no longer protect the siding of the building. Left uncorrected, the siding itself will deteriorate, leading to expensive repairs in the future.
Make sure the roof is in good shape. Inspect for missing and loose shingles.
Your roof is your first defense in protecting your home. If it doesn’t function properly, water damage can occur. Ice, rain, snow and wind combined with rapidly changing temperatures and humidity can wreak havoc on roofs.
This causes deterioration to insulation, wood and drywall, making electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems vulnerable.
It’s better to proactively deal with repairs in the fall than to discover a leaky roof during a snowstorm.
For safety’s sake, have a licensed, certified roofing professional check the condition of your roof area. Ask the contractor to check the base of the chimney for cracks or openings while they’re up on the roof.
After leaves have fallen, clean out the gutters and downspouts, flush with water, inspect joints and tighten brackets if necessary. Clogged gutters can freeze up and cause ice dams. Replace old or damaged gutters with new ones that have built in leaf guards.

Interior

Have your heating system checked by a licensed heating contractor. Call early in the season before the temperature drops and contractors get busy. Heating systems will use fuel more efficiently, last longer and have fewer problems if properly serviced.
Get your wood stove and fireplace in working order. Check your wood stove or fireplace insert’s door gasket for a tight seal. Also clean and inspect the glass door for cracks and have the chimney cleaned by a licensed chimney sweep. A dirty chimney poses the risk of a chimney fire, which can be ignited by burning creosote—a combination of wood tar, organic vapors and moisture build-up.
Change the direction of your ceiling fan to create an upward draft, which redistributes warm air from the ceiling.
Check windows and doors for drafts or cracks and fortify with weather-stripping.
Test and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors and keep extra household batteries on hand.
Vacuum internal parts of air conditioners. Remove units from windows or wrap the outside box with an approved tarp or plastic air conditioner cover to prevent rusting of vital parts.
Clean your humidifiers regularly during the heating season. Bacteria and spores can develop in a dirty water tank, resulting in unclean moisture misting out into your room.

Yard and garden

Don’t rake the leaves! Research has shown that leaves provide a free source of organic fertilizer and improve soil texture by helping the ground to absorb more water and air leading to healthy plant growth.
Now is a good time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. If deer are a problem, start deer proofing by covering plants with netting and chicken wire.
Prepare your yard equipment for storage. This includes draining fuel from all gas-operated equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chainsaws.
Check to see that all of your snow equipment is up and running before the first flurry falls. Organize your snow-clearing gear. When snow arrives you’ll want to have shovels, roof rakes, snow blowers and salt where you can get to them.
Be careful where you store equipment. An outbuilding may not be as well insulated as a garage incorporated into a house. Equipment that is stored out in the elements, exposed to extremes of heat and cold, can develop problems when the gasoline can no longer vaporize and flow into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Drain garden hoses and store them inside. Also shut off outdoor water valves in cold weather. Any water left in exterior pipes and faucets can freeze and expand, breaking the pipes.
Inspect and fill bird feeders. Keep in mind that once you start feeding birds you should continue on a regular basis throughout the winter months. If bears are a problem, take the feeders down at night and store them in a safe space.

Porch and deck area

Inspect your driveway for cracks. Clean out and repair any damage with driveway filler, then coat with a commercial sealer.
Check the supports, stairs and railings on porches and decks. Make sure the handrails can support someone who grabs them when slipping on snow or ice.
Clean porch and deck furniture, and look for any needed repairs. Cover and store outdoor furniture and barbecues in a protected area.