Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: Preparing for Winter

It's that time of year, time to turn your attention to fall home maintenance. Getting your home in shape before winter arrives is essential to preparing your home for the wintewr months. In this guide, we'll cover seven important tasks to tackle this fall, common questions clients as on inspections and additional tips to make your home winter-ready.

Clean Your Chimney, Fireplace, and Flue

If you have a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove, now is the perfect time to prepare it for regular use during the colder months. Over time, soot and creosote can accumulate in your chimney which in extreem cases can pose a fire risk. The earlier in the fall you hire a professional chimney sweep the better because this is their busy time of year. Have them clean and inspect your chimney, fireplace, and flue. This maintenance not only improves safety but also also it to preform better.

What happens if I don’t clean my chimney regularly?

Neglected chimneys can lead to creosote buildup, blockages, and hidden structural issues. This can increase the risk of chimney fires, impact drafting, chimney damage that goes undetected, and possible conditions that allow toxic gases, like carbon monoxide to enter the building. Be sure to schedule this cleaning each year around the month of September.

Clean Your Gutters

We all know this time of year leaves and debris from trees scatter the landscape. This makes gutter cleaning a crucial task each fall. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage, ice dams, and in extream can cause structural issues. When you safely remove leaves, sticks, and debris from your gutters and downspouts, this ensures proper drainage. Add gutter extentions so that water runoff is directed away from the home.

Are gutter guards a good alternative to cleaning?

Gutter guards can reduce the amount of debris that enters the gutters, but they’re not maintenance-free. A common thought is that if gutter guards are installed, you do not have to clean your gutters. Periodic cleaning and inspection are still necessary to prevent buildup on top of or beneath the guards.

Trim Vegetation and Trees

Keep trees and shrubs trimmed back from your home. Overhanging branches—especially dead or heavy limbs—can break under the weight of snow or ice, causing damage to your roof, siding, or injuring someone below. Regular pruning not only protects your home but also helps prevent pest and insect infestations by eliminating access points.

Did you know?

Carpenter ants and other pests can use branches as a bridge into your home. On one inspection, a carpenter ant colony was found in the attic near the chimney, and visible ants were coming off the tree limbs that were in direct contact with the roof

Heating System Yearly Maintenance/Service

Your heating system has been dormant for months, so it's essential to have it serviced before you start using it. It is a smart decision to schedule an annual inspection and maintenance service for your furnace, heat pump, or boiler. Yearly service keeps your heating system running safely, smoothly and efficiently by cleaning components, checking for safety risks, and ensuring reliable performance during cold months ahead.

Winterize Your Lawn Mower and Battery

Preparing your outdoor equipment for winter is often overlooked but can extend their lifespan. Adding fuel stabilizer to your lawnmower's gasoline to prevent the gasoline from degrading. Put your riding lawnmower's battery on a trickle charger and store it indoors to prevent freezing. These small step can help ensure your equipment will be ready to go next spring.

Should I remove my lawnmower battery and store it inside for the winter?

When you remove the battery and storing it indoors on a trickle charger; the batter does not freeze, helps preserve its charge and extends its lifespan.

Prepare Your Snow Blower

We live in Springfield MA and as you know a well maintained snow blower is essential. Prepare your snow blower by checking/changing the oil, inspect the spark plug, replace any worn belts, and lubricate moving parts. This time of year, before the snow comes, test your snow blower to ensure it's in working order to prevent last-minute frustrations.

What about the fuel?

Yes. Old fuel can cause starting problems and engine damage. A good practice is to either add fuel stabilizer in the spring to preserve fuel or run the blower until all the fuel is used.

Change Batteries in Smoke Detectors

The Spring and Fall are excellent times to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors if they are not hard wired. Be sure to test each unit to confirm operation and consider upgrading to smart smoke detectors for added convenience and safety.

What are smart smoke detectors?

Smart smoke detectors send instant alerts to your smartphone if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected. Many models also perform automatic self-tests, monitor battery life, and integrate with other smart home devices for added safety and convenience.

Winterize Your Irrigation/Sprinkler Lawn System

Winterizing your irrigation system it prevents pipes from freezing and bursting. Turn off the water supply to the systems and drain any remaining water pipes throughout the system. Many companys offer this service around October; this is the preferred method. If you're unsure about the process, consult a professional to avoid costly repairs in the spring.

What are some easy ways to maintain my irrigation system?

• Check sprinkler heads for clogs or damage

• Verify/adjust spray patterns to avoid watering sidewalks, driveways and/or the side of the home

• Inspect for leaks, low pressure and possible zones not working.

• Drain/winterize the system before freezing weather to prevent damage.

Turn Off Your Outside Faucets

Turning off and winterizing your outdoor faucets is sometimes an overlooked step in preparing your home for winter. Doing this helps prevent frozen pipes and potential costly repairs. Identifying all outdoor hose bibs on your property and then locate the shut-off valve controlling the water supply to these faucets turning them off. Then open the outdoor faucet to drain the remaining water.

As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, following this guide/checklist is good practice to ensure you home is ready for the winter months; completing these nine tasks and following the recommended tips, you'll be well-prepared to stress-free winter.