Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

9/17/2020 (Permalink)

Get prepared with these 10 items to check off your fall to-do list!

Fall is approaching!

Fall is almost here and that means going through your fall home maintenance checklist! Here are 10 things all homeowners should be doing this fall to ensure they are prepared for the colder weather ahead.

• Clean your gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters during rainstorms can cause water to pool and damage your roof or siding- or worse, seep into the interior of your home causing water damage.
• Make any repairs needed to the exterior of your home. Get a head start for the colder seasons ahead and look for signs of damage to the roof, siding and foundation so you can repair them in time.
• Seal any gaps or cracks where mice and critters could enter. Prevent visitors in your pantry this fall by doing a check for any openings on the exterior of your home. Mice only need a very small opening to enter.
• Rake your leaves. This one is a no-brainer, but it can often get away from us. However, leaving too many leaves on your lawn can hinder its growth come spring-time.
• Care for your trees and shrubs. Trimming the “dead” out of your trees is one of the most important things a homeowner can do. Also getting rid of questionable limbs can spare you disaster for upcoming winter storms.
• Start stocking up on winter supplies. Preparation is key. Make sure you’re stocked up on rock salt, emergency kits, fuel, and check the integrity of your snow removal tools.
• Check all entrances, walkways, and driveways. Make sure your walkways, doors, steps, railings and driveways are all in good shape. You will thank yourself when winter comes around.
• Weatherstrip your outside doors and windows. Added insulation will help you cut down on energy costs.
• Check all of your safety devices. That means checking the expiration date of your fire extinguishers and changing the batteries in your smoke alarms!
• Make sure you are regularly maintaining your appliances. Ensure you are always cleaning your dryer vents. If it’s time for a duct cleaning, schedule one with a professional. Make sure your HVAC, furnace, or chimney are clean and in working order.

If you follow all of the items on this checklist, there’s no doubt you will be ahead of the game when it comes to preparing your home for the colder seasons. Remember, if for any reason disaster DOES strike- you know that you can call your friends at SERVPRO of Plymouth/ Wareham. We are faster to any sized disaster and our trained technicians work hard to make water, fire and mold issues "Like it never even happened."