Home Maintenance Tips | October 3rd, 2017

Is Your Home Ready for Fall?

It’s that time of year again – our lives are filling with pumpkin spice as the leaves begin to fall. While you’re enjoying all that this beautiful season has to offer, make sure your home is “fall ready” to avoid unwanted surprises throughout the colder months!

Not sure how to prepare? Take a look at these helpful tips:

Heating Maintenance

  • Have your gas furnace serviced by a qualified company every two years to keep it running efficiently. Additionally, turn on your pilot light.
  • If your unit has central air conditioning, open the humidifier damper and clean the humidifier.
  • Examine the forced air furnace fan belt for wear and tear, looseness or noise.
  • Disconnect the motor in the fan belt and clean fan blades of any dirt or grime build-up.
  • Your furnace filter should be replaced every month. Check yours to determine if it’s time for a change. Heat recovery filters should be checked bi-monthly.
  • Vacuum down inside your ducts to improve overall air quality.

Window and Door Maintenance

  • Remove screens from the inside of casement windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass.
  • Double check that all exterior doors, windows and skylights shut tightly.
  • Examine if new weather stripping is required.
  • Cover the outside of your air conditioning unit.

Outdoor Maintenance

  • Ensure the ground around your home is graded properly – sloping away from your house to avoid basement flooding.
  • Drain and store hoses inside or in a shed.
  • Close the valve to outdoor hose connection and drain the exterior faucet.
  • Measure the scum in your septic tank and determine if the tank needs to be emptied before Spring, if applicable. Tanks should be pumped out every three years.
  • Winterize landscaping by covering young trees and bushes.
  • Properly store your outdoor furniture.
  • Check all water and drain fittings one last time before snow fall.

 

Have any more helpful tips and tricks? We’d love to hear how you prep your home for fall and winter. Join the conversation by leaving a comment below! #ABetterWayToBuild

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