Autumn Home Checklist
The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are getting a bit cooler. While you may be enjoying pumpkin patches and fall hikes, it's also time to prepare your home for cold weather. Below are some fall home maintenance steps that every homeowner should follow to make sure your home is ready for cold weather.
1. BLOW OUT YOUR SPRINKLERS!
Before the first frost of the season, you will want to blow out your sprinklers to make sure they do not freeze. If there is water left in your sprinkler lines, it can freeze during the winter and cause flooding and a need for repair in the spring.
2. Seal any air leaks
It's a good idea to seal leaky windows and doors to help keep the chilly air out and the warm air inside. This do-it-yourself project typically involves rolling self-adhesive weatherstripping (often made of felt, vinyl, rubber or silicone) down the side of a window or door, or caulking small cracks. You may also want to install a door sweep to help prevent drafts coming in between the bottom of the door and the threshold.
3. Check your roof and clean gutters and downspouts
Be sure to inspect your roof to look for any potential problems, such as damaged or missing shingles, loose seams or shingle pieces that are accumulating in downspouts. This will give you a chance to have any issues repaired before winter and hopefully prevent leaking or any further damage.
Clean your gutters and downspouts to keep water flowing away from your house, which may help prevent potential water damage. Leaves, twigs and other debris can also weigh gutters down, pulling them away from the house and potentially damaging siding and trim. Clogged gutters can also lead to ice dams during the winter, and they are also inviting to insects.
4. Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
Your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should last for up to 10 and six years, respectively, but you’ll still want to make sure they’re working each season. Check the batteries (and their expiration dates), and then test each device on each floor of your home. While you do this, make sure your windows are closed and your heating system and furnaces are turned on for maximum effectiveness. If you have a fire extinguisher (which you should!), it’s good practice to bundle this inspection with the detectors. Check the pressure gauge indicator to make sure it is charged. The lock pin should be intact and firmly in place, and the discharge nozzle should be clean and unclogged. If the extinguisher is damaged or corroded in a way that could affect function, or if it is older than six years, it’s time for a new one.
5. Adjust your thermostat
When temperatures fall, adjust your programmable thermostat (or consider installing one if you don't already have one) to help save energy and money. Setting your thermostat to a cooler temperature when you're out of the house or sleeping, and to a warmer temperature when you're home and awake, will help you save money on your heating bills.
6. Inspect and clean your furnace & appliances
Plan to have your furnace inspected and cleaned once a year to ensure that your heating equipment runs safely and efficiently. Routine maintenance may also help prevent a breakdown during a winter cold snap. Dirty filters can cause furnaces, air purifiers and other appliances to not run efficiently. Some filters need changing more often than others, but you'll definitely want to check any appliances that filter air or water every fall. Here are some common appliances that may need a replacement filter:
Furnace filters
Vacuum cleaners
Refrigerator water filters
Dishwasher filters
Air purifiers and humidifiers
Clothing dryers (filter and duct)
Range hoods and over-the-range microwaves
7. Drain your water heater
Many people don't think about their water heaters until there's a problem, but it’s a good idea to drain your water heater once a year. Doing so can help remove sediment that can cause clogs and prevents the water heater from running efficiently. Check your manufacturer's directions on how to drain your water heater or contact a professional.
8. Prep your lawn and trees
A bit of fall yard work can help prevent damage to grass during the cold winter temperatures and help build a healthy lawn next spring. You can help encourage root growth and get your grass green up quickly in the spring by fertilizing now.
You can also mulch leaves with your lawn mower, which can help provide your lawn with nutrients that will help keep it healthy. If you don't have a mower with a mulch setting, be sure to rake the leaves so they don't smother the grass.
Trees and shrubs sometimes need extra love to get through the winter, especially trees that drop their leaves each year. Start by watering the trees thoroughly from the trunk to the length of the longest branch. For trees with thin bark, such as maple and linden trees, use tree wrap to help protect them against the harsh winter temperatures and put 2 - 4 inches of mulch around the base of the tree.
9. Clean and store lawn equipment and furniture
Before storing lawn equipment for the winter, rinse shovels, rakes and other hand tools, and brush off any dirt with a brush. Remove any remaining fuel from your lawn mower. Store furniture in a protected area or cover for the winter.
10. Turn off exterior faucets, Disconnect Hoses
Water left in exterior pipes can freeze and may cause pipes to burst. Before the weather turns cold, drain and disconnect garden hoses. Then, if your hose has a shutoff valve, you should turn it off (these valves are usually inside the house). Next, open and close the outside tap to release any water that is still inside the pipe. An easy fix to winterize exterior faucets is to place outdoor foam faucet covers over the spigots.
11. Inspect and clean your chimney
Before you start dreaming of a warm fire, have a professional chimney sweep clean and inspect your fireplace and chimney. Even if you have a gas fireplace, the chimney and flue should be inspected for any blockages that could cause a chimney fire. Also, a professional should check the gas lines and vents for leaks and repair them, if needed.
12. Keep firewood dry
There are a few tips to keep in mind about storing your firewood. Start fires with clean newspaper or dry kindling, and add only seasoned (dried) wood to the fire. Firewood should be stacked under a cover until you are ready to burn it. Also, insects and rodents like to make themselves at home near woodpiles, so be sure to store your firewood at least 30 feet from your home.
While fall weather in Colorado provides some of the best outdoor activity opportunities, it's a good time to get your home ready for winter, too. Tackling these fall home maintenance tasks will give you some peace of mind that your home is in good shape and ready for the cold winter months.