Fall Home Maintenance
If only all the fall prep your home needed was a pumpkin spice candle and new wreath to hang on the front door! While those are nice touches to add to your home for the upcoming season, more needs to be done to ensure your home is ready for cooler temps. Here are some great tips to get your home ready for fall!
Inside your home:
Change air filter
This is one of the best ways to extend the life of your HVAC. Keep a fresh filter on hand and change it as directed. Another way to protect your HVAC is seasonal check-ups. Have a licensed HVAC specialist take a look at your system to keep it in optimal shape.
Change batteries
Change your smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries and test the alarm. You never know when you’ll need it and smoke detectors play a critical role in protecting your family from unforeseen harm. You’ll want to change the batteries on an annual basis (or whenever you hear it start chirping) and test the alarm at least once a month.
Seal drafty windows
Check your window and door seals and apply seals where necessary. Weather-stripping helps boost winter warmth and cuts energy costs by creating a better seal on your exterior openings, but in some instances, caulk may need to be used to seal cracks between the frame and a door or window.
Outside your home:
Clean gutters
Clean your gutters and clear leaves from around your exterior. Gutters are your home’s first line of defense in flash floods as they divert rainwater away from your home. Gutters moving water away from the base of your home keeps rainwater out of your basement or crawl space. Fallen leaves not only deprive your lawn of sunlight during the fall and winter months, they also can weaken your root systems and can hold moisture for an extended time around the base of your home.
Protect outdoor faucets
Drain your outdoor faucets and place a foam faucet cover over the spigot. These are usually around $1.00 from the hardware store and provide insulation during freezing temperatures. A good rule of thumb is to leave them covered when temperatures are expected to be below 30 degrees.
Fertilize your lawn
If you want to keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Roots are still active when the grass isn’t growing, so applying fertilizer will prevent winter damage. Doing this is crucial in helping your lawn turn green faster in the spring.
Are you looking to make a move this fall? Contact an ARC agent today to help start the process!
