Home Maintenance: Fall to Winter
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is an absolute truth when it comes to homeownership! As fall weather moves into winter temperatures, consider the following home maintenance tips to keep your home in the best shape.
Change your smoke detector 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.
Change your 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.
Clean your gutters and clear leaves from around your exterior. Last year was one of the rainiest winters of recorded history for the Birmingham metro, and your 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.
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.
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.
Are you thinking about buying or selling in the winter season? Contact an ARC agent to help make that a smooth transition for you!
