Fall is an amazing time of year in the DC Metro area. We all feel the excitement of cooler temps, the return of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice latte, and the colorful glory of autumn leaves. Fall is also a time when we have to think about home maintenance items. It’s important to implement your Fall home maintenance list before the cold weather arrives, and these action items become too difficult, or too late. Home maintenance now, will provide you with peace of mind, and save you lots of headaches later.
SAFETY & PREPARATION
The inside items on your home maintenance checklist are all critical because they involve the safety of your family. There are few things more important than preventing a fire in your home. Plan on getting your fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected every year. Look for signs of creosote, a black or brown build up that is highly combustible. This is also the time to get your furnace serviced to make sure it is safe and functioning during the colder months. Your dryer’s exhaust tube and vent–both need to be cleaned as well since lint build-up can also be a fire hazard.
The best time to deal with an emergency is before it happens. This is a good time to replace batteries in your smoke detector, carbon monoxide detectors, radios, and alarm system. Since weather emergencies are not uncommon in mid-atlantic. Take time now to stock up on batteries, bottled water, toiletries, food, pet-safe ice melt, and pet supplies. Make sure your to take care of things like prescription refills, and gassing up your snow blower too. You don’t want to realize you are out of these things in the middle of a blizzard!
Helpful Tip: Need help? Look for service professionals in your area using online resources that provide customer ratings and comments, such as Angie’s List, Yelp, or Task Rabbit. And, of course, you can always call us at 571-992-0700.
DAMAGE PREVENTION
Preventing damage from happening in the first place is a good motivator for doing some basic outdoor maintenance.
Now, it’s time to get your mind in the gutter. Gutter cleaning that is! Gutters that are clogged can cause water damage to your roof and siding. It’s important that downspouts and gutters are thoroughly cleaned when the leaves stop falling.
While you are outside, check for gaps and openings that can be a welcome mat for mice, and get them sealed. Turn off outdoor faucets to prevent your pipes from freezing in the winter. Keep your hoses from cracking by rolling them up and bringing them inside. Sealing your windows and doors with caulk will prevent water damage and heat loss. Have your roof inspected for damage and get any repairs done now, before snow sits on your roof, and you end up with a more costly repair.
FALL FUN
The list of responsibilities we have as homeowners can seem endless, so we must also include a long list of fun on our Fall maintenance checklist. Enjoy the season! Jump in your piles of leaves, go leaf peeping along Skyline Drive, cook s’mores on your fire pit, go to one or all of the many Fall Festivals, carve a pumpkin, get lost in a corn maze, pick some apples, and enjoy some Virginia Wine at the many award-winning Virginia wineries where you will be surrounded by all the beauty of Autumn!
Cheers!
Ray
