4 Fall Home Maintenance Tips

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Fall is Coming! Is Your Home Ready?

The official start of fall was last week. Even though it hasn’t felt like fall, you know it won’t be long before the temps drop and we’re thrown into the new season. That means now is the time to get your home ready for winter. To ensure I’m on top of everything, I did some research and found some fall home maintenance tips from professionals.

Furnace/AC Check:

Fall in Colorado is like a roller coaster. One day you’ll have a dusting of snow on the ground, and the next, it will bounce back to the 70s. So it’s not surprising if you’re toggling between your air conditioner and furnace. I try to hold off on the heat for as long as possible. But for the first fall home maintenance tip, experts suggest scheduling a furnace checkup before it gets too cold. The last thing you want is for your furnace to go out on the first freezing night of the year. I found myself and my family calling for after-hours service on the first below-zero night a few years ago—cha-ching and not fun.

One Last Deep Clean

Before you hunker down for winter, these warm days in September and some even in October (if we’re lucky) offer an excellent opportunity to open up the windows and get one last air out of the house before you close up for winter. So for the second fall home maintenance tip, I suggest one final deep clean of the house: dust the fans, tables, and shelves. Get everything out before you can’t open up the windows until spring. It’s also a great time to declutter, vacuum, wash, or mop your floors.

Fall Home Maintenance Makes for a Great Spring Yard

Fall Home Maintenance I try to hold off on shutting the sprinklers off for as long as possible. Fortunately, I haven’t had any significant breaks (knock on wood). So for the third fall home maintenance tip, experts recommend draining or blowing out your sprinkler system before the first freeze. It’s always good to aerate your grass and throw down a layer of winter fertilizer as the snow gets closer. With some research, you can find someone local that offers both services. You can even overseed your grass to help care for any bare spots. Doing this work now will lead to a healthy, green yard in the spring. Remember to detach and blow out any garden hoses. If there’s water in them, they can freeze and crack; if it’s still attached, it will cause your pipes to freeze and possibly break.

Are your Windows and Doors Sealed?

While you’re taking care of your yard, it may be a good idea to double-check your doors and windows to make sure that the weather stripping is in good shape. It’s easy for heat to escape when seals aren’t tight. That adds up to a lot of wasted money. For the windows, it’s good to add some caulking around the window seal to help keep in the heat.

Fall is here, and soon we’ll feel the blast of winter and the rush of the holidays. Crazy, I know. It’s best to get your home ready for the weather when the weather is nice. Check out this complete fall chore checklist for great fall home maintenance tips.