The season has begun to change here in Virginia so I am sharing ways to prepare your home for fall with 7 must do task. The temperatures have started to cool and the leaves have started to change colors. I don’t know about you, but I like to prep my home for cooler weather and eventually, winter storms. Tackling a few fall home maintenance tasks now can help eliminate any issues later in the season, so that you can continue to live your best life during the autumn season.
Most of the tasks listed below are well within the average homeowner’s ability. But, even if you are like me and would rather hire a professional to handle them, it can be well worth the expense. With this list, you will save money in the long run by preventing costly and/or potentially dangerous damage to your home.
Follow this fall maintenance checklist and learn key tips for cleaning gutters, roofs, etc..
1. Clean Your Gutters
Clean out leaves and debris from the gutters around the roof. This doesn’t take long but does require a ladder and usually a second set of hands. Go around the perimeter of your house and clear clogged gutters and piles. Look at trees and watch for nests and neighborhood “friends” who might be living in your roof. Or, hire a professional. I like to use apps like Thumbtack or Task Rabbit for these kind of activities
2. Check For Drafts
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat loss through windows is responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use. However, it doesn’t have to be that way, because weather-stripping is simple and probably the most cost-effective way to keep heating costs down.
Pro tip: An easy way to check if you have a draft issue is to close a door or window on a strip of paper. If the paper slides easily, you may need to update your weather-stripping.
3. Drain Your Outdoor Faucets
If you live in an area with freezing weather, take steps to ensure that outdoor faucets and inground irrigation systems don’t freeze and burst. Be sure to drain and disconnect all garden hoses from outside spigots to prevent any water freezing. Not doing this can result to pipes bursting, so its imperative that you do this.
4. Bring Your Outdoor Furniture In
It cost you money and time to set your outdoor space up, so if you want to get another summer season out of it you should definitely store it in a garage or shed. If you don’t have anywhere to store your outdoor furniture, you should cover it with a waterproof furniture cover. I purchased one for my chairs, small sofa, and my outdoor dining table all from Amazon.
5. Fertilize Your Lawn
Prep your lawn for winter. I say again, prep your lawn for winter! To ensure your lawn’s health and beauty coming up this spring, there are several important yard work projects to complete in the fall. Raking leaves and aerating will prevent your lawn and garden beds from suffocating. Fertilizing and winterizing grass, trees, and shrubs will allow your greenery to enter its winter slumber comfortably and properly nourished.
Some of you might choose to do it yourself, or hire a professional, or a combination of the two. This year we did a combination of the two. We hired someone to come aerate then we took care of everything else. I like to hire professionals for these projects, freeing up time for family, friends, and decorating.
6. Change Your Batteries
This is already something you should be doing once a year. Since, you’re already testing everything else out, you might as well add this on. You should be checking to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices are working properly.
7. Repair Cracks In Driveway
According to Better Home and Gardens, damaged walkways, drives, and steps are a hazard year-round, but their dangers are compounded when the weather turns icy. Therefore, fixing issues in the fall is also critical to preventing little cracks from becoming expensive headaches. Look for cracks more than 1/8-inch wide, uneven sections, and loose railings on steps. Check for disintegration of asphalt or washed-out materials on loose-fill paths. Again, you can either opt to do this yourself or hire a professional.
Preparing your home and yard for the colder months doesn’t have to be stressful. In just one weekend, you can have your home and yard prepared, freeing you up to focus on the more important things of autumn and winter! Fall is the best time for sipping some warm apple cider or mulled wine, trick or treating, and preparing for the upcoming holiday season. I encourage you to reclaim your time this fall and prepare your home and yard now for the colder months.
Now this is not a complete list of all the things you can do to prepare your home for fall. However, it is a great start. Comment below with some additions to the list!
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