What To Do When Preparing Your Home for Fall
Spring might be the go-to season for a little extra home maintenance, but fall is just as important when it comes to getting your house ready for winter. By adding a few upkeep tasks to your autumn routine, you can catch any potential issues early and make sure your home is prepared for whatever winter throws your way.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
As the kids head back to school, the cold weather begins rolling in, and the leaves start turning vibrant Autumn colours; it’s the perfect time to prepare your home for fall and the winter season ahead. To help you kick things off, here are some of the top tasks to tackle as you prep for the season.
Inspect Your Roof and Gutters
Falling leaves can quickly clog up your gutters, which can lead to water damage if left unchecked. Take some time to clear out any debris and check your roof for loose shingles or potential leaks. If you’re cleaning the gutters yourself, be sure to use a ladder safely or get someone to help you out to avoid accidents.
Ignoring this task could mean that during heavy rain or snow, water gets trapped on your roof, which might cause flooding. This can lead to serious damage to your roof or even seep into your home or garage, creating even bigger problems. Keeping your roof in good shape now can save you from expensive water damage repairs later on.
Inspect Your Home and Property for Damages
As you start getting ready for the colder months, it’s a good idea to check your home and property for any signs of damage. While you’re cleaning out your gutters, you can look out for issues with your roof. You should also check your foundation, siding, bricks, or interlock. Broken patio stones can be a real hazard in winter, and uneven surfaces might lead to a higher chance of slips and falls on ice. Even small dips in your driveway can turn into black ice. Take a walk around your property, spot any problems, and get those repairs scheduled sooner rather than later.
Trim Trees and Clear Your Yard
Autumn storms can bring strong winds, making it more likely for branches to fall. It’s a good idea to trim any overhanging branches that could potentially damage your home or vehicles. Also, clear out broken branches, dead plants, and any leftover foliage so you’re not left with a yard full of debris to deal with in the spring. Taking these steps now can help prevent the need for insurance claims due to storm damage.
Keep in mind that trees might look healthy but could actually be in poor condition, which increases the risk of them breaking and causing damage to your home, property, cars, or even your family. If you’re unsure, consider hiring an arborist to check on your trees and remove any limbs that could pose a risk during winter storms.
Prepare Your Backyard Landscaping
As the winter weather approaches, it’s time to bring in and store any outdoor furniture or décor that can’t handle colder temperatures or wet conditions. Even outdoor fabrics can develop mould if they’re exposed to moisture all winter. And if you have potted plants, move them indoors or into your garage where it’s warmer so they can keep growing through the winter.
Also, if you live in a freezing climate, don’t forget to winterize your sprinkler system. If the water in the main pipe freezes, it can crack the valves or even the manifold, leading to expensive and time-consuming repairs.
Finally, close the outdoor water shut-off valves until the temperatures are consistently above freezing. Otherwise, any water in the pipes leading outside could freeze and cause them to burst.
Check Your Heating System and Air Conditioner
As the temperatures start to drop and the cold air makes its return, your heating system is going to become your best friend. It’s a good idea to have your furnace or boiler inspected and serviced now before the heating season. Keeping your system in good shape not only lowers the risk of fire hazards but also helps it run more efficiently, saving you money on your heating bills and reducing potential risks.
Also, don’t forget to clean or replace your furnace filter, especially since it’s probably gathered dust over the summer. Try to clean or change the filter every couple of months to keep everything running smoothly.
While you’re having your heating system serviced, it’s a good idea to have your air conditioning unit serviced, as well. This way, it’s ready to go for next summer when the hot temperatures return. Also, don’t forget to cover it once the fall temperatures have set in to protect it through the winter.
Clean Out Your Fireplace
If you have a working fireplace, make sure it’s clean, and the flue is clear. Look up the chimney to check for bird nests or animal debris. A clogged chimney can quickly become dangerous, leading to increased smoke inside your home or even the risk of a house fire.
Inspect the heating units of gas or electric fireplaces to ensure no small animals have chewed on the wires. It’s also a good idea to have a professional inspect wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to ensure there’s no buildup in the chimney that could block smoke or start a fire.
While you’re thinking about fire safety, it’s a great time to test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If the batteries are running low, go ahead and replace them. Also, take a moment to check your fire extinguishers to make sure they’re still up to date and ready to use.
Review Your Insurance Coverage
Finally, with fall comes the possibility of severe weather, so it’s a good time to review your home insurance. Make sure it covers common autumn risks like wind damage or flooding. Keep in mind that most standard homeowners and renters insurance policies don’t cover things like flooding, earthquakes, mudslides, or hurricane damage—you’ll need to purchase that coverage separately.
Checking your insurance is just as important for storm protection as any other home maintenance task. The cost of repairing damage from a single natural disaster can be overwhelming, so consider adding more coverage if your current policy doesn’t offer enough protection.
If you have any questions about your home insurance or want to update your coverage, reach out to an Oracle RMS insurance broker today. We’ll help you find the right insurance by working with top local companies to get you the best home insurance quotes for your needs.
