One of the most important things you can do as a homeowner—to protect both your valuable financial investment and the place you live—is to keep up with seasonal home maintenance. And winter prep might be the most important preventative maintenance you do all year!
So without further ado, here’s your fall home maintenance checklist.
Clean the Gutters
Leaves are falling… right into your gutters, according to some roofing contractors this might not seem like too big a deal until you consider that clogged gutters can lead to water backup, which can in turn damage your roof or lead to leaks. Plus, backed-up water that freezes can be devastating to both gutters and roof.
Inspect the Roof
While you’re clearing out your gutters, take a look at your roof and make sure nothing looks glaringly out-of-place—like missing or loose shingles or cracked plumbing boots, or other plumbing installations. Both can lead to energy seepage and water leakage.
Dоn’t hеѕіtаtе to аѕk a roofing соntrасtоr fоr рrооf оf insurance. In fact, іnѕіѕt on seeing соріеѕ оf hіѕ liability соvеrаgе and wоrkеrѕ’ соmреnѕаtіоn сеrtіfісаtеѕ. Mаkе ѕurе the соvеrаgеѕ аrе in еffесt thrоugh the durаtіоn оf thе jоb. Mаnу building and home owners hаvе been drаggеd іntо lіtіgаtіоn involving uninsured rооfіng соntrасtоrѕ. Also, іf a contractor іѕ nоt рrореrlу іnѕurеd, уоu mау bе liable fоr accidents thаt оссur оn your property.
Chесk tо ѕее іf the rооfіng соntrасtоr is properly licensed or bоndеd. Some ѕtаtеѕ have specific licensing rеԛuіrеmеntѕ, and others do nоt. Yоur ѕtаtе’ѕ Department оf Prоfеѕѕіоnаl Regulation оr Lісеnѕіng Board wіll have thіѕ information.
Mаkе ѕurе thе соntrасtоr іѕ financially stable. A professional rооfіng contractor саn рrоvіdе сurrеnt fіnаnсіаl іnfоrmаtіоn аbоut hіѕ соmраnу.
Lооk fоr a соmраnу wіth a рrоvеn trасk rесоrd thаt оffеrѕ client references аnd a list оf соmрlеtеd рrоjесtѕ.
If you have a leak and are going to do some investigation on your roof to search for it, bring a hose with you. You can spray the hose in order to find out where the leak is coming from. However, do not do this in the winter, as the water from the hose could cause ice.
Store Summer Equipment
When you come down off the ladder, continue your winter prep with the ground level. Bring in summer furniture or equipment to prevent it—or your home, try European antiques like Coffee Tables includes steel, brass, glass, oak, and more—from being damaged during a winter storm, which could also damage the windows that you can protect fro light using blinds, but if you are unsure about blinds you should have a think about shutters as there are some wonderful window shutters available that block out all light and look much better than blinds so the ideal solution.
Rake the Yard
It’s everyone’s favorite fall task—raking leaves! Okay, maybe not, but it’s definitely necessary. Not only does raking make your lawn look better, but it actually improves the growth of your grass come spring.
Check for Cracks & Gaps
Want to make sure you home is warm and cozy come wintertime? Now’s the time to start checking doors and windows for cracks or gaps, as both can be a big loss of heat. Taking some time to re-caulk or add weatherstripping can save big money on your heating bills besides getting the proper installation from a good contractor, this will help you to reach your desired temperature at home. Your windows will go through their toughest test during the wintertime. Poorly sealed or damaged windows can cost you a fortune on your energy bill. So, it’s important that you prep for the cold and take the necessary precautions to keep your windows in tip-top shape.
Work on Your Insulation
Many people give more attention to internal plumbing fixtures while they ignore the basic plumbing fittings and pipelines that run underneath and alongside their house.
Looking for more ways to reduce your energy costs? Consider re-insulating your pipes and heating ducts, check these products for your house. Not only will this improve efficiency, it can also help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
It’s important to take care of your plumbing and check it out at least once every 2 months. Make sure to handle any leaks, clogs, floods or any damage your house may have to avoid any kind of accident at home.
Have Your HVAC System Inspected
Before the cold weather hits, have your furnace or heating system inspected to ensure it’s working efficiently—and properly. Depending on the type of system you have and its age, you might need an annual cleaning, adjustments, or small repairs. You should also make sure you’re regularly changing (or at least vacuuming) your air filters.
Ready for Fall on the Seacoast?
Are you thinking of relocating to or buying a home in the Seacoast area of Maine or New Hampshire? Then it’s time to contact Jim & Ann. We’ve got all the tools and resources you need to explore the area, discover its fantastic community, and find the perfect home for your needs.