Fall Maintenance Checklist

Hello October!  This is the month of Fall Festivals, visits to the pumpkin patch, apple picking and haunted houses.

It’s also the month to prepare your house for winter before the snow flies!

Here are ten fall maintenace tips to do this month so when the weather turns, you can curl up with a good book in front of the fireplace without a worry!

  1. Speaking of the fireplace, if you have one, have it checked.  Inspect the flue for creosote, a flammable by-product of burning wood. Accumulation in a flue or chimney can result in a fire. Get your chimney inspected annually for creosote buildup.
  2. Clean your Gutters: Your gutters carry thousaned of gallons off your roof each year – ok, this year maybe not thousands of gallons – but you know what I mean!  If those gutters are clogged it can lead to damaged exterior surfaces and water in your basement. Check them before too many leaves begin to fall.
  3. Outdoor Faucets: There is nothing worse thatn frozen pipes!  Close any shut-off valves serving outside faucets, then open the outside faucet to drain the line to keep those outdoor faucets from freezing.
  4. Change you Furnace Fitler: Furnace filters trap dust that would otherwise be flying through your house.  And those filters get clogged! Changing your furnace filter regularly helps your furnace run more efficiently, espcailly when the temps drop below freezing!
  5. Furnace check: Since we are on the subject of the furnace, it’s a good idea to have your heating system inspected by a professional. It’s a good idea to schedule this task in early fall, before the heating season begins.  Believe me, there is nothing worse than having your furnace go out on a Friday night in January!  I’m speaking from experience on this one!
  6. Put Your Garden to Bed: Empty your pots abd store them away for the winter.  Cut back any dead flowers or shrubs.  And by the way, those leave your are raking?  They make great mulch, so throw them on your garden beds instead of leaving them on the curb.
  7. Cover Your Outdoor Furniture:  Or if your have space, store it undercover.  You want that furniture to last many seasons, and cold, wind and snow can deteriorate that patio set faster than a rotting pumpkin on an 80 degree day!
  8. Get that Snowblower Ready: Remember that day last winter when you couldn’t get the snowblower started and your gar was in the garage?  Remember how you had to shovel by hand and then you were all sweaty and late for work?  Save yourself the hassle and check that snowblower now.
  9. Change the Batteries:  Check your smoke detectors and carbon dioxide detectors.  Better safe than sorry!
  10. Visit a Corn Maze: I know, this isn’t home maintenace, but October is such a beautiful month, it’s a shame to spend the whole month on home projects, so be sure to have some fun, too!

Happy October!  What project did I forget??