Last updated on October 10, 2024
Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibility, especially when the colder weather hits.
To keep your home in tip-top condition during the fall and winter seasons, complete some home maintenance tasks to help you prepare for whatever the cold weather brings. Here are 13 items you should tackle this fall to prepare your home for the cooler weather ahead.
Invest in Fall Landscaping
Spring may be long gone, but that's no excuse to slack off on landscaping. If you're thinking about adding an evergreen privacy fence or some shrubs to your yard, fall is the best time to do it. In the Carolinas, you can even plant evergreens in early winter, but fall is ideal. Beyond evergreens, add some color to your garden now and enjoy it until the first frost. Flowers such as Calibrachoa, Sunflowers, Petunias and Lantanas are perfect for adding autumn color to your flower beds.
It's also a good idea to aerate your lawn and plant grass seed to keep it looking lush and vibrant green come spring.
Related: Tips to Prepare Your Garden and Lawn for Fall
Face the autumn leaves
Don't wait until the last leaves have fallen from your trees to make a plan. The easiest and smartest solution is to simply cut the leaves. You will need a mulching lawnmower to shred the leaves fine enough, but getting rid of leaves this way not only saves your back but also adds nutrients to the soil.
Clean the gutters
One of the most important home maintenance tasks to do this fall is cleaning your gutters. Removing leaves and other debris will help the water flow 10 times better.
Additionally, leaving this task untreated can cause roof and foundation leaks, damage the landscape, and create a nesting place for pests. If you live in a heavily wooded area, consider adding mesh gutter guards to prevent future leaf buildup.
Inspect your oven
Don't wait until cold weather hits to check your furnace. It is recommended that your oven be serviced by a professional once a year. Go ahead by calling a heating and air company now to schedule a tune-up.
Make sure your appliances are in good working order and up to date
From heating and air units to water heaters and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, it's essential to have all of these appliances up and running before winter hits.
No one wants to have a broken heating unit in the middle of a snow storm. This fall, make an appointment with your heating and air company to have them checked to make sure they will hold up to the cold weather.
Prepare for pests
As the temperature outside drops, bugs will begin to look for a warmer place to stay and that often means inside your home.
To prevent these pesky guests, seal cracks and other entry points these critters could use to get inside.
Consider setting traps or spraying insecticides inside and outside your home to deter them. Lastly, take out the trash. Keeping your spaces clean will leave less room for insects to hide.
Organize your garden tools
Fall is usually the time when yard work ends and we put away the rakes, wheelbarrows and shovels for the colder months.
Instead of throwing all your tools in a shed and calling it a day, work on organizing them so that when warmer weather arrives, you'll be more eager to start gardening again.
Hang hooks to hold larger tools or invest in a set of bins to organize smaller items, like gloves.
Related: Garage Storage Tips You Need
Replace your air filters
An often overlooked and long overdue maintenance task is replacing your home's air filters.
Depending on the quality and brand of your air filters, their lifespan can last three to six months.
This fall, be sure to replace your air filters to remove accumulated dirt, dust, and allergens from the air.
Deep clean your kitchen
It's been many months since spring cleaning arrived, and life has changed since then. Take some time this fall to thoroughly clean common spaces, like the kitchen, to help put your home in order.
Clean your refrigerator and deep clean your tiles, grout, garbage and recycling bins, oven and stove.
Not only will this help you prepare for any guests you may have, but it will also help prevent pests and keep your space fresh.
Related: Kitchen cleaning tricks that are really cool
Inspect your chimney and chimney.
Home heating is one of the most common causes of home fires, so it's important to inspect gas and wood-burning fireplaces this fall.
Doing this will help prevent things like smoke, water vapor, and wood particles from entering your home.
Maintaining your chimney will also help maintain proper airflow and prevent the buildup of tar-like substances on interior walls.
Don't overlook your ceiling
One of the most important home maintenance tasks you should complete this fall is checking the condition of your roof.
Fall and winter are the worst times of year to have roofing problems. Inspect your roof for leaks and holes and repair them as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
Check for air leaks
Don't wait for the cold to reach the corners of your house. Take the time now to inspect your weather stripping, being careful to check for gaps. Sealing a drafty home can save you more than 20% on your energy bill this winter, so now is the time to make this a priority.
Double check your insulation
If your heating and air bill is costing you more and more each month, it may be time to check your home's insulation.
While insulation should last many, many years, if the insulation is old or not installed properly, it may not be doing its job to its full potential.
The insulation should be energy efficient and not cause you to have to spend a lot of money on your heating and air unit. If you are concerned about your home's insulation, call an insulation expert or contractor today to fix this problem quickly.
Related tips for maintenance in case of falls:
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