No matter what time of year it is, there are special things you need to do to take care of your home. Fall is definitely no exception. Although the weather is more moderate than the summer or winter, fall is the best time of year to start making sure your home is ready for the colder months ahead. Here are a few of the most important home maintenance chores you should do before the weather gets too cold.
Check Your Outdoor Handrails
Snow and ice might not be here yet, but they will be soon enough. Before the first major snowfall of the winter, take a few minutes to check the handrails on any stairs that lead to your home to see what condition they’re in. If your stairs are slippery or snowy, handrails are an important way to help you get in or out of your house safely. They need to be properly secured and sturdy enough to support the weight of a person. If a person slips and grabs onto a handrail that isn’t very sturdy, it could make an already bad situation even worse.
Clean and Inspect Gutters
With all those leaves falling off trees, it’s inevitable that a lot of them will end up in your gutters so it’s very important to have your gutters cleaned. If too many leaves get in in your gutters, water can accumulate in your gutters and cause damage to your roof or siding. While you’re taking a close look at your gutters, make sure they haven’t been damaged and are still securely attached to your house.
Inspect Your Roof and Siding
Harsh winter weather can really wreak havoc on your roof and siding, so fall is a good time of year to take a look at them to make sure there aren’t any obvious signs of wear and tear that need to be addressed. If your roof has shingles that are missing or damaged, your roof is more prone to damage from snow or ice, which can lead to expensive water damage elsewhere in your home. The same can be said for your siding, so check to make sure there aren’t any pieces of siding that have come loose.
Look for Areas Where Pests Could Enter
Rodents and other critters that live outside don’t like cold weather any more than you do. As the weather cools off, they may start looking for warmer places to live, which could potentially be your house. Before they have a chance to move in, look around outside your home for gaps and openings that would be easy for an unwanted guest to get in through and seal them up. Remember, many rodents can get in through very tiny openings. If you find a gap that seems like it would be too small for anything to fit through, taking the time to fill it in could be very worthwhile.
Cover or Remove Your Air Conditioner
Once the weather cools off enough for you to no longer need your air conditioner, it’s time to either put it away or cover it. If you have central air, you’ll want to put a plastic cover on the unit outside your home to prevent any of its parts from rusting over the winter. If you have window air conditioning units, removing them and putting them in storage will give them the most protection and help keep your home warmer. If you aren’t able to remove a window air conditioner, it should be covered with a plastic cover to protect it from being damaged over the winter.
