Introduction
The fall is the perfect time to take care of your home. You can make sure that it’s ready for winter and spring cleaning by making some simple repairs and doing regular maintenance checks. Here are some tips on how to get started:
Clean your rain gutters
Everyone knows that rain gutters are crucial to protecting your home from water damage. But most homeowners don’t realize how much work goes into keeping them clean and free of debris—or how much it costs to hire someone else to do it. Here’s everything you need to know about taking care of your gutters:
- How often should I clean my gutters? The frequency with which you should clean them depends on the type of gutter system used in your home. Metal roofs typically need cleaning more frequently than other types because they tend to collect more debris and dirt than other roofing materials. For example, aluminum roofs will usually require cleaning four times per year while copper roofs may only require a thorough cleaning once every three years or so. What tools do I need? You can purchase special equipment from stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s for this purpose (like a gutter vacuum), but most people just use basic items like rags or brushes. Why does this matter? Keeping your gutters clear is important for many reasons: not only does it keep water flowing off properly and prevent water buildup within the structure itself but it also prevents leaks in between shingles/roof tiles which could lead to.
Schedule a septic pumping
To keep your septic tank healthy, it’s important to have it pumped out every 3-5 years. If you have a septic system like this septic tank pump out ipswich, there are specific rules about how often these systems need to be pumped and maintained for them to function properly. The longer you wait between pumpings, the more waste will build up in your septic tank and if that happens, there could be major health issues for everyone who lives on your property or nearby.
The best way to prevent this from happening is by scheduling annual maintenance checks with a company that specializes in cleaning tanks. If you don’t want to hire them on an annual basis (or if annual cleaning isn’t possible due to budget restraints), at least make sure someone does an inspection once per year (ideally before winter) so they can see whether or not any repairs need to be done right away or if there’s something wrong but nothing urgent enough yet where they couldn’t wait until springtime when warmer weather comes back again next time around.
Coating & sealing your deck
- First, you need to decide what type of sealer you want to use. Using a high-quality, oil-based product that is designed for decks and won’t yellow over time as some inferior products can.
- You should always do deck maintenance once a year by cleaning before sealing it but if it’s really dirty, you may want to hire professionals who have the right equipment and experience to make sure that everything goes smoothly without any issues lingering after they leave (or worse yet, having them come back!).
- Next, apply all of your sealers at once so that it has time enough to dry completely before applying more coats every few months depending on how much foot traffic there is on your deck each year – just make sure not too much gets on because otherwise, this could cause discoloration or staining as well as other problems down the road.
Assess your roof for damage
It’s important to regularly inspect your roof, as it can be damaged by wind, water, and even weather.
- Check for sagging shingles or loose shakes.
- Look for missing or damaged shingles.
- Look for signs of leaks around chimneys or vents. You may want to hire a professional to perform this service if you suspect there is extensive damage to your roof that needs immediate attention.
- Check the flashing around chimneys, vents, and windows; make sure it is secure and in good condition.
Repair a garage door
- Check the springs and cables. The springs in your garage door are what make it rise and fall when you open or close it, so if they’re damaged, you’ll have to replace them. The cables are another important component that helps stabilize the door while it’s moving up and down.
- Check the tracks and rollers. If you notice any damage on any of these components, they should be replaced immediately by hiring a professional like this garage door repair in Goolwa so that your garage door operates smoothly again.
- Check the door opener. This is a device made up of several parts: one part controls how fast or slowly a motor moves up and down; another part detects whether someone is standing in front of or behind it; still, another part senses when there’s a problem with opening or closing the door; finally, there’s an accessory that opens up when someone approaches from outside (usually through sensors). When these parts don’t work together properly, something might break inside your opener and that could lead to costly repairs.
Inspect your fireplace and chimney
- Inspect the fireplace and chimney.
Check that you have a working smoke detector in the room where your fireplace is located. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned every year, by a certified professional if possible. Keep flammable materials away from the fireplace (this includes newspapers, clothing, and anything with cotton).
Check your dryer vent hose
- Check the dryer vent hose for holes, tears, and loose connections. Replace it if necessary.
- Clean out the lint filter after every load of laundry, to prevent clogs in your dryer ducting or elsewhere in your house.
Find and fix a leaking roof
You should inspect your roof closely for leaks. If you find one, check for signs of damage to the surrounding area as well. Sometimes water can cause mold and mildew to form in places where it pools, so be sure that the problem is fixed all the way through before moving on. If you’re not confident about doing any repairs yourself or if the problem is too severe, hire a professional like Wright Roofing Repairs.
Check the foundation of your house for cracks or loose siding.
This task is a must-do for many homeowners. If you didn’t do this last year, it’s not too late to get started. The best time to check for foundation cracks and loose siding is when the weather is dry and warm so that you don’t run into any problems with rain or snow during the inspection process.
The first thing we recommend doing before looking at your house’s exterior is checking the windows and doors, making sure they are all locked securely. Once they’re locked up tight, move on to inspecting your foundation by walking around your home with a leveler in hand as well as some chalk or paint pens/markers (and possibly an extra set of hands). Start at one end of the house and work your way around it; if anything seems out of place (i.e., there’s more than one area where flooring feels uneven), mark it down so that you can investigate later on!
Clean your sump pump.
- Clean your sump pump.
A: How to clean a sump pump?
1: First, take the cover off of the sump pump and remove all debris from inside it. You may want to use an old toothbrush or something similar for this task. If you have a pool skimmer tool, that would also work well for getting out any gunk in hard-to-reach places. Be careful not to damage any parts at this point; if you break anything, it will be more expensive (and time-consuming) than just cleaning it yourself!
2: Next, pour some bleach into the basin where water can get pumped into; then put on some rubber gloves and fill up the basin with warm water until everything is submerged except for about 1 inch of air above everything else—this will prevent mold growth! Let this sit overnight before draining out tomorrow morning so we don’t accidentally spill onto floors while removing other covers later on today… unless they’re already wet from previous rainstorms anyway…
Replace the water filter in your refrigerator.
- Replace the water filter in your refrigerator.
- This is a pretty easy job, but if you’re feeling nervous, just remember: You aren’t doing any plumbing! All you need to do is open up your refrigerator and take out the old filter. Then place the new one back in and tighten it down with its plastic bracket (usually located at the bottom of your fridge). To ensure that it stays put, place an empty glass on top of it as a weight.
- The only thing to keep an eye out for when replacing these filters is if they are clogged up with debris or not sitting properly on their brackets (if they don’t seem tight enough). If this is happening to you, try cleaning off any dirt or grime from around where they sit before reinserting them into place—your refrigerator will thank you!
Dust the motor and coils of your refrigerator.
Cleaning the motor and coils of your refrigerator is important for a few reasons. First of all, if you don’t clean them, they can build up dust and dirt which will prevent air from circulating inside the refrigerator. That means your food may not stay fresh as long as it should. In addition to this, there are other things you can do to keep your fridge running efficiently:
- Use an appropriate amount of water when defrosting your freezer so that ice doesn’t stick to the walls or floor and cause damage
- Use baking soda to clean off any spills inside the freezer or on shelves with mold growing on them
Replace batteries in smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.
You should replace the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries at least once a year, usually during your winter maintenance checkup. Check the date on the battery to see if it’s more than six years old. If so, you need to replace it.
The same logic applies to fire extinguishers. Replace them annually as well – or at least test them and make sure they work! You should also test any remote controls or electronic devices that are battery-powered (like remotes for garage doors) just in case their batteries need replacing too.
Change all air filters in the house (HVAC, bathroom exhaust fans, and range hood)
Change all air filters in the house (HVAC, bathroom exhaust fans, and range hood)
According to the National Air Filtration Association, homeowners need to change their air filters at least once every three months. If you’re not sure if your current filter is working properly, check the manufacturer’s instructions for how often to replace it. Make sure you use the right size filter for your HVAC unit or furnace by measuring the height and width of your current filter against those dimensions on a chart from an online retailer like Amazon or Home Depot. Also, keep in mind that some filters are designed for specific types of systems: permanent (with frames), disposable (without frames), or washable (washable with front access).
Inspect all exterior doors for signs of rot or damage.
- Inspect all exterior doors for signs of rot or damage.
- Make sure all the hardware on your exterior doors is working properly. Check that the locks are clean and free from corrosion, and check to make sure that none of the hinges are loose or broken. If any parts need replacing, do so immediately!
- Check all storm doors for proper operation. Make sure the latch mechanism is working properly—if not, it could lead to a break-in if someone tries to jimmy it open while you’re away. If you have sliding glass doors, inspect them thoroughly as well; do they work smoothly? Do they have weather stripping that needs replacing?
Test all interior doors to make sure the latch mechanism is working properly. This is especially important if you have young children.
Test all interior doors to make sure the latch mechanism is working properly. This is especially important if you have young children. Make sure that the door closes and locks properly and that there are no gaps around it, as this can lead to drafts which will reduce your energy efficiency.
Check all storm doors for proper operation. Make sure the weather stripping isn’t damaged and replace it if necessary.
Check all storm doors for proper operation. Make sure that the weather stripping isn’t damaged and replace it if necessary. Cracks in the glass can be repaired with a plastic window repair kit that you can find at any hardware store for about $10.
Check exterior caulking on windows and doors around the outside perimeter of the house, as well as expansion joints near patios, sidewalks, and other concrete surfaces adjacent to the living space of the house.
Check exterior caulking on windows and doors around the outside perimeter of the house, as well as expansion joints near patios, sidewalks, and other concrete surfaces adjacent to the living space of the house.
Look for signs of damage such as cracking or peeling paint, which indicate that water may be getting behind the siding material. If you see any damage in this area, you must repair it immediately before further damage occurs.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for more tips on how to keep your home in check, we’ve got more for you! Be sure to check out our other blog posts about home maintenance and repair.
