October Home Maintenance Checklist

Fall is officially here and with the cool crisp weather comes many not so cool issues which arise in our homes. We got some great tips from Neal, our Site Supervisor at Twenty West, to help prevent many of the issues we see at our service visits.

1). Clean your gutters.  By cleaning your gutters, it helps prevent the buildup of other natural elements.  If you clean out your gutters now, by the time winter arrives, they won't be weighed down by snowfall.

2). And while you're at it, if you have them, clean out your window wells also.  Neal says this is a great way to prevent debris from getting into your basement. 

 

3). Be sure to remove your hose from the exterior faucets.  If you don't, they are likely to freeze during the winter.  If you disconnect your hoses, you will be sure to prevent a service issue in the spring.

 

4). Change your furnace filter.  Your furnace should be checked and serviced each winter, but a great way to save on your energy bill and maintain a clean breathing environment is to change your furnace filter.

5). While you're in the basement its a good idea to check your sump pump. Neal recommends you  test it by adding water to it or pulling up on the float.

 

6). Fall is the season when we change our clocks back.  Neal says it's a good habit to get into to change the batteries in your smoke detector when you change the clocks. 

7). Winterize your sprinkler system.  You will need to hire a professional to do this, but it's a good idea to get all of the water and air out of the sprinkler system before it freezes for the winter.

Those are the tips we have to prepare your home for fall and winter.  Did we miss anything?  Let us know in the comments below.  Happy Fall!