7 Home Maintenance Items to Take Care of This Fall

Fall and colder weather is a gentle reminder that winter isn’t too far away. It’s around this time of year that many homeowners start to plan their cold-weather projects, stock up on supplies, and prepare for possible snowstorms. The fall season is also the perfect opportunity to tackle home maintenance tasks that often go overlooked the rest of the year.

7 Tasks to Add to Your Home Maintenance Checklist

Taking care of home maintenance tasks in the fall is a great way to make sure appliances, systems, and the structure of a house are performing efficiently. Here are seven tasks every homeowner should add to their fall home maintenance schedule.

Change batteries.

It is recommended that homeowners change the batteries in their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors every six months. The easiest way to remember this task is to align it with daylight savings time. Homeowners should also take note of the age of each detector. Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years and carbon monoxide detectors every six years.

Service heating system.

To maintain the lifespan of home heating systems, inspections should be conducted every fall before the heat is turned on. Homeowners should contact a local professional to check the system and clean it before winter use. It’s also vital to replace filters every three months for best performance.

Check for leaks.

The last thing any homeowner wants to experience is an overflow of water inside the house. Hoses, toilets, and faucets need to be checked and attended to for minor leaks before they turn into something more significant. One area often overlooked are washer hoses, which should be replaced every three to five years to avoid breaking mid-cycle.

Test the sump pump.

Homeowners that have sump pumps should test them annually to confirm they are still in working order if ever needed.

Seal gaps and cracks.

As winter temperatures get closer, homeowners should take the time to make sure the warm doesn’t find its way outside. Walk around the exterior and interior looking for gaps in windows, under doors, and spouts. Any cracks should be filled, broken windows replaced, and gaps filled with insulation to prevent warm air from escaping.

Attend to outside water sources.

Since temperatures will soon drop below freezing, outside water sources should not be ignored. Sprinkler systems and hoses should be drained, and hoses stored indoors to prevent freezing and busting during the winter.

Clean the dryer.

Colder temperatures and less humidity bring more static. Static has been known to cause dryer fires in lint traps. These should be cleaned every fall before the winter temps arrive.

Fall is a season of change. If your homeowner’s association is looking for a change and ready to work with a property management company, contact AR Management today.