Home Maintenance Checklist: Preparing For Fall
Fall is one of the most popular seasons in New Hampshire, where the changing of the leaves is worth watching, and autumn-themed outdoor activities are endless. There’s more to the season than just the reappearance of pumpkin spice lattes and apple picking. Fall is your grace period into the winter months, where prepping for colder days can save you future headaches. In this article, I’ll explain some of the tasks you can tackle before the winter hits. By staying proactive with your home maintenance, you can avoid the frustration altogether and still have time to take advantage of the season.
1. Inspect and Seal Windows and Doors
The cost of heat is one of those things we all like to push out of our minds during the warmer months, but every year, that first bill hits us like the very first time. One small thing you can do to save money in the long run is to take a few minutes and check on your windows and doors. When you run your hands around the edges, are you feeling any air movement? Are there any visible cracks? Do you see small mildew spots forming around the sill? All of these signal that it could be time to reseal.
Fun tip: Your hand may not be the best indicator for small air leaks. Try holding a candle a safe distance away from the edges and note how it flickers.
2. Clean and Inspect Gutters
Gutters are another pesky but critical part of our household we like to avoid. Although the gutters might put up with being ignored in the summer, the winter is an entirely different animal. To avoid water damage, ice dams, and even roof leaks, it’s important to really clean out your gutters during the months when leaves are falling. In regions with more falling leaves, it’s even more critical to safely and thoroughly clean out those gutters.
3. HVAC System Check-Up
The HVAC system is another good saver in the energy efficiency department. The absolute last time you want your HVAC system to break down is in the middle of winter. As a rule of thumb, although your HVAC can last up to twenty years. What’s also good to note is that the lifespan of your HVAC system is given with proper care and regular maintenance in mind. Replacing your air filters in the fall is a great step to making sure your HVAC system reaches it’s full potential.
Fun Tip: Every homeowner has a different comfort level with handyman work, but when it comes to cleaning out your HVAC vents and ducts, leave it to the professionals. This will help you avoid damaging your investment.
4. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If you’re a proud owner of one of New Hampshire’s cozy homes, complete with a working fireplace, you’ve probably come across a lot of advice about fire safety. Although lighting a fire is the perfect compliment to a cool autumn night, it’s important to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are operational beforehand. The same can be said for people using space heaters. In just a few minutes, you can have the batteries replaced and newfound peace of mind.
5. Roof Inspection
Too many families make it through most of the winter without a problem with their roofs, only to find water falling through their ceiling the second the snow begins to melt. Although cracks certainly happen in the winter, a lot of them can be spotted before the snow starts to fall. Checking for cracked shingles and other damage is a great way to avoid a large bill come spring.
“I’m not a building inspector. How can I inspect my roof?” I am definitely not telling anybody to get up onto their roofs. In fact, I am telling you now, DO NOT get up on your roof. What you can do is a bit of a “viewing party” from your front lawn. Grab a pair of binoculars and see if you can spot anything that doesn’t look quite right. If you do, when you call a professional, you can point them in the right direction.
Completing this checklist might feel overwhelming, but if you take it one step at a time, it ensures a warm, safe, and energy-efficient home all season long. Take a weekend to work through them, and then reward yourself with one of those fun fall activities—because now your home is officially prepped to handle whatever the season brings!
Thanks for reading!
The Handywoman’s Toolbox
