This Year’s Fall Checklist: A Guide for Homeowners

No question, being a homeowner is a lot of work, but the good news is that time spent on DIY home maintenance will not only protect your home, but can actually save you money in operating and repair costs.

The benefits are substantial, so make this the fall that you get a jump start on your seasonal home maintenance. To make it easier to get started, we’ve put together a handy guide for you to refer to.

It’s the Season for Your Tune-Up

Are you in the habit of getting your heating system tuned up before you turn it on for the winter? Make an appointment now so that you can take care of any potential problems that might be brewing with your furnace before the colder weather hits in Lexington, KY this winter.

Having this done will grant you peace of mind. A tuned-up furnace works more efficiently to heat your home, which means lower heating bills. Also, getting the filter changed during a tune-up will improve your indoor air quality too.

If you have a humidifier, consider getting that serviced this fall too. If your indoor air is too dry or too moist, it could present some health challenges for your family, especially if you are prone to respiratory infections.

Outdoor Tasks for Your List

Rake up leaves; it may seem harmless to leave them in place over the winter, but a layer of leaves on your lawn will promote mold growth. Pests also love to nest in beds of damp leaves.

Take screens off of doors and windows. If you see any cracks in windows, replace them to reduce heat loss.

Ensure that walkways are in good repair. Uneven ground and wobbly handrails can be dangerous in the winter months. Change outdoor light bulbs.

Don’t forget we’ve got more hours of darkness ahead. Empty the gas out of your lawnmower. Take off hoses from hose bibs and store for the winter. Close the indoor valve for the hose bibs to prevent leaking.

Indoor Tasks to Remember

Clean out your dryer vent to reduce the possibility of a fire. Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. This actually gives your furnace a break by circulating the warm air in your home, using far less energy (lower bills!).

Take a look up your chimney to make sure that animals haven’t built nests over the summer; ensure that the damper will shut snuggly to that costly warm air won’t escape out the chimney during the winter.

If there is a lot of soot (more than ⅛ of an inch) calls the chimney sweep for a cleaning. Check out your plumbing fixtures for possible leaks and tend to them now. A small leak can add up to serious damage and a lot of wasted water.