Home maintenance
Before the chilly weather of fall begins, make sure your furnace is tuned up for the winter and change the filter, said Miller. She said homeowners with a fireplace should check the flue and have the fireplace cleaned if it is wood burning.
Fall is also a good time to have your air ducts cleaned, she said.
Greg Kruchko, the owner of the local Mr. Handyman, said one of the biggest must-do tasks of the season is to clean your home's gutters. If you don't clean out your gutters, you run the risk of water building up in them during cold weather. This can cause "ice damming," Kruchko said. "That will ruin a roof."
It's also a great time to install gutter protectors that keep debris, like falling leaves, out of the gutters, he said.
Other home maintenance tasks for the fall include:
Before the chilly weather of fall begins, make sure your furnace is tuned up for the winter and change the filter, said Miller. She said homeowners with a fireplace should check the flue and have the fireplace cleaned if it is wood burning.
Fall is also a good time to have your air ducts cleaned, she said.
Greg Kruchko, the owner of the local Mr. Handyman, said one of the biggest must-do tasks of the season is to clean your home's gutters. If you don't clean out your gutters, you run the risk of water building up in them during cold weather. This can cause "ice damming," Kruchko said. "That will ruin a roof."
It's also a great time to install gutter protectors that keep debris, like falling leaves, out of the gutters, he said.
Other home maintenance tasks for the fall include:
- Examining your chimney for any damage, Kruchko suggests.
- Covering up your air conditioning unit to protect it from ice and snow.
- Putting away summer equipment, such as outdoor tables and chairs, umbrellas, grills and children's toys.
- Touching up paint on and decks, trim and railings, says organizedhome.com. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
- Draining and storing garden hoses, the site recommends. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots and have sprinkler systems blown free of water.
- Inspecting washing machine hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
- Checking the dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds' nests. Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
