Checklist: Fall Maintenance

Before the weather grows colder it's important to prepare for the winter months to prevent costly damage later on. Below are the fall preventative home maintenance steps that every homeowner should follow.

 Gutters and Downspouts
Clean gutters and downspouts frequently throughout fall to prevent build up of leaves and other debris. Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot problems, pest infestations, wet basements, foundation damage and many other expensive complications.
Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place.
Check to ensure water drains properly and doesn’t pool, which can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and walkways.

 Windows and Doors
Change summer screens to cool weather storm windows and doors.
Inspect and repair any loose or damaged window or door frames.
Install weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors to prevent drafts and lower heating bills.
Clean and lubricate garage door hinges, rollers, and tracks and be sure screws are tight.

 Heating Systems
Replace the filter in your furnace.
Clean your ducts to better your heating system’s efficiency as well as to reduce household dust and to provide relief to those with respiratory problems. Also check for air leakage especially around joints.
Lubricate hot water heater’s pump and motor. Bleed air from radiators or convectors.

 Plumbing
To prevent pipes freezing and bursting, ensure that the pipes, as well as the wall cavities where they reside, are well insulated.
Be sure that you know how to locate and turn off the water shut-off valve in case pipes do freeze.

 Chimney and Fireplace
Call a professional in to inspect and clean your chimney. Fireplaces that are regularly used during the season should have an annual cleaning to prevent dangerous chimney fires.
Test your fireplace flue for a tight seal when closed.
Consider installing a carbon monoxide alarm near the fireplace and furnace.

 Attic ventilation
Be sure attic insulation doesn’t cover ventilation vents in the eaves to prevent winter ice dams on the roof.
Be sure ridge vents and vents at eaves are free of plants and debris.
Check bird and rodent screens for attic vents to prevent any unwanted guests.

 Landscape and Yardwork
Although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn.
Prune your trees and shrubs after the leaves turn to encourage healthy growth in the spring.
Trim any tree limbs that are dangerously close to power lines or the roof of your house. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter.

Checklist: Winter Landscape Tips
 

With the arrival of fall and cold weather, it is essential to complete a few projects to keep your landscaping and garden protected through the dormant months. Prepare shrubs, trees and grass now and they will return healthy in the spring and will also leave you with a neat, well-tended landscape through winter.

Lawn

Although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn. Feeding the lawn early in autumn will give the roots a boost before winter arrives. A second feeding in late October will keep it winterized and strong through the freezing weather.

Sod

If your lawn has some bare patches, early autumn is a perfect time to sod or reseed. Adding sod gives you an instantly perfect lawn that will be a pleasure when the warm weather returns. To firmly establish new sod, keep it moist for the first week after it is laid. After the first week, it can be watered as needed. Avoid having sod laid in hot, dry weather, as it will be hard for the roots to establish.

Be sure that the sod contains varieties of grass that are indigenous to your region. The sod should not look dry and should be sitting on a pallet no longer than two days. It should not be warm to the touch. You can eliminate a lot of uncertainty by buying sod from a reputable grower.

Pruning

Pruning is very important to encourage healthy growth in spring. Most pruning should be done after the leaves turn, indicating that the plant is dormant. A good rule of thumb is to prune spring blooming shrubs immediately after flowering and to prune summer blooming shrubs in the dormant season. Pruning late in the growing season will encourage new growth that will be damaged by frost.

When pruning, use caution to make a good cut at a slight angle about 1/4 inch from the branch. Hire a professional gardener to help with this delicate task.

Some shrubs need to be wrapped with burlap to protect them from frost. If you have experienced frost damage in the past, make sure to protect these plants before the temperature dips down. Spread a layer of mulch around the base of plants to provide insulation for the winter. Wait until spring to fertilize shrubs and trees.

Trees

Like most of the plants in your yard, trees need special care. It is important to keep tree limbs away from power lines and away from the roof of your house. Branches can easily pull down gutters or cause other costly damage if they are hanging over your house.

When planning to prune trees, consult with a professional arborist. He or she will know the best method for your species of trees and the correct time of year for pruning. A professional arborist will also know how to safely remove any troublesome branches.

Typically, pruning should be done in early autumn or late spring.

Walkways and Patios

Walkways and patios can take a beating in cold weather. Shifts in temperature and humidity can cause concrete and brick to heave and settle unevenly. Keeping them free of water build up and debris will reduce the chances of winter damage.

If you noticed water or ice accumulation last winter, take steps now to provide proper drainage. This can be as simple as adding a small gravel drainage channel next to a walkway, or fixing a gutter that drips onto steps.

Swimming Pools and Spas

Having a professional pool cleaning company winterize your swimming pool is essential. Drain the water and cover the pool to keep out leaves and animals.

In winter, it is not uncommon for deer or other wildlife to walk over pool covers, so choose the strongest cover you can afford.

Hot tubs and spas will be a welcome treat in the cool weather. Make sure the heater and pump are functioning properly. Water could freeze in the pump, pipes or hot tub itself, causing irreparable damage.

Checklist: Spring Maintenance
 

Roof - Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves, and soffits. Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls. Have roof inspected by a professional once every few years to identify potential leaks. 

Gutters and downspouts - Clean out; inspect and repair weaknesses; check for proper drainage. Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak. 

Siding and Stucco: Clean siding with a pressure washer to keep mold from growing. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. If wood is showing through, sand the immediate area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before painting. 

Exterior caulking - Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all the eroding caulk and re-caulk the needed area.  A good indicator is when the caulking begins too pull back from the brick or siding.   

Window sills, door sills, and thresholds - Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint; replace if necessary.

Window and door screens - Clean screening and repair or replace; tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint; replace broken, worn, or missing hardware; tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers. Clean screening and check for holes. Patch holes or replace the screen. Save bad screen to patch holes next year. Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint. Wind can ruin screens and frames that are allowed to flap and move, so make sure they are securely fastened. Tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.

Drain waste and vent system - Flush out system.

Hot-water heating system - Lubricate circulating pump and motor.

Evaporative air conditioner - Clean unit; check belt tension and adjust; replace cracked or worn belt.

Heat pump - Lubricate blower motor.

Foundation - Check foundation walls, floors, concrete, and masonry for cracking, heaving, or deterioration.  

Deck and porches - Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs, and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences need to be treated every four to six years, depending on how much exposure they get to sun and rain. If the stain doesn't look like it should, or water has turned some of the wood a dark gray, hire a professional to treat your deck and fence. 

Landscape - Cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures. Limbs and leaves can cut into your home's paint, requiring that side of the house to be repainted. A little trimming can save a lot of money and time.

Flashing - Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls.

Antenna - Check antenna and satellite dish supports.

Sprinkler - Check lawn sprinkler system for leaky valves, exposed lines and improperly working sprinkler heads. If there is an area of your yard that collects too much water or doesn't get enough, run the sprinklers to figure out the problem. If it's not something you can fix yourself, call a professional before your lawn needs the water.

Water well - Consider having well water tested for safety.

Checklist: Summer Maintenance

Enjoy longer days and warmer nights while protecting your investment
 

Have a qualified HVAC professional inspect your home’s ducts and cooling equipment.

Clean or replace your AC filters every month.

Keep blinds or curtains drawn closed on the sunny side of the house.

Check deck or patio for possible deterioration and safety hazards such as loose boards and protruding rusty nails.

Check electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.

Inspect recreational equipment for proper operation and possible dangers (e.g., are swing sets secure with no rusty bolts?).

Carefully inspect your toilet. Look for erosion of plastic floater valves, and check all pipe connections.

Clean and/or replace furnace filter.

Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust and pieces of material.

Inspect washing machine hoses periodically and replace hoses that show signs of leaking.