Protect Your Home This Fall: Preventative maintenance you shouldn’t skip

Preventative maintenance this fall can help you avoid costly repairs and protect your home. As the seasons change, taking time to prepare your home ensures you and your family are safe, comfortable, and protected from unexpected damage. A few simple steps can go a long way toward preventing expensive repairs and giving you peace of mind. Think of fall maintenance as an investment in your home’s long-term health and safety.

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Smoke detectors have been around since the 1970s. Many studies have shown that working smoke detectors can reduce the chance of you or your family members dying in a house fire by half! They can save your life.

Carbon monoxide detectors have only been around since 1993, but like smoke detectors, they are also life savers. These detectors protect us from carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous gas that’s also colorless, odorless, and deadly. This gas is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels like coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Be sure to change the batteries in both devices every six months.

Trim your trees

Trimming your trees in the fall is a smart choice because it helps prepare them for the colder months ahead while promoting healthier growth in the spring. Removing dead, weak, or overcrowded branches reduces the risk of breakage from heavy snow and ice, which can damage the tree and surrounding property. Fall pruning also improves airflow and sunlight penetration, which strengthens the tree’s overall structure and minimizes the chance of disease.

Get a furnace inspection

As we approach colder winter temperatures, it’s important to ensure your furnace is ready to keep you and your family warm. Like other mechanical items, if not taken care of properly, wear and tear can reduce operating efficiency. An inspection can help maximize efficiency and avoid breakdowns.

Have your fireplace and chimney inspected

During the fall and winter, many of us enjoy sitting by a cozy fire with our family and friends. There’s nothing like a toasty fire on a snowy winter night. Before the snow flies, however, it’s important to make sure your chimney is clean and ready for those fall and winter fires. If your fireplace is wood-burning, you should be careful about creosote buildup. Creosote is a substance that is formed when wood is burned and is highly flammable. It must be removed regularly.

Remove leaves from your gutters

Depending on the number of trees around your home, fallen leaves can make cleaning your gutters a dreaded task. Slimy, dirty, compacted leaves can be gross and tough to remove. However, to keep your home in good condition and to prevent damage, there are several reasons to clean your gutters:

• Prevent interior damage: Water can find its way into our homes without leaving a trace. If leaves and debris build up, water can pool and eventually seep inside, leaving stains on ceilings and even causing wall rot and mold.
• Avoid foundation problems: A properly working gutter system helps maintain your foundation. Overflowing water can cause pooling, which leads to problems, especially during spring and fall when temperatures fluctuate and water expands and contracts.
• Deter pests and rodents: A gutter clogged with leaves is a great home for rats, mice, and birds. Pooling water can also attract mosquitoes. Rodent infestations can cause significant damage to your home, and the damage may not be covered by insurance.
• Increase your roof life: Your roof has a tough job protecting your house. Don’t make it harder by letting water sit in clogged gutters. Standing water can damage your roof and lead to costly repairs.
• Help minimize ice dams: An ice dam is a ridge of ice that usually forms at the edge of a roof. A clogged gutter can accelerate ice dam formation during the winter months, causing water to back up and leak into your home.

Five gutter cleaning tips:

1. Stabilize your ladder. We’ve all been there before, climbing onto a ladder that’s not properly stabilized because the job is only going to take a minute. For this task, it’s important to make sure you’re on solid ground. Consider asking for help.
2. Check out the scope of the job. Once your ladder is secure, look at your gutters. Maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised, and the job won’t be that bad. If not, figure out which tools you need.
3. Lay down a tarp to protect your landscaping from debris and tools.
4. Dress for success. Closed-toe shoes, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and eye protection should do the trick.
5. Be cautious when using a pressure washer. When not used properly, it can be dangerous. If your roof is too high or you don’t have the right tools, consider calling a professional. Save yourself time and headaches by making sure the company is reputable by checking with the Better Business Bureau and reading reviews.

Inspect your home for signs of rodents

When it gets colder outside, rodents are looking for a warm, cozy place to live with plenty of food. Rodent and snake infestations can cause significant damage to your home if they go undetected, and most insurance policies don’t cover this type of damage. Inspect your home carefully for any signs of pests.