Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most gruelling season for your home. During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by check your home carefully for any problems that may arise and taking corrective action as soon as possible.
Home Fall Maintenance
- Check fireplace and chimney, service or clean if needed.
- Clean range hood filter
- Clean leaves out of eavestroughs
- Check roofing and flashing for signs of wear or damage
- Close outside hose connection
- Close windows, skylights
- Clean and reactivate heat recovery ventilator, if it was turned off
- Winterize landscapping
- Test space heating system
- Close vents to crawl spaces
- Test your smoke alarm. Change the batteries at least once a year
Home Winter Maintenance
- Clean or replace furnace filter
- Check/ clean heat recovery ventilator, wash or replace filter
- Clean humidifier and turn it on if needed
- Check exhaust fans
- Ensure that air intake, exhausts and meteres are clear of snow
- Clean range hood filter
- Check basement floor drain
- Do safety checks: fire escape routes, fire extinguishers, doors and window locks
- Ensure gas valve is clear of ice and snow
Home Annual Maintenance
- Dust or vacuum electric baseboards
- Vacuum ducts behind warm air and return air grilles
- Test plumbing shut off valve on hot water tank; drain water from tank
- Check and if needed, oil door hinges
- Lubricate garage door motor, chain, etc
- Check attic for signs of moisture in summer and fall
- Check septic system: clean if needed (usually about every 3 years)
Home Two – Five Year Maintenance
- Check and repair driveway cracks
- Check and repair chimney cap and the caulking between cap and chimney, re-caulk as necessary
- Refinish wood surfaces, including window frames and doors
For more information on home maintenance send me an email at wpianka@tmacc.com or check out this article on Tips & Repair
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