It’s important to be proactive about taking care of your home before the winter weather gets too brutal! That’s living assured.

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Fall is an appropriate time of year for some essential home maintenance. As the days get shorter and the leaves begin to change and fall from the trees, this is when we can make use of the next few months to prepare for the snow, ice, and bitter cold that comes with winter in the Northeast.   

Take the time this fall to boost energy efficiency throughout your home and prevent damage from winter storms with proper outside maintenance!

Outdoor Care

Care for trees and shrubs.  If you have trees on your property, consider hiring an arborist to care for them – these pros can spot signs of poor health early on to prevent tree loss, and know how to prune properly to avoid falling limbs in winter storms!

Rake lawn debris.  Leaves might look beautiful falling from the trees and blanketing the ground, but cleaning them up before the heavy snow will help your lawn come back to life in the spring.

Clean gutters and downspouts.  Once most of the leaves have fallen, cleaning out your gutters and downspouts can help to eliminate water damage to your roof and siding.  Leaving clogged gutters during rainstorms can cause water to pool!

Make essential exterior repairs.  Take a walk around your property, looking for signs of damage to the roof, siding and foundation, as well as driveways and stairways.  If you spot anything that needs repair, schedule it before winter weather arrives!

Shut off exterior faucets and store hoses.  In a few months, remember to protect your pipes from freezing temperatures by shutting off water to exterior faucets before the weather dips below freezing!  Drain the hoses and store them indoors.

Indoor Care

Check equipment and devices.  Be sure to change the air filter in your furnace and check its efficiency before the cold weather begins. Call in an HVAC contractor to test the heating output and give the system a tune-up. Stock up on several air filters for the winter, and change them every month.  If you don't have a programmable thermostat, purchase one for the system to help lower your energy costs.

Add weather-stripping.  Weather-stripping applied around the frames of windows and doors help to boost winter warmth and cut energy costs.  Add door sweeps to the base of drafty doors to keep heat in and cold air out.

Check the fireplace and chimney. Most chimney sweeps recommend an annual sweeping, but depending on how often you use the fireplace, you might be able to wait on a full sweep.  However, if you will be using the fireplace often, call a chimney sweep for an inspection.

Remember to have your older, seasoned firewood ready for use after sitting for the spring and summer. It's recommended to keep the firewood at least 30 feet from the house and covered. Seasoned wood is best for fires, as it burns cleaner and longer. Wood kept near or against your house is an invitation as bugs can find a new place to nest under your shingles, in the mulch that abuts your house,

Deep-clean the kitchen. Take a day to tackle some of the more labor-intensive cleaning tasks, and keep your kitchen working efficiently and looking great:

• Degrease the range hood and filter
• Clean the oven
• Vacuum the refrigerator coils
• Scrub tile grout
• Clean light fixtures
• Wash the walls and backsplash
• Wash the garbage can and recycling bins
• Clean small appliances

 It’s never too early to start getting your home ready for winter.  Cold weather, snow and ice can be really hard on your house. It’s important to be proactive about taking care of your home before the winter weather gets too brutal!  That’s living assured. 

This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice and/or an authoritative guide.