Fall Home Maintenance Tasks
Published on 10/1/2021
Fall Home Maintenance Tasks
The crisp, chilly fall days are here. Fall brings so many fun activities from pumpkin patches to chilly evenings around a fire pit and much more. Fall also means that winter and its cold and inclement weather is around the corner. You want to make sure you factor in a weekend to get to your fall maintenance tasks taken care of before winter sets in. Here are few you don’t want to miss.
1. Clean gutters.
The falling leaves are beautiful, but can also be detrimental to your gutters. Once most of the leaves have fallen, or even periodically throughout fall, you’ll want to clean those out. Remove debris and then flush with either a garden hose or bucket of water. This will prevent buildup, which could become problematic during the winter months.
2. Winterize the patio.
It’s tempting to leave your patio furniture out all winter long. But storing it away during the cold months will preserve it and help it last much longer. Before storing those items in a shed or storage unit, clean off any dirt or leaves and then let them dry completely.
3. Drain and turn off faucets.
To prevent pipes from freezing and bursting throughout winter, don’t skip this task. Allow outdoor faucets and irrigation systems to drain completely. This includes garden hoses and sprinkler systems to prevent damage during the winter. Once they’re all drained, shut them off as well.
4. Add warmth to the garden.
Once you finish your fall gardening tasks of prepping the plants for the cold, add a layer of mulch over top of the flowerbeds. This helps keep plants warm, especially tender and younger plants and flowers. With this step, hopefully all those plants will stay protected and come back thriving in the spring.
5. Inspect heating sources and fire prevention systems.
Now is a good time to inspect the furnace or wood stove. While it’s more pleasantly chilly these days, the frigid cold is right around the corner. Ensure your furnace is working properly and conduct any maintenance needed now. Similarly, inspect the fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in your home. This season is full of candles, cooking and cozy fires, so make sure you’re protected should any accidents happen.
