As you drink in the hues of red and gold fall foliage it’s hard to think about the need-to-dos around the home. But just as you prep for all the great activities each season brings, you need to prep your home too. This will save you time and money in the long run. It’s just like getting regular oil changes or putting on winter tires. You do regular maintenance on your car, now do it for your home.
Inside Your Home
- Furnace or Heating System
- Have your gas furnace serviced by a qualified service company every two years, and every year for an oil furnace (or as recommended by the manufacturer).
- Turn ON your gas furnace pilot light (if your furnace has one), set the thermostat to “heat” and test the furnace for proper operation by raising the thermostat setting until the furnace starts to operate. Once you have confirmed proper operation, return the thermostat to the desired setting.
- Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season.
- Bleed air from hot water radiators.
- If you have force air, remove the grilles and vacuum inside the ducts. If you have electric baseboard heaters, vacuum to remove dust.
- With central air conditioning, make sure the drain pan under the cooling coil mounted in the furnace plenum is draining properly and is clean.
- Check your chimneys for obstructions such as nests.
- Ensure your windows, doors and skylights close tightly; repair or replace weatherstripping, as needed.
- Check to see that bathroom exhaust fans and range hoods are operating properly. If possible, confirm that you are getting good airflow by observing the outside vent hood (the exterior damper should be held open by the airflow).
Outside Your Home
- Clean leaves from your eavestroughs and roof, and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from your roof.
- Cover the outside of your air-conditioning units and shut off the power.
- If you have them, install your storm windows.
- Remove interior insect screens from windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass and to allow more free solar energy into your home.
- Winterize landscaping, for example, store outdoor furniture, prepare gardens and, if necessary, protect young trees or bushes for winter.
- Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close the interior valve to outdoor hose connection and drain the hose bib (exterior faucet), unless your house has frost-proof hose bibs.
- Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall, so that water does not drain into your basement.
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