Fall is officially here! With the cooling temperatures in Hancock County, Indiana and the surrounding areas, your home will need a bit of *love* to prepare for the changing season. Read on to discover my maintenance checklist to ensure your home is well taken care of this season.
✅1. Clean gutters and gutter spouts
As the colorful leaves fall from your home’s trees, be sure to check out if they are landing in your gutters. If they are, hop up on a ladder, grab your spatula (YES, THIS WORKS!) and scoop out any debris that has fallen in. Also check your gutter spouts as the leaves can work themselves up into your spouts!
✅2. Inspect roof
While you’re cleaning gutters, it’s a good idea to check out your roof and spot any missing shingles or damage from previous seasons’ storms. In Indiana we get hail storms that can age our roofs quickly! If you notice any damage, I advise you to hire a pro to help you repair your roof and prevent further damage.
✅3. Water and Aerate your lawn
To keep your lawn green and healthy, continue to water until the first freeze. Additionally, this is a good time to aerate your lawn. Aeration is when you poke small holes in your lawn to allow for more air and water to penetrate your grass’ root system. Fall is the best time to do this!
✅4. Fertilize your lawn
If you can only fertilize your lawn one time a year, choose Fall! This is the best time to place fertilizer on your lawn as the root system multiplies in the cooler temperatures before it goes dormant in the winter. The roots store the nutrients from the fertilizer for the winter which will give your lawn a headstart in the Spring when it comes out of dormancy.
✅5. Cut grass short
Once the majority of the leaves have fallen, rake up the fallen leaves and cut your grass short, to 1.5 or 2 inches. This will help keep your grass from developing snow mold and prevent tall grass blades from smothering new grass in the Spring.
✅6. Drain garden hoses, outdoor faucets and sprinkler system
Before detaching and putting away garden hoses, be sure they are completely free of water. There is a possibility the water inside can freeze and split your hoses! Be sure to turn off your outdoor water faucets as well; that can cost up to $200 to replace. For your sprinkler system, you will want to properly drain the valves, as shown in this video here. If you don’t have drain valves, I advise to hire a pro to properly blow out your system so you don’t have burst pipes during the freezing months!
✅7. Check carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors
According to the CDC, most house fires carbon monoxide poisoning incidents happen in winter so it is a good idea to check these before winter settles in. You will want to make sure not only that batteries are replaced but also that they are working properly.
✅8. Inspect furnace & replace filters if needed
It’s a good idea to have your furnace regularly serviced by a licensed technician to spot any little problems before they become BIG ones. No matter the age of your furnace, it’s important to schedule your maintenance appointment to make sure the heat will turn on when those temps dip at night during the Fall. They will also check your filters (if you’re not already on a replacement schedule) to see if they need to be replaced. To save time and money, I have my filters delivered to my door every 6 months so I don’t forget to replace them!
✅9. Seal air leaks and check weather stripping
Inside your home, air can sneak in through your windows and doorways. Take a walk around your house on a windy day and notice where there are any air leaks; use appropriate caulk or weatherstripping to make your home more energy efficient. This will help you on those cold winter days to save some green on your heating bill.
✅10. Inspect fireplace and chimney
If you have a fireplace and chimney, this is the perfect time to get it inspected and cleaned prior to the cold temperatures setting in. The major component, the flue, should be inspected for build up and then cleaned. I recommend hiring a pro chimney sweep to properly clean your fireplace so you can enjoy cozy fires all season long!
While this may seem like a lot of tasks to do at one time, choose one day a week to tackle 2 and you will be done before the first frost hits!
Taking care of your home is an essential part of being a homeowner; when it comes time to sell your home, you want to make sure it is in tip-top shape so you can get top dollar when it’s put on the market.
If you’re ready to make a move and are interested in what your home is worth in the current market, contact me today!