Simple Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Remember to Do This Fall to Avoid Issues

Before you know it, days will start growing shorter and warm summer breezes will become crisp autumn winds. With fall right around the corner, now’s the time to think about home maintenance. In addition to closing the pool and preparing your lawn for the first frost, there are four other tasks you need to perform.

Clean The Gutters

Gutter maintenance is one task you should never leave unattended. If anything, it should be one of the first things you tackle before anything else. Because dirty gutters can cause both internal and external damage, you need to make a point of clearing them before fall.

Debris such as fallen leaves, acorns and tree branches accumulate over the summer, which can cause flooding and structural damage during the fall and winter. It also causes them to sag because they can’t handle the weight of the debris. This becomes an especially big problem when water in or around the gutters starts to freeze. You should always clean your gutters twice a year; one time during fall and the other during the spring.

Prep Your AC

The next task on your to-do list is to check on your AC unit. Similar to your gutters, your AC can also be damaged by debris. However, this is only if you have a central air conditioner. Prior to cooler temperatures, have your AC inspected and to see if you need AC repair. Preventive maintenance can save a lot of money down the road.

Clean Outdoor Furniture

If you have outdoor furniture, you also need to clean it prior to moving it to storage. Make sure to remove any signs of mold growth and allow it to dry completely. You can also spray it with a diluted bleach mixture to ward off new mold spores as well. Prior to doing so, make sure using bleach won’t ruin the material.

Test Fire Alarms

Regardless of season, your fire alarms should always be in working condition. To ensure your fire alarm works, press and hold the button until it goes off. If the sound is too weak or no sound is made, you need to replace the batteries. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace the entire alarm. You should also follow the same procedure if you have carbon monoxide detectors as well.

Fall may be the perfect time for pumpkin picking, but it’s also the perfect time to get your home ready for the cooler weather. Take care of these tasks early on, so you can enjoy everything the fall season has to offer.