Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

When the summer ends and the weather is beginning to cool,
there are important home maintenance tasks to tackle.

• Clean out gardens, trim trees and shrubs as necessary.
• Plant trees and turn over soil in vegetable garden.
• Fertilize grass and reseed as necessary.
• Inspect chimney cap and vents for fireplace and dryer to remove any debris./li>
• Check septic tank level – if it’s close to high, call a pumping contractor./li>
• Clean out gutters & drainpipes, ensure that downspouts are working well.
• Drain and store hoses and hose bibs.
• Turn off interior valves leading to outdoor faucets.
• Cover the air conditioner and set to “off”.
• Remove screens and check weather stripping on windows and doors.
• Disconnect furnace power, inspect the forced-air fan belt for wear or looseness.
• Check central A/C drain pans under the cooling coil in your furnace.
• Change furnace filter – this should be done each month during the winter.
• Remove the floor grilles and vacuum out the ducts.
• Vacuum in & around electric baseboard heaters to remove dust and debris.                               
• Bleed the air from your hot water radiators.
• Inspect furnace ducts throughout home, repair cracks, tears, damage.
• Check sump pump competency, clean out any debris in the pit.
• Check bathroom and range hood exhaust competency, and dampers openings outside.
• Test smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and security systems, replace batteries.
• Test your furnace by turning it to heat (don’t forget to light the pilot, if necessary) and raising the temperature until the system comes on – turn down to the desired level afterward.