I write posts just like these to help my first time home buyers really get the hang of this whole home-ownership thing. It can feel like the hard part is over once you get the keys, and while a lot of that is true, owning a home is a lot like parenthood, nobody really teaches you how to do it and every house is unique!
There are a lot of maintenance items that get taken care of behind the scenes when you’re renting or living at home. So I’ve complied a list of regular maintenance that should happen in the autumn (you can do these any time of the year, but it’s easiest for me to remember them when the leaves change!)
**Disclosure: I will mention local businesses in the area. I am not being paid in any way and these are referrals based on my personal experiences, not my professional experience.
This one is so incredibly important for SAFETY. Whether you have an open fireplace or a wood stove, the chimney flue or liner can have creosote build up over time and may eventually lead to a chimney fire. Sometimes over time flues and liners can shift, creating cracks or bends that can cause smoke build up and lead to improper venting. Chimney stacks with loose or missing mortar can weaken your chimney integrity and can cause damage to your roof, or worse, bricks may fall into the chimney!
There are a number of exceptional companies in my area in Upstate New York. The company I love to call is Champs Chimney Sweep: https://champschimney.com/ If you’re burning seasoned hardwood (not softwood such as cedar or pine) and you only use your fireplace or woodstove occasionally, you can sometimes stretch this service. I don’t like to mess around with fires, though and personally prefer 2-3 years between services.
This is also a friendly reminder to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Are they placed properly for maximum safety? Do they need new batteries? If you’re unsure, call your local fire department non-emergency line or even a local home inspector.
This one is vital for you first time home-buyers. It doesn’t matter what kind of furnace you have, it should be serviced and cleaned annually to reduce wear and tear, as well as ensuring it is operating at maximum efficiency (which will save you money!).
The best part about having your furnace serviced is you have the opportunity to speak to a professional about your appliance and learn about what regular maintenance you can perform, for example: replacing air filters, adjusting your home’s humidity, or bleeding air from radiators.
Most heating and cooling companies also provide you with an emergency number to utilize if your heat goes out on the coldest day of the year (doesn’t it always?).
This one seems like a no brainer, right? But what happens when you don’t clean out those maple leaves? It might seem like a preference item, but having clogged gutters can actually cause ice-damming and cause your roof to leak even if it’s not old!
Do you have an icy spot on your driveway or walking path you could do without? See if adding, cleaning, or redirecting your gutters could solve the problem. Lack of gutters or full gutters, particularly in older homes, can also increase the risk of water in your basement come rain season.
Most outdoor water connections have shut off valves in your basement. If you leave these outdoor connections on, that ice can travel further into the house and cause catastrophic problems, depending on your set up. Better to play it safe than sorry (and this one literally only takes a few seconds!).
Did you know that outdoor furniture has a reduced lifespan when left to all the elements? You can increase its longevity and usefulness, as well as its overall charm and color, by covering or putting it away in a covered space.
It’s also a good idea to fire up your snowblowers before the snow arrives! If you wait until the first snowstorm of the year, chances are your small engine specialists have a dozen other machines already.
I hope this helped you feel organized as we anticipate the colder seasons.
Do you have any additional items that you add to your fall list? Share them in the comments below!