As a homeowner, it’s important to perform routine maintenance tasks on your home. Doing so will ensure that your house and its core elements will be in perfect condition, and you can live worry-free. No matter if its spring, summer, fall, or winter, each season has a checklist that you should routinely complete. Keeping up with these home maintenance tasks will bring you peace of mind and make the transition to each season a breeze.
The fall season is an excellent time for home maintenance tasks as the days are still long and the temperatures cool. Utilize this time to get jobs done that will prepare both you and your home for the colder months ahead. Here are four tasks you should complete before the transition into winter:
Service Your HVAC System
The benefits you reap from this task are plentiful, as long as you keep up with it. Servicing your HVAC system is a small investment that will save you money in the long run by preventing costly breakdowns and cutting your energy usage resulting in lower bills. It can also provide you with cleaner air as the system will be able to distribute air more evenly, bringing an increase of comfort to your living space. Servicing your system will bring you peace of mind knowing that you took steps to ensure it functions correctly. If something goes wrong, your preventative measures will ensure the situation is as painless as possible.
Seal Drafts
If you have older windows and doors, you may begin to feel a draft as the temperatures start to drop. Before you and your home freeze, take the time to add or replace worn weather strips/ caulk in those areas. If you have the means to do so, replacing your windows with energy-efficient options is a great way to nix the problem altogether. At any rate, either method of draft prevention will allow you to save money and energy instead of “heating the outside.”
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
The gutters’ primary purpose is to prevent water buildup on your roof, and the foundation of your home. Once the leaves fall off the trees, take the time to clean out your gutters and downspouts. Debris buildup can lead to blocked gutters, which can ultimately lead to costly and dangerous water damage. Additionally, debris-filled gutters can attract mosquitoes and other unwanted pests to your home. By cleaning out your gutters, you can prevent future rot, pests, and foundation issues.
Complete Large Home Improvements
Fall is arguably the best time to complete home improvement projects. This is because the weather and temperature are ideal, and the holidays are around the corner. To make your home comfy and cozy for you and all your guests, consider big-ticket improvement projects such as a kitchen remodel. While the average cost of a kitchen remodel is $24,178, the price can vary based on your project plan and materials you decide to use. Home improvements such as this will provide you with an increase in comfort, knowing that high use items and rooms are functional and up to date.
It’s essential to take precautions to protect your home against the harsh elements that winter brings. A few maintenance tasks to complete that will ensure the safety of your property is:
Trim Your Trees
Before the first storm hits, it’s a safe idea to trim back any large trees surrounding your home. As an extra precaution, if any branches hang directly over your home, look dead or weakened in any way, trim those as well. Heavy snow and winds can blow weak trees and branches onto your roof or home and cause significant and pricey damage.
Invest in a Generator
If you know that your area is susceptible to power outages during large storms, investing in a generator will prepare you for the worst. It will help keep the lights, heat, and other electrical items running during extended outages. Nothing is worse than an unfunctional home due to no power and a lot of rain or snow.
Inspect/ Replace Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detectors
While it’s an excellent idea to check your detectors with each season, it’s especially important to inspect and replace your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in the winter season. With the holidays comes Christmas, trees, decorations, lights, candles, and a lot of cooking, which can all lead to an increased risk of a fire. Even if your detectors only need the batteries replaced, it’s best practice to double-check.
The spring season brings longer days and warmer weather, which is the perfect opportunity to get ahead on home maintenance tasks. With the harsh conditions of winter, comes damage and the need for repairs. Take the time to perform the following maintenance tasks to ensure your home is ready for the warmer months ahead:
Inspect/ Replace Roofing
Your roof protects you and your home from the weather, bugs, animals, and falling debris, so it’s essential you invest in the time and care to maintain it. Spring is the perfect time to inspect your roof for any missing, loose, or damaged shingles, as well as any leaks. This is also an excellent time to replace your roofing as spring is generally a slower time of year for roofing companies, making the maintenance task a cost-effective investment.
AC System Serviced
To prepare yourself for the warmer months that lie ahead, call a professional to service your AC system. While it may seem as though it’s running well because it blows cold air, it doesn’t mean your system is up to par. To ensure your AC unit will run efficiently, as well as last longer, replace the filters and have a pro service the equipment each spring.
Inspect/ Replace Window and Door Screens
If you’re like the majority of people, you do not like bugs—at least not in your home. To take preventative measures of keeping pests and insects out, clean and check for holes in all your screening. If you find any holes that are larger than a quarter, consider patching them or replacing the screen entirely. This is also an excellent opportunity to replace any worn or broken hardware, and tighten any loose or damaged frames.
Summer means barbques, get-togethers, and fun in the sun. To be sure that you don’t miss out on all that is summertime, tackle these home maintenance tasks, and then kick your feet up and relax:
Inspect for Cracks and Leaks
It can be easy to forget about structural aspects of your home as they are out of sight, out of mind. Assessing your home for issues—such as a hole or crack in your driveway, moisture in a crawlspace, or a leak in the foundation—is a vital maintenance task to ensure your home is safe to live in. The more aware you are of the structure of your home, the more likely you’ll avoid costly repairs.
Paint or Replace Siding
Warmer weather is the perfect time to assess the exterior of your home, especially after a harsh winter or rain-filled spring. For best practice, first pressure wash your siding, and as you’re doing so, inspect for cracks, soft spots, or other signs of issues. Once you’re aware of any problems you may have, you can then decide if you want to paint or replace your siding altogether. Painting has the benefits of being cost-effective, and customizable, but can be time-consuming. Replacing your siding has the advantages of worry-free maintenance, and an opportunity to add an underlayment to increase your energy savings, but can get pricey based on what you choose.
Clean Dryer Vent and Exhaust Duct
This is another maintenance task that, in most cases, is out of sight, out of mind. However, the importance of cleaning your dryer vent and exhaust ducts is unmeasurable when it comes to safety and efficiency. An unclean vent poses a risk for fires, over usage of energy, a home for mold to grow, and even carbon monoxide poisoning based on the type of appliance you have. So, if you’re not confident in cleaning the vents yourself, speak with a pro to receive tips and complete the job correctly.
Keep in mind that you’re not limited to just these home maintenance tasks. The list and possibilities are endless. Performing these tasks year-round will ensure that you can live a worry-free life in the comfort of your home.