Fall Checklist For Home Maintenance

Follow these tips on our fall checklist for home maintenance and your home will be in tip-top shape for winter!

General guidelines for fall checklist for home maintenance:

1. Have a licensed HVAC technician inspect your home’s heating and cooling system
2. Set your thermostat at 68 degrees when you are home during the day and as low as 60 degrees when you are sleeping or away from home
3. Clean or replace your filters monthly
4. Clean chimney and check to see fireplace is working properly
5. Seal air leaks in the attic, basement or crawlspace – pay attention to windows and doors too
6. Check you attic for proper insulation – U.S. Department of Energy recommends a value of R-22 to R-49
7. Close curtains, blinds and/or shades at night and keep them open during the day to let in natural light
8. Clean windows on south side of your home to maximize sun exposure
9. Weather-strip doors that lead to cold or outside areas
10. Wrap and insulate waterlines to prevent them from freezing
11. Repair leaky faucets

Extra steps to take in your fall checklist for home maintenance:

1. Install a programmable thermostat so you can preset temperatures for different times of the day
2. Insulate the hot water tank and the first six feet of hot and cold water pipes connected to the unit
3. Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees – for every 10 degrees lower you set it, you save 3 to 5 percent on your energy costs
4. Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and use switch plates on exterior walls
5. Install low-flow shower heads

No fall checklist for home maintenance should be without:

1. When adjusting clocks for daylight savings, change batteries in smoke alarms, as well as radon and carbon monoxide detectors
2. Consider a ventilation system to increase air circulation inside and add a healthy dose of fresh air
3. Clean water-damaged carpets and materials, or consider replacement
4. Reduce the potential for buildup of allergy-causing pollutants by keeping your house clean
5. Take special precautions when operating fuel-burning appliances to avoid leakage
6. Store and dispose of household chemicals in a safe manner

Following these simple steps will ensure a smooth transition from fall to winter!