Written by Carol Morgan
Fall is here, and that means it is time for fall home maintenance. The arrival of fall brings much-needed relief from that Georgia heat and some of the most complimentary weather conditions of the year. Make sure to take advantage of the perfect weather to ensure that your Atlanta home is ready for the coming winter conditions. Here are some fall home maintenance tips for making your home a safe and cozy shelter from the cold:
Exterior Home Maintenance
To keep your home warm and mold-free, examine the foundation for cracks. Caulk where the masonry meets siding, where pipes or wires enter the house and around the windows and doorframes. This will keep heat in the house and water that could cause mold buildup out of the house.
Protect your home against harsh winter storms by installing storm windows and doors and removing screens. Clean, repair and spray your screens with a protective coating before storing them in a dry place.
Preserve siding by checking outside walls to see if any paint is blistering or peeling.
Prevent water damage by having a licensed, certified professional check the condition of your roof. This is an important task because winter weather brings debris and other items to rest on the roof and weigh it down, including snow and ice.
Avoid ice dams by cleaning the gutters and downspouts, flushing them with water, inspecting joints and tightening brackets.
Make sure the pool cover is intact.
To shut out drafts and small animals, weather-strip your garage door and tighten the seal between it and the ground.
Clean cracks in the driveway and repair them with driveway filler and commercial sealer.
Interior Home Maintenance
Reduce your heating bill by looking for air leaks. Move your hand around windows and doorframes to find these. Seal them with weather-stripping and caulk.
Have a professional heating contractor check the heating system to ensure it is running at top standards.
Prepare for a power outage and prevent a house fire by having the chimney swept. It is easy to assume that since a fire hasn’t been lit in the last several years, it’s not a necessary precaution, but it would be regrettable should the need arise.
Also, inspect the wood stove or fireplace and insert a door gasket for a tight seal. Clean and check the glass door for cracks.
Change the ceiling fan’s direction to redistribute warm air.
Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.
Clean any humidifiers to filter fresh air into your home.
Yard/Garden
Clear and fertilize the lawn, reseed patchy areas, and plant spring bulbs. To thwart deer, cover plants with netting and chicken wire.
Organize and store yard tools. Drain fuel from lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chain saws. Clean gardening tools and store them inside or in a protected area/container.
Make sure shovels, roof rakes and snow blowers are organized and easily accessible. If possible, store them in the insulated garage where they will be safe from harsh elements.
Drain garden hoses and turn off outdoor water valves to prevent frozen water damage.
Porch and Deck
Check that stairs, supports and railings are stable.
Clean, cover and repair any outdoor furniture.
Dump soil from pots and planters.
Every home is different when it comes to preventative home maintenance, but we believe this list to be an excellent starting point to help keep your home in tip-top shape throughout the winter months.
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View original article on Atlanta Real Estate Forum.
