Annual DIY checklist for fall chores
Wow, is it really fall already? It's time for my annual checklist of DIY things you’ll want to be doing around the house to get ready for the change of seasons.
Outside
TRIM TREES: Dead, unhealthy and overhanging trees around your home can be a real hazard during winter storms. They can deposit debris on your roof, scrape against the house, and worst of all, snap off with potentially devastating results. Have a professional tree trimming service inspect all the trees around your home, and do any trimming or removal that’s needed.
YARD CHORES: Many plants require pruning this time of year, and your lawn needs an application of a highquality fall-winter fertilizer so it’s ready for a fast green-up when spring returns. Also, all of your yard tools should be cleaned, oiled and sharpened before putting them away for the year.
CLOSE FOUNDATION VENTS: If you opened your foundation vents in the summer to allow accumulated crawl space moisture to escape, now’s the time to close them up again for winter freeze protection. Also, install exterior faucet covers on any faucets that aren't freeze-proof.
DRAIN SPRINKLER SYSTEMS: In colder areas, have your sprinkler and irrigation systems blown out. You can rent a compressor and do this yourself, or contact a landscape or irrigation system installer and have them handle this for you.
ADJUST EXTERIOR GRADE: Check the grade around your home, and make sure that everything slopes away from your foundation to avoid costly problems with groundwater. Add, remove or adjust soil grades as necessary for good drainage.
PACK UP THE
PATIO: Check and clean patio furniture and put it away for the winter. Clean and cover removable furniture cushions to protect them from dust and dirt, but be sure the cushions are dry before storing in order to prevent mildew growth.
CHECK FIREWOOD SUPPLIES: To get the maximum heat value from your firewood, it needs to be dry. Stack your wood on an elevated platform — old pallets work well — and make sure that the wood is covered and protected from the elements.
RESET LIGHT TIMERS: If you have exterior lights that are controlled by timers, make sure they’re reset so they come on earlier in the evenings, to compensate for shorter days and earlier winter darkness.
CHECK HOUSE NUMBERS: This is a great opportunity to check your house numbers. Can they be clearly seen from the street? Are they blocked by landscaping or anything else? Are they lit up? Taking care of this simple task can literally mean the difference between life and death in the event of an emergency.
Inside
SERVICE YOUR HEATING SYSTEM: Perform a complete check of your furnace system, either yourself or by a trained HVAC technician. You’ll be looking for worn belts, lubrication needs or other servicing that might be required. Follow any manufacturer safety instructions for shutting the power or fuel to the furnace before servicing, and refer to your owner’s manual for specific maintenance suggestions.
CHANGE FURNACE FILTERS: At the same time, always put in new furnace filters. It’s a simple and inexpensive way to add to your home’s efficiency and your family’s comfort.
INSTALL A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR: If you have any appliances in the home that burn a fuel — and that includes a gas or wood fireplace or an attached garage — you need to have a carbon monoxide detector! The possibility of an accumulation of this deadly gas increases substantially as we close our homes up for the winter, so grab an inexpensive detector from your local home center or hardware store and get it installed.
CHECK SMOKE DETECTORS: As always, fall and spring are the times to replace your smoke detector batteries, as well checking that the detector is operating correctly. In older homes with a limited number of smoke detectors, install additional detectors outside each bedroom.