5 Chores Every Homeowner Should Do This Fall

Fairfield County, Connecticut

It’s around this time of year that we start getting our homes ready for the winter. There’s no shortage of advice online about how to keep the heat in and the cold out – but there are a few lesser-known but very important tasks that if gone unchecked could lead to expensive repairs, unwanted house guests or worse. Adding these chores to your to-do list now will help keep your home dry, warm and pest-free all winter-long.

Unscrew the garden hose.

In New England, September is one of the nicest months to be outside. Warm days, cool nights and low humidity make it easy to enjoy your backyard. No matter what, just make sure to turn off your water faucets and detach the gardening hose from the spigot completely. Because water expands when it freezes, it may crack your hose – or worse, your indoor plumbing.

Clean the gutters.

Before the winter freeze settles in and after the trees are bare, spend a couple of hours cleaning out your gutters, removing all leaves and debris. Why? Clogged gutters retain water and run the risk of freezing and cracking or damming up entirely. When this happens, gravity guides the water down the path of least resistance which is oftentimes inside your walls. Sometimes you’ll be able to see it and sometimes you won’t. The best thing to do is have a professional take a look at it immediately. If the water is left unaddressed, it could cause mold and even rot the framing of your house.

Check the roof.

Your house doesn’t have to look like a Chia Pet to know when it’s time for a new roof. Yes, moss is a pretty clear indicator. But if you notice a slight leak during heavy rains or even water spots on your ceiling, be sure to address it sooner than later. While a new roof can be expensive it’s usually one of the quickest and easiest home improvements to make. An average “up and over” roof, for example, can be removed and replaced in just one day – and make your home more energy-efficient to boot.

Seal the gaps.

Inspect the exterior of your house for gaps or holes of any size and seal them immediately. When it’s downright bitter outside, critters of all sorts would love to take shelter in your home and even the tiniest opening could turn into a revolving door for a family of field mice. How to go about sealing the gap will depend greatly on where and how big it is – but for a quick fix, a can of spray foam insulation will do the trick.

Inspect the chimney.

Last, but certainly not least, is keeping your home fire-safe. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are far more house fires during winter months than any other time of year. This is because of a surge in heating-related fires, including everything from space heaters to wood-burning stoves. The best way to protect your home is to have all heating equipment, including chimneys, professionally inspected by a certified technician at least once per year. To find a pro near you, go to csia.org. So, before you start battening down the hatches for the first nor’easter of the season, make sure these to-dos are checked off your list. It might just save your life or at least hundreds-to-thousands of dollars in otherwise avoidable home repairs.

This article was originally published on terhaarbuilders.com on September 12, 2019. If you want tips like these delivered to your email inbox, sign up for Terhaar Builders' email communications at terhaarbuilders.com.