Fall Home Maintenance Musts

The season of autumn has arrived, and winter is not far behind. Do you plan to keep warm as the weather outside turns colder? If you want to ensure that you and your family have a pleasant winter in Oregon, here are 10 easy steps you can take.

1. Remove the Garden Hoses From Water Sources - Don't leave exterior faucets with garden hoses attached. It's not uncommon for the water to back up into faucets and pipes just within external walls if hoses are left attached. Water left in the pipes or out of the faucet could freeze and expand if temperatures drop below freezing. Do this as soon as possible in the fall, before the first cold spell of the season.
   
2. Seal Air Leaks - Take some color-matched exterior caulk ($5 for a 12-ounce tube) and go around the outside of your house, filling in any gaps or cracks you find between the siding and trim, the window and door frames, and the places where pipes and wires enter the wall. One of the cheapest and most crucial fall maintenance tasks is ensuring that moisture does not penetrate your walls. This can also reduce the energy loss from air leaks. Choose a pleasant day when the temperature is over 50 degrees, as the caulk runs more smoothly.
3. Clean Out Your Gutters - Damage to your home from ice dams caused by gutters clogged with debris can be very costly. You should clear your gutters of debris like leaves and twigs once the leaves have fallen. Check for sagging gutters that could cause water to pool; secure any loose gutter hangers or downspout brackets. If your gutters or downspouts are damaged, you should get new ones.
4. Check the Roof - Safely inspect your roof from the ground if you have a steep roof or a multi-story home by using binoculars. Keep an eye out for red flags like rust stains on the flashing or buckling, broken or missing shingles. Any missing, damaged, or sagging shingles must be replaced immediately. Spots of black algae are purely decorative, but thick growths of moss and lichen may point to rotting sheathing beneath. Have a professional roofer come out and give you an estimate for $50-$100.
5. Check Your Furnace - Get your heating system examined and tuned by a professional before the cold weather sets in. A checkup will cost you $50 to $100. If you sign up for yearly maintenance, you'll get priority service and save 20% off the regular price of repairs. Maintain your heating system by regularly replacing the filters. Now would be a good time to start if you haven't done this task in the past two months. Make sure the humidifier filter gets replaced if your HVAC system has one.
6. Prune Plants - Pruning plants and trees are best done in the late fall when the growing season has ended. You should prune trees, so branches are at least 3 feet from your house to minimize water damage to your roof and siding from rain and severe winds. The state extension agency is the best resource for information on trimming regionally appropriate plants.

If you need help checking your furnace to make sure it's ready for the coming cold season, be sure to schedule an appointment with us today! A yearly furnace tune-up will keep your system running smoothly.