There’s no better time than now to take a look at your fall home maintenance checklist. It will help you to get ready for seasonal weather (yep, winter) that can damage your home. But when it comes to Michigan winters, routine prevention can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Doing simple tasks now can also keep you from having to go out into the cold to make a repair. Or, taking care of the fireplace can save you from a potential disaster.
So, let’s break down your fall home maintenance checklist and make sure you’re prepared for the long, cold Michigan winter ahead.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
- Clean gutters and downspouts
- Check the roof for damage
- Check furnace filters
- Test smoke detectors
- Prep your lawn (rake and fertilize)
- Store hoses
- Install storm windows (remove screens)
- Clean windows and doors
- Stock up on firewood and pellets
- Drain gas from power tools
Clean Gutters
At the top of your fall-home maintenance checklist is to clean the gutters. If you don’t clean your gutters before winter, the water, leaves, and debris that have accumulated in your eavestroughs may freeze as the temperature lowers. The water from the melted snow will have nowhere to go once it’s frozen.
You don’t want water building up, then freezing over. It can weigh them down and bring them down if the ice gets too heavy. Your gutters were not built to handle this extra weight, which can cause ripping, straining away from the house, and ugly sagging gutters.
Check The Roof
Always use extreme caution when you’re on your roof. Look for holes or loose shingles. You don’t want snow and ice to get in there and expand (when freezing). It will only create more problems down the road.
Examine the roof for visible damage, such as missing shingles or broken flashing around chimneys, while you’re up there. Minor roof repairs aren’t difficult, but if you have no experience with roof repair, it’s advisable to employ a local, skilled roofing contractor in the Michigan region to do any essential roof repairs. Smaller repairs are often less expensive, and they help the roof last longer.
Replace Furnace Filters
A dirty filter can cause your furnace to run harder. But regularly changing your furnace’s air filter will keep dust, dirt, mold spores, soot, germs, and allergies from accumulating in your home’s air. Regular heating system maintenance is essential for the longevity of your furnace as well as the health and safety of your family.
Test Smoke Detectors
You don’t have to wait for the time change to change your batteries. Test them all to ensure they’re working properly. In addition, use the test button to test detectors at least once a month. And check the batteries every six months and replace them once a year (if applicable).
Prep Your Lawn
A fall lawn care plan is very important. Raking and fertilizing will help you to prevent things like snow mold from developing. It’s a lawn disease that you don’t want to have to deal with in the spring.
And core aeration breaks up compacted soil and allows important nutrients and treatments to reach the roots of your grass. A core aerator is a machine that mechanically removes plugs or “cores” of dirt and thatch from a lawn using hollow tines. The “cores” serve as a conduit for oxygen, water, and nutrients to enter the soil.
Early fall is the optimum time to overseed your grass in Michigan. Because soil temperatures are still warm, ideal seed germination is still possible. And our cooler air temperatures (at night) are excellent for cool-season grass growth.
Store Hoses
Hoses are another place where water can freeze and do damage. Save yourself the trouble of buying a new one when the weather warms up.
Remove Screens
You’ll want to install your storm windows now. Don’t wait until the temperature drops.
Clean Windows And Doors
Better to take care of this now. You don’t want to be opening windows and doors to clean them in the dead of winter. It’s too cold.
Stock Up On Firewood And Pellets
It’s a much better idea to get the firewood and/or pellets you’ll need when the weather is still good. You don’t want to be dealing with it on a cold and snowy Michigan winter day.
Drain Gas From Power Equipment
Gas that’s left in the engine can do damage over the winter. Better to be safe, than sorry.
Print Our Fall Home Maintenance Checklist Poster
As a reminder, print our fall home maintenance checklist and keep it handy. You’ll never have to worry again about what you should do to protect your home and assets.
Another thing you can do is to make sure your home insurance is up to date. You don’t want to be caught off guard. Review your policy to make sure that everything you need to be covered, is covered. Our Autumn Insurance agents are standing by to answer questions you may have about home maintenance or insurance. Contact us at any time.
