Winter is coming! We know that that doesn’t exactly pack the same punch as it does for homeowners in other parts of the country, but it’s still a great idea to take advantage of the cooling temperatures and change of season to perform important annual home maintenance tasks.
Maintenance does come from the word maintain, and the tasks detailed below can do a lot to protect you, your wallet, family and your home!
Gutters & Roof
Once our Atlanta beautiful tree canopies shed their leaves, our yards and our gutters are full! Make sure to get your gutters professionally cleaned to prevent water damage around your foundation. Don’t forget to check spouts to ensure they are not clogged. Also check the roof for any missing or damaged shingles. (Binoculars can help with this).
Windows & Siding
Silicone caulk and weather stripping are your home’s best friends. Seal windows and cracks in the siding and add weather stripping around doors to keep cool air from seeping in.
Check Ventilation
Your home needs to be properly ventilated to combat high indoor humidity, expel potentially dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, and prevent rot, mold, and insect infestation. In the fall, test exhaust fans, clean exhaust fan grills and dryer vents, and use your exhaust fans liberally.
Check Your Detectors
Smoke Detectors are a powerful tool to protect your home and your family, and they need only one tiny nine volt battery to ensure they are operating. So just make a point to change the batteries although they may not be dead yet. All you need is to have them wake you up in the middle of the night chirping insanely loud to know that this is a really good idea. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once per year. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing them monthly and replacing them every 10 years.
Change Your Filters on your HVAC System
Every system has a recommended time to change the filter. After running all summer, there’s no time like fall. Your system will run more smoothly, and you will breathe easier. It’s sort of shocking (even in the cleanest of homes) to see what shows up on the filters.
Occasionally it’s also good to call the pros and have them perform any necessary tunes ups, clean the coils, check the thermostat, and perform inspections on the components.
Need help with some of the items on the list? For a complete list of the Chatel Group’s Professional list of service providers, click here.
As always, if you are considering buying or selling a home, Sarah and Lisa would love to help. You can contact them here.
