5 Essential Home Maintenance Tasks For Fall

Oh, Labor Day Weekend! We’re finally marking the end of summer on our calendars and preparing to send the children to school. You may be feeling that nip in the air, but in Florida, it still feels like full-blown summer. Regardless, Fall has arrived. It’s time to get your home and yard ready for winter before it’s too late. This Labor Day Weekend is an excellent opportunity to get ahead on maintenance for the fall.

Home maintenance is a crucial part of being a homeowner. You’re protecting your most valuable investment and taking the opportunity to address items you may not have earlier in the year. I’ve compiled a list of tasks that are essential to preparing your home for the coming season.

Time To Get Ahead On Fall Maintenance This Labor Day Weekend.

1. Change the air filters.

Like most Floridians; I’ve been running my A/C nonstop since the middle of spring. So it’s time to address the air filter. Did you know the number one maintenance issue for HVAC systems is not changing the system filter? You should be changing your filters every 30 to 90 days, depending on the brand and if you have pets in your household. This simple task tremendously improves the system’s performance to help save money and ensure cleaner air quality within your home. Do you often forget the last time you changed your air filter? Try setting up a calendar reminder or write the date when you change the filter on the side of the filter itself.

2. Schedule a checkup on your Heating & A/C System.

It never hurts to call a professional to perform a check-up on your system. Especially if you know you’ve never had a professional look at it. The last thing you want is to call them when something is not working. A simple check-up can help identify issues you may have missed that are potentially eating into your energy efficiency.

3. Inspect and clean the dryer vents.

Are you noticing your laundry is coming out hotter than normal or is still damp after a full drying cycle? We often clean the front-facing lint filter between loads but when was the last time you cleaned your dryer vent? This vent runs from your laundry room to the exterior of the house and it can become clogged with dust, lint, and other debris. A clogged vent poses a major fire risk; According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), dryer dust, fiber, and lint are responsible for 26 percent of dryer-related fires. Luckily you can find a professional to clean your dryer vents or do it yourself.

4. Clean out the gutters and leaves on the roof.

I find this task the most crucial for my home especially since I have multiple pine trees on my property. It’s important to clean your gutters to ensure they are doing their job which is to direct water down and away from the home. Clogged gutters and downspouts will cause water to back up and run down behind the gutters and onto the fascia board, leading to rot and eventual replacement. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are free of debris and draining properly. Having leaves and debris on your roof can trap moisture from the rain in the valleys of the roof and lead to your roof shingles degrading faster.

5. Ensure Energy Efficiency with Simple Fixes

Energy Efficiency is important year-round but as we adjust to turning on the heater, we want to ensure we keep the heat within our homes. Take a moment to check your doorways and windows for cracks or gaps in their seals. This can be as simple as caulking cracks or replacing weather stripping. Another simple fix is adjusting fans to rotate clockwise to push warm air downwards. Some fans have a reverse switch that lets you rotate the direction the fan blades spin. These small adjustments will make heating your home more efficient and save money on your energy bills.

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