Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year due to the shift in temperature, the changing leaves, and the signal that the year is beginning to come to an end. It’s also a signal that it’s time to partake in some important home maintenance tasks, in large part thanks to the falling temperatures that accompany autumn.
Keep on reading for a list of three of the most important fall home maintenance tasks that you should consider doing for your home before winter sets in!
Protect the Pipes
One important fall home maintenance task involves properly protecting your pipes, as frozen pipes can result in them bursting from exposure. The best way to prevent this type of thing from happening is to wrap your pipes in foam insulation, as well as close all of your foundation vents and open any cabinet doors located under your sink in order to allow warmer air to flow around your supply lines. Another useful tip to make note of is to always keep your thermostat at 60 degrees or higher overnight, as this will help keep pipes from potentially bursting.
Take Care of Trees
Trees may seem strong and sturdy and up to any cold weather tasks, but it’s important to take steps to protect your trees! This is especially true for trees that have thinner bark such as aspens, cherry trees, and beech trees. Take the time to wrap the trunks in paper tree wrap, making sure that you cover the entire bark from an inch above the soil to all of the lowest branches. From there, make sure that you adhere all of the wrapping to the tree by using duct tape, which will help to ensure that the trees are kept in the best possible condition.
Store Equipment Properly
Another important fall home maintenance task to keep in mind is to ensure that you properly store all of your outdoor yard equipment. It’s important to keep in mind that gasoline is able to react with air in the tank of a lawnmower, and if it’s left long enough, it can create oxidation resulting in small deposits that will end up affecting a lawnmower’s overall performance.
Check the Roof
We always forget about this one! Check your gutters and roof for any fallen leaves or other gunk that may be adding extra weight and could block water from being able to drain properly. Extra weight from branches, twigs and dead leaves can cause one of the most important parts of your home to crack, leak or completely collapse or buckle under the weight if not taken care of in a timely manner. Use the fall season as your marker to get up there and give it a solid clean!
Thank you for reading our real estate and homeowner’s blog. We are Weichert Realtors – Barton Harris & Co. and we’re happy to have helped you learn more about fall maintenance tips for your home. Happy fall!