September signals the end of summer’s dog days and a return to fuzzy sweaters, chilly evenings, and, of course, pumpkin spice everything (this is America, after all).
But before those first autumn leaves begin to fall, it’s crucial to take a few steps to stave off any cold weather home breakdowns. Luckily, we’re here to make it as easy as possible for you with our handy checklist of home maintenance chores to tackle this month. These quick, relatively painless tasks can potentially save you major repair costs down the road.
Check walkways for cracks
Before the grass is covered with snow, or it’s too cold to venture outside, check walkways for cracks and loose paver material. Fix walkway and entryway areas before slippery weather can cause a tripping or falling accident.
Clean and repair the siding
After a long summer, siding can become dirty or mildewed.
September is a great time to use a pressure washer to clean it up—and inspect for more serious problems before winter comes. Check first for rotten or warped areas, and inspect your caulking, which can shrink and crack over time.
Check and repair leaky faucets
Before the temperatures start to dip, examine leaky faucets in the kitchen, bathrooms, and utility room locations. Most likely, whatever time and money you spend now will be considerably less than a broken pipe in the dead of winter.
Make sure windows are sealed tight
All double- or triple-pane windows should have a tight seal around their perimeter that separates the individual panes of glass and traps inert gas between them, providing a break between the temps inside and outside your home. If you notice that your windows are frequently foggy, that’s likely a sign of a failed seal.
Sweep the chimney
When temperatures finally fall, you’ll want to be ready to light your fireplace. But before your first toasty blaze of the season, make sure your chimney has been cleaned.
Change the air filters and tune up the furnace
This one really should be a maintenance task you do every month. Dirty air filters can lead to higher energy bills and irreparably damage your HVAC system.
Service the yard equipment
Autumn—not spring—is actually the best time to show some love to your lawn equipment before you put it away for winter.
It’s harmful for equipment to sit all winter long with old oil in the case and dirt on the other components.
Fix It!® can take some of these tasks off your to-do list. That way, you have more time to enjoy the lovely September weather. One call really does take care of some on your to-do list. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service now online.