Fall is in the air and we start thinking about building a fire in the fireplace, cooking some warm comfort foods, and spending time watching fall sports on the tv.  Before you get too settled in, it’s a good idea to tackle a few things around the home so it’s protected against the elements as well as keeping you safe during the winter months.

Here are some quick and easy to do tasks to have your home in good shape before the winter months set in:

1. Check your exterior doors for air leaks.  Can you see daylight around them or feel air coming through? It’s best to check on a morning when it’s cooler outside as then you can feel the cooler air sneaking into your home.  Be sure to check the bottom of the door as well to make sure you have a good seal there.  You don’t want critters or bugs finding their way into your home.
2. Remove screens –  Now is a good time to remove the screens from your windows and wash them and store them for the winter.  Screens can trap snow in the window allow moisture to build up in the window frame. Without the screens, you’ll allow more light into the home during the winter months as well as allowing the solar heat into your home.
3. Check your attic for signs of moisture – Now is the time to see if there are any problems with your roof allowing moisture to come into the home. Don’t wait until a big snowstorm hits and you’ve got a bigger problem on your hands. Look for signs of water leaking through on your insulation as well as the underside of the roofing. A good time to check is on a rainy day. If you have any leaks nows a good time to contact a roofer before the snow season arrives.
4. Have your HVAC system serviced – It’s always a good idea to have your system serviced before switching from AC to heat service (as well as in the spring when switching back). You don’t want to wake up on a cold winter’s day to no heat and not being able to get it serviced for a day or two.  Preventive maintenance pays off to help you stay comfortable in your home.
5. Test your Smoke Detector and your CO2 monitor- Check to make sure these are in good working order with fresh batteries.  Also, do you know the last time you replaced them? Be sure to replace if you’re unsure of the age or you know either of them are older than this: • Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years • CO2 detectors should be replaced every 5 years
6. Check your fire extinguisher and make sure everyone in your home knows where it’s located.    You need at least one fire extinguisher rated A-B-C – which covers all types of fires.  Ideally, it should be located near the kitchen.  Having one on every floor is even a safer plan. Be sure to also check the pressure gauge for a full charge. If it’s showing significant signs of dents, scratches, corrosion, or lacking a full charge it’s time to replace. Remember to mark the date on the new one.
7. Cleaning out your dryer vent hose is one way to help prevent fires in the home.  The fall weather brings cooler, drier weather and that creates more static electricity.  Removing the vent hose from the back of the dryer and cleaning it out can help prevent a fire from happening.  If you don’t feel like tackling this job you can hire someone to do it for you.
8. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned.  It’s a good idea to have your chimney inspected and cleaned if you are using it on a regular basis – 50 times or more a season is a good rule of thumb.   Over time creosote can build up in the flue and it can cause a flue fire.  If you want to check look for no more than 1/8” of build-up on the flue.  Any more than that and it’s definitely time to have your flue cleaned by a professional. 
9. Clean your stove & exhaust hood.  When’s the last time you pulled the filters out of the vent hood and washed them?  You can easily do this in the dishwasher.  It’s also a good time to do a more thorough cleaning of the vent hood for the rest of the grease build-up that can occur.  And lastly, before the holiday season comes and you’re giving your stove a workout, take the time to clean the top and interior of the stove.

If you have any questions or need help with referrals for any of these tasks drop me an email or text as I’m here to help with all your home maintenance needs.