The start of the fall season is a great time to prepare your home for the upcoming winter weather. It’s also a great time to refresh and check certain things around your home. Below is a list of a few things you should do to maintain your home and help prevent some future claims from arising.
Clean your gutters and replace them if needed
Clogged gutters can cause problems with water drainage. Improper water drainage can cause water to backup and cause both interior and exterior damage to your home. Installing gutter guards can help make preventing clogged gutters easier.
Check your downspouts
If draining water isn’t being properly directed away from your house, it can cause problems with the your home’s foundation.
Drain your outdoor faucets
Freezing and burst pipes are very common when cold weather hits. One thing you can do to help prevent this is drain your outdoor faucets and disconnect all hoses.
Wrap your pips with heat tape
Heat tape is a very inexpensive way to help prevent the freezing and bursting of your pipes due to the cold weather.
Check for drafts
Fixing any drafts you find around your windows and doors can help lower your energy usage and save you money. If there are drafts, you can easily fix them with weather stripping or caulk.
Schedule maintenance for your heating systems
Have your local technician come out and do your bi-annual maintenance of your heating systems. If you have a chimney, don’t forget to have your chimney inspected and cleaned. This is also a good time to have your dryer vent and air ducts cleaned.
Check safety devices
Check your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, stair railings, etc. throughout your home. Make sure they are all working properly and replace the batteries.