A Carolina Homeowner's Fall To-Do List

The Ultimate Fall Checklist for a Carolina Homeowner

Store Away Hoses and Turn Off Any Exterior Faucets

• Unscrew, empty, and store your yard hoses indoors for the winter.
• Shut off the water to exterior faucets before the temperatures fall to prevent your pipes from freezing.
• Toward the end of the fall, drain and turn off your sprinkler system. You won’t need that until the spring!

Seal Up Windows and Doors

• Check the condition of the weatherstripping around your home’s windows and doors. If it’s looking a little worn and torn, apply new weatherstripping. This will ensure your home stays warm, and energy costs stay low when good ol’ Jack Frost makes his way to the area.
• Drafty doors? Consider adding a door sweep to keep the shivers out, and coziness in.

Check Safety Devices

• Test your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and then perform any required maintenance. (i.e. changing the batteries or replacing old devices and systems altogether)
• Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace it if you find that it’s expired.
• Check your home’s radon levels. When the weather gets chilly we tend to keep our homes closed up, allowing for radon to become trapped. Radon can hurt your family’s health–it can even be deadly. (A radon level of 4 or above is considered unacceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency.)

Clean Out Dryer Vents

• Clean any build-up out of your dryer vents. Lint and other debris buildup can cause your dryer to work inefficiently and can even be a fire hazard! Yes, that’s right, a fire hazard! Cool, dry fall weather increases static electricity, which can ignite the lint that has built up, so the fall is the best time to get that lint out. There are duct cleaning specialists you can hire for the job or you can try to do it yourself.

Remove Debris From Your Gutters and Downspouts

• After most of the leaves have fallen, clean out your home’s gutters and downspouts. Clogs in your home’s drainage system can cause water to pool up and damage your roof, siding, or other important structural features of your home.
• While you’re at it, be sure water drainage is directed away from your home’s foundation.

Pay Your Yard Some Attention

• Rake up leaves. An excess amount of leaf cover in your yard throughout the winter can inhibit your lawn’s spring growth.
• Take a look up at the trees in your yard. Are there any dead branches? Branches that could potentially fall on your home, during a rough storm this winter? Grab a chainsaw and get climbing–or just hire a professional and save yourself the trouble.
• Make sure your walkways, railings, stairs, and driveway are in good shape. Navigating icy walkways can be challenging enough — don’t make it harder than it has to be. Fix any cracks, loose railings, or missing stones!
• Seal up foundation and driveway cracks because, during cold weather, moisture can seep into these areas and freeze causing surfaces to crack and split even further.
• Clean and store away patio furniture.

Schedule Heating System Maintenance

• Schedule an inspection with your HVAC maintenance company to ensure your system is working properly and that there won’t be any issues this chilly season.
• Have your chimney cleaned and inspected. Clogged build-up can lead to fires and inadequate ventilation. You might also consider adding a chimney cap to keep critters out in the wilderness where they belong — not in your home.
• Be sure your furnace or boiler is cleaned, maintained, and in tip-top condition.

A Few Other Tasks…

• Change your home’s air filters.
• Go through and declutter your closets, cabinets, drawers, and more.
• Clean your curtains.
• Pick a beautiful day to open up all the windows and air out your home.
• Have your generator inspected.
• Move potted plants indoors.
• Stock up on winter supplies (salt, ice melt, shovels, and window scrapers).
• Purchase a few fall-scented candles or essential oils to get your home smelling like fall! 

Contact a Redbud Group REALTORS® If You Plan On Moving