Fall Home Maintenance Tips

With autumn just around the corner, I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to discuss a few fall home maintenance tips that you can check off your “to do” list. Living in Southwest Florida, we’re pretty blessed as we can do these tasks all year round, but with the cooling temperatures outside these chores seem a little bit less cumbersome, so when you take a break from cheering on your favorite football team, consider tackling some of these home improvement projects.

First, clear out your gutters. I was shocked at how dirty my gutters were last weekend. Gunky gutters filled with dead leaves and debris can quickly result in not only a mess but roof leaks. Also, be sure to check that your gutters are hanging securely. Bends should be clean and clear to assure proper drainage.

Next, seal, caulk, and insulate. Check around windows and doors to be sure that seals are tight, and that caulking does not need to be replaced. So many times, homeowners neglect to check their exterior stucco walls. As your home ages, you may notice hairline cracks or stair stepping cracks which are cracks that follow your cinder block lines. If you notice this, you need to seal and paint to prevent water intrusion. The only thing that prevents water from getting into your home is your caulking and paint. Contrary to what so many people believe cement and stucco are not waterproof.

With the days getting shorter, don’t forget to spruce up exterior lights and be sure to re-set your light timer as needed. A bit of cleaning, repainting, and a few new bulbs are an inexpensive way to update your outdoor lighting fixtures. However. If even your best TLC efforts don’t help those old lights, consider replacing them with new ones. You will be amazed at how new lighting adds to your home’s curb appeal.

Speaking of curb appeal, we often grow so accustomed to the appearance of our homes we no longer see its flaws. Whether you’re planning on selling in the near future or not, I am sure your neighbors will appreciate it if you take a day or two to fix what needs fixing. A thorough cleaning may take care of many of your home’s exterior flaws. For example, power wash the driveway and sidewalk to the front door. Paint the front door and wash the windows inside and out. With the cooler weather, it’s a great time to pull all those weeds that have accumulated from the summer rains and add mulch to your gardens and planting beds. Why not get in the fall spirit by grouping real and faux pumpkins and gourds in varying colors around your home? This can be done both inside and out. A festive doormat is an ideal way to welcome visitors. There are so many cute Halloween and Thanksgiving themed doormats available right now to choose from. I approach numerous homes on a daily basis, and I can’t reiterate enough how inviting it is to walk up to a home with a pretty autumn wreath on the front door.

The next topic should be done monthly and that’s changing your air filter. One of the most important things you can do on your own to take good care of your HVAC system is to check monthly and replace your filter as needed. This keeps everything working properly and it also helps to keep your energy bills low. Unfortunately, it’s a task that is easily forgotten by many homeowners for months at a time, leading to higher energy bills and future maintenance issues. The longer the filter is in place, the more dirt, dust, and allergens are trapped, clogging the filter and decreasing its efficiency. So, if you have not changed yours recently make it a priority. I would also recommend signing up for a twice-a-year maintenance on your AC system with a reputable and licensed air conditioning company to keep your unit to its optimal efficiency and to detect any problems before they become an issue. Depending on the company, this service will run you between 80 to 100 dollars.

My last item for your fall honey-do list is kind of a fun fact a lot of people don’t know about. With the cooler weather, change the direction of ceiling fans to clockwise, which helps to push the warmer air down. Since heat rises, this is especially helpful in fall and winter weather. Most of the year when the Florida heat index rises outside fans should be set to rotate counterclockwise instead.

Now that your autumn home improvement projects are done go out and enjoy the beautiful weather!