Autumn Maintenance For Your Home
By
Staff writer State Farm™
As
the leaves change and the days get shorter, take the time this autumn
to prepare for the oncoming cold weather. Ready the furnace for the
months of work it will have ahead, and clean out the fireplace. Test
them both to ensure they’ll be working when you need the heat. Don’t
wait until it’s snowing to clear out your gutters. With upkeep in the
fall, you’ll have peace of mind in the winter and more time to
hibernate.
Inside The House
Heating System Checkup
Be sure to change the air filter in your furnace and check its
efficiency before the cold weather begins. Call in an HVAC contractor to
test the heating output and give the system a tune-up. This technician
can also check for and correct possibly hazardous carbon monoxide levels
generated by your heating system. Stock up on several air filters for
the winter, and change them every month. If you don’t have a
programmable thermostat, purchase one for the system to help lower your
energy costs.
After your furnace has been tuned up to its maximum efficiency, take a
moment to inspect your heating ducts and vents. Dust them off and clear
away anything that may have gotten into them over the summer. Then
check your windows for any leaks that may compromise your heating
efficiency. If you feel cold air coming in, purchase a plastic sealing
kit from the hardware store and place the plastic around the window to
keep the heat from escaping. Be sure to check your doors as well, and
fix their weather-stripping if needed.
Check The Fireplace And Chimney
Most chimney sweeps recommend an annual sweeping, but depending on
how often you use the fireplace, you might be able to wait on a full
sweep. But if you will be using the fireplace often, call a chimney
sweep for an inspection. For further information, read the
Chimney and Woodburning Fireplace Safety guide.
Hopefully you will have your older, seasoned firewood now ready for
use after sitting for the spring and summer. It’s recommended to keep
the firewood at least 30 feet from the house and covered. Seasoned wood
is best for fires, as it burns cleaner and longer.
Review Home Fire Safety
The introduction of the heating season brings new potential for fire
hazards, so take a moment to review fire safety in your home. Check and
replace fire extinguishers if necessary, and change the batteries in
your smoke detectors. Also go over the
home fire evacuation plan with your family.
Outside The House
The Gutters
It’s best to inspect and clean the gutters a few times during the
fall, especially if there are many leafy trees around your house. If
gutters remain clogged, water will spill over them and onto the ground
next to the foundation, which may cause damage to the foundation.
Gutters and downspouts should be kept clean and should direct water away
from the foundation, as well as from walkways and driveways, so that
they do not become slippery or icy.
Yard Maintenance
The orange, yellow, and brown colors of the autumn leaves don’t look
as nice on the ground as they do on the trees. Rake the leaves into
piles and scoop them into yard waste bags. Most areas have ordinances
about burning leaves, so check with your local area government first.
When sweeping the leaves off your patio, don’t forget to clean, pack up,
and store any patio furniture for the winter. Disconnect garden hoses
and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from
pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in
the section of pipe just inside the house.
In The Garage
It is recommended that you empty out unused fuel from any gas-powered
equipment stored in the garage, such as a lawnmower, because sediment
can build up and clog the fuel lines. Store gasoline in tanks out of
children’s reach and have it ready for use in your snowblower or
emergency generator, if need be.
Test Your Emergency Generator
It’s a good idea to have an
emergency generator if
you live in an area that sees a lot of ice storms, as these are a major
cause of blackouts during the winter. So if you have one, haul it out
and give it a test run to see if it is in good working order. Make sure
you never run the generator in any enclosed space – like your garage –
as it will present a carbon monoxide hazard.
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