Well…Jack-O-Lanterns, giant bags of individually wrapped candy, and Charlie Sheen costumes have been on sale and getting ready for Halloween for weeks now…so that only means one thing—Fall is officially here! So while you are getting ready to trick and treat the little ghouls and goblins that will be visiting your house for handouts, why not also get your home ready for this season by completing the following Fall maintenance recommendations and checklists for your residence? (For even more fun, try dressing up like Batman when you do these and see what your neighbors say!):
General Fall Maintenance Quick Tips:
- Check your home for water leaks.
- Review your fire escape plan with your family.
- Have a heating professional check your heating system every year.
- Protect your home from frozen pipes.
- Replace your furnace filter and test your emergency generator.
- Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone.
- Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper.
- Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures.
- Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss.
- Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring.
Window and Door Locks:
- Check all window and door locks for proper operation.
- Windows that can be opened by breaking the glass and then unlocking them are less effective deterrents to criminals. Check with your local hardware store for better window lock alternatives.
- All exterior doors should have deadbolt locks.
Check Your Home For Water Leaks:
Read more at: Preventing Water Damage At Your House.
Safety Ideas For Stairs:
- Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs.
- Tile and painted wood or concrete stairs can be slippery when wet or when a person’s shoes are wet. Resurface the treads with slip-resistant strips near the stair nosing.
- All stairs of at least three risers should have a handrail.
- Do not store items on the stairs.
Look for Part #2 of our Fall Maintenance Checklist next week right here on our website!
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