Fall Foliage & Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide batteries monthly and change them twice a year, when you set your clocks for daylight savings time.
• Change furnace filters and if they're really dirty, you'll need to change them more often than once a quarter.
• Clean humidifiers (especially important in the winter) and change filters per manufacturer instructions.
• Clean dryer lint trap with each use; Once a quarter, clean vents and behind the dryer to remove lint buildup.

• Inspect – Check outdoor lights while ground dry; replace as needed.
• Maintain – Change any exterior lights you can't reach from ground.
• Update – Switch to motion sensor lights (adapter kits available) or solar lighting to save power and provide security.

• Inspect – Walk outdoor paths looking for anything that might cause someone to fall, especially when wet or covered in snow.
• Maintain – Repair safety problems and cracks that might freeze and get larger.
• Update – Consider using snow melt mats and driveway cables to melt snow and reduce slipping. Use eco-friendly alternatives to salt as rock salt erodes concrete.

• Inspect – Test handrails to make sure they're secure.
• Maintain – Add matching brackets where there are wall studs.
• Update – Add extra handrails to assist older visitors who are finding stairs more difficult to navigate.

• Inspect – When raining, check for leaks at gutter seams. When cleaning, make sure gutters and downspouts are secure.
• Maintain – Clean gutters after leaves have fallen and repair as needed (video on why it's so important to clean your gutters).
• Update – Add gutters or rain diverters over entry doors to minimize icy walkways/stairs underneath.

• Inspect – Test batteries monthly and replace immediately if you get a chirping sound.
• Maintain – Replace batteries in your smoke detectors once a year; replace detectors every 7 to 10 years.
• Update – Install carbon monoxide detectors that sense the odorless and colorless gas that comes from improperly burning fireplaces, stoves etc.

Hint: A good way to remember to change your batteries is to do it every year when the clocks change.

• Inspect – Inspect the roof while cleaning gutters (binoculars/camera can be used from the ground) or check the attic for water stains (black). Once a roof is 10 years old, you'll want a visual inspection every year so call your handyman.
• Maintain – Don't wait. If anything looks suspicious, get on the roof and make necessary repairs – missing shingles, cracked vent stack or chimney flashing, etc.
• Update – Get to know your roof and plan (budget) for replacing it in a timely manner to avoid costly repairs.

• Inspect – Review ceiling and trim around skylights, for staining. When anyone is on the roof, inspect the outside flashing for signs of wear.
• Maintain – Condensation may occur with skylights so a dehumidifier might be needed to reduce indoor humidity.
• Update – Consider replacing skylights (average life approximately 18 to 20 yrs) when you get a new roof.

• Inspect– Visually inspect (binoculars if unable to get on a ladder) your home's exterior for signs of deteriorating paint or water damage. From the top down:
  • Fascia – vertical boards immediately under the roof.
  • Soffits – horizontal boards behind the fascia with vents into attic.
  • Wood trim – corner boards and other decorative pieces.
  • Siding – for signs of water leaks or damaged wood.
• Maintain – Caulk seams where different materials meet, i.e. corner boards and siding. Paint before water penetrates wood.
• Update – If you're not painting frequently enough or have to replace damaged wood, consider switching to a composite material that doesn't rot, like Azek trim. Homes that require frequent painting are good candidates for vinyl or fiber cement siding, i.e. James Hardie siding.

• Inspect – Check windows and doors at the top to insure flashing not compromised and at the bottom, check window sills and door thresholds.
• Maintain – Caulk around windows and doors to stop water from getting in, and replace worn weatherstripping. Painting is key to protecting wood trim around your windows and doors.
• Update – If persistent water problems, consider redoing the flashing which might not have been installed correctly and for new trim, consider a composite material.

• Inspect – Make sure there are no leaks which might freeze.
• Maintain – Shutoff outside faucets. Remove hoses (critical for drainage) and cover with insulating jackets.
• Update – Replace faucets with frost free spigots.

• Inspect – Check the structural components (mostly hidden) of exterior wooden home features to insure there's no wood rot. The biggest problem area is where these attach to the house as flashing is often done wrong or missing.
• Maintain – Make sure flat surfaces have a way for water to drain off quickly, i.e. clean weep holes and add them if missing.
• Update – For problem surfaces, or when updating a deck or other exterior structure, consider composites that aren't vulnerable to wood rot.

• Inspect – Walk around your foundation and make sure there aren't any places for water to pool and seep into your basement.
• Maintain – Use splash blocks to direct downspout water away from your house. Maintain landscaping to insure ground water runs downhill from the house, keeping a close eye on settling around new homes and excavation projects.
• Update – Serious basement water problems may require extra drainage solutions from French drains and a sump pump inside to exterior foundation drainage.

• Inspect – Check heating/cooling system turns on when you change setting.
• Maintain – Review programming as each season changes. Try reducing target temperature 1 to 2 degrees, i.e. lower during winter and higher in summer. Review EnergyStar guidelines for recommended temperature settings.
• Update – Add additional heating/cooling zones.

• Inspect – Make sure you have enough filters to replace them monthly through the winter.
• Maintain – Schedule your annual heating system checkup to insure your system is operating as efficiently as possible.
• Update – Discuss your furnace/boiler operating efficiency with your service professional and get advice on when you should plan to replace your system for energy efficiency.

• Inspect – Use a thermometer like Black & Decker's Thermal Leak Detector to find where you're losing conditioned (warm or cool) air. Tips on finding leaks:
  • From your home's conditioned space to the attic or basement.
  • From inside your home to the outside through exterior walls, i.e. around windows, outlets and wall switch plates.
  • From duct work and/or hot water pipes around your home.
• Maintain – Replace insulation that gets wet and insure vents are not blocked by insulation as this will reduce it's effectiveness.
• Update – Typically homeowners add more insulation to their attic, or exterior walls when replacing siding.

• Inspect – Check windows and storm windows/doors for a tight seal.
• Maintain – Swap screens for storm door panels; install storm windows or similar barrier to slow air transfer.
• Update – Add more energy efficient windows (double and triple pane) or have your handyman build custom plexiglass storm windows, which are also helpful for a sunroom as it creates a longer season and slows heat loss.

• Inspect – Air conditioners (window and central A/C systems) and clean before winterizing.
• Maintain – Remove window air conditioners and store for winter. Protect outside condenser units by covering with a special condenser cover made to fit the unit, or secure by wrapping heavy plastic sheeting around the unit.
• Update – Monitor improvements in energy efficiency. Compare product costs to annual operating costs. Replace when the new unit costs can be recovered in a few years.