Prepare Your Home for Fall

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The days are shorter, the leaves are turning colour (and falling) and the pumpkins are beginning to show their ghoulish presence. This can only mean one thing…Fall is here. With the chilly weather closing in on us, now is the time to prepare your home for the impending cooler months.

There can be many tasks around the home when it comes to fall maintenance however, we have curated a list of four things that we think are of high importance. Grab some sort of writing utensil and start your Fall Home Maintenance To-Do list! Let’s get to it…

1. Clean Eavestroughs
   Otherwise known as gutters, eavestroughs are designed to collect the water that runs off your roof and direct it away from your home. Any clogging of your rainwater drainage system could potentially cause exterior damage (rot, settlement, foundation issues) and even interior flooding (rotten fascia boards, walls and ceilings, wet basement).

   Experts recommend cleaning eavestroughs approximately twice a year, usually in the fall and late spring. Leaves are the main offender for clogged gutters so waiting until those pesky leaves have fallen will save you multiple trips up the ladder. Removing leaves and other debris will also deter small animals and birds from getting comfortable in your gutters and roof of your home.

2. Inspect Roof
   Speaking of roofs, since you probably haven’t put away your binoculars from your summer camping expeditions (well, we haven’t!), strap those things on and take a peek up on the rooftop. Look out for loose, cracked or missing shingles, rust spots on flashing or cosmetic issues such as algae or lichen. Inspecting the roof once a year could help you to plan in advance for any necessary repairs.

3. Clean and Inspect Furnace
   If you have a service agreement with your HVAC provider, then now is the time to call them in to give your unit a full tune-up. You do not want to wait until the cold air hits to ensure that your furnace is working efficiently so at the very least, clean or replace the filter. It is actually best practice to do that on a monthly basis anyhow.

4. Check Doors and Windows
   Windows and doors can account for up to 25% of total heat loss in a house, according to Natural Resources Canada’s “Keeping The Heat In’. Reducing air leakage not only provides comfort to those inside the home, it protects the building envelope from potential moisture damage.

   Inspect doors and windows for any sign of rot, mould or staining. Inspect the weather stripping which to be effective, must not allow air to pass through. While replacing weather stripping is the most cost effective way to eliminate drafts windows and doors, it could be worth considering upgrading to more energy efficient models. This would ensure maximum home comfort but could save on those heating bills too.

   It’s also a good idea to check other entry points (electrical, cable, phone and gas) and eliminate any drafts if and when you detect them.

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Although these tasks are easily within a homeowner’s ability, hiring a professional can be worth the expense. They will certainly have in depth knowledge for specific issues and years of experience that will help correct a potential problem at the source. But whether it’s with your own two hands or the hands of a skilled trade, tackling these maintenance items early will hopefully prevent bigger issues later in the colder season.