Even though the temperatures still climb into the 80’s each day and the kids can enjoy a few more days of sleeping to noon, the reality is that summer is drawing to a close.  As families return from their final vacations to tackle the purchasing of school supplies and organizing of carpools they also need to focus some attention on another area that tends to be neglected during the lazy summer months: their home.

Autumn in the mid-Atlantic is a wonderful time of lower humidity, gradually changing colors and eventually cool days and brisk nights.  It is also the perfect time to take care of some critical home maintenance projects before the harsher weather of winter (remember snowmageddon?) arrives.  To help you plan your fall maintenance program, here are a few key tasks that you want to be sure not to miss:

Clean your gutters 

You should inspect and clean your gutters at least once in late Fall, and possibly twice if you have a significant number of trees close to your home.  Clogged or damaged gutters can lead to water issues inside the home and also raise the possibility of roof and gutter damage once the snow begins to fall.  Remember, getting on a tall ladder to clean your gutters is very dangerous so you should think seriously about hiring a licensed company to do this.

Service your HVAC 

Having a licensed HVAC contractor conduct a thorough inspection of your heating systems can help prevent outages in the dead of winter and can help ensure that your heating system works as efficiently, and cost effectively, as possible once the temperature drops.

Inspect chimneys and fireplaces

If you have either gas or wood burning fireplaces that you use on a regular basis, it makes sense to conduct an annual inspection (gas) and chimney cleaning (wood) to ensure their safe operation throughout the winter.  The best time to do this is in the early fall as many contractors raise their rates once prime heating season arrives.

Inspect windows and doors

This is an easy one that any homeowner can do for themselves.  Check all windows and doors to make sure they seal tightly and add weather stripping as needed.  This will help cut down on the high heating bills.

Service fire and CO alarms

While it is important to test your smoke and CO detectors year round, the risk of fire or carbon monoxide issues grows as the weather gets colder.  Gas furnaces and fireplaces, wood fires, space heaters and other heating devices all pose risks, so it is critical that you put fresh batteries in all of your safety devices before the heating season begins.  If your smoke and CO detectors are more than 10 years old, you should replace them as soon as possible.

While not a comprehensive list (there is always more to be done!), taking care of these tasks covers the most critical elements when preparing for winter.  So once Labor Day is behind you, take some time to assess the condition of your home to determine which of these activities you want to tackle and which you should outsource.  As always, if you would prefer to entrust the care of your home to the experts, feel free to contact Hassle Free Home Services to sign up for our comprehensive home maintenance service.