Fall Maintenance

Preparing your home for the winter will not only protect your property, it will also help to reduce your energy bills.

Indoor and Outdoor Chores:

• Cover your room air-conditioning unit with an insulated cover inside and outside, or remove the unit from the wall and seal the opening.
• Drain outside hoses and close the shutoff valves to outside faucets and waterlines.
• Check the weather stripping and caulking on all windows and doors for damage and tightness of fit. Replace if you see gaps or cracks.
• Clean your fireplace and chimney.
• These and other simple tasks can significantly lower your heating bills this winter.

Outdoor Chores:

• Remove debris from gutters and downspouts.
• Check the gutter and downspout alignment to ensure rainwater collects properly in the gutters and quickly and easily drains away from the house. If water doesn’t drain away quickly you’ll want the downspouts to extend at least three to six feet away from the foundation.
• Make sure waterlines and hose bibs are protected from freezing.
• Check the exterior for cracked or peeling paint. Repaint if necessary. This helps protect the wood from rot.