The Smart Homeowner’s Fall Outdoor Maintenance Checklist

Sure, we could ignore the upkeep on our houses and spend the time and cash on other, more exciting things. But sooner or later, the little issues that could have been proactively addressed will become big, expensive ones. That’s why smart homeowners take care of their maintenance chores every season. We’ve compiled the most important outdoor tasks for your home in the checklist below.

Store Your Summer Equipment

You’ve probably used a few pieces of fairly expensive equipment to maintain your yard, trees, driveway, and porch throughout the summer. It’s time to store those away. Drain your water hoses, add gas stabilizer to your mower, and store them along with your gardening tools, leaf blower, weed eater, rake, and all the other tools you needed in hot weather.

Clean Your Gutters

Heavy winter rain and snow storms will wreak havoc on gutters that are clogged or in disrepair. If you don’t feel safe on a ladder, hire a professional to clean out your gutters and make sure they’re in working order, including tightening up any sagging portions and making sure the downspouts are hanging correctly.

Patch Your Driveway

Errant weeds and tree branches may have created cracks in your driveway during the sweltering months of summer. Fix them before cold weather hits. Purchase crack sealer and fill them all, so they don’t turn into bigger problems during the winter. If your driveway is asphalt, consider adding a sealer on it for more protection.

Repair Your Walkways

Take the risk of slipping and falling out of the equation by proactively fixing any missing stones, rocky areas, broken steps, or uneven pathways in your yard. After you do that, add some solar lights down every walkway so anyone using them after dark will be able to see where they’re going.

Drain Your Sprinkler System

The last thing you want to deal with is frozen or burst irrigation lines. Take the time to open the drain valves and let all the water flow out of the system. While you’re at it, shake the water out of all your sprinkler heads to ensure they’ll be in good shape next spring.

Insulate Your Water Heater

Save some money this winter by investing in a water heater blanket. Cover your water heater to help it maintain a consistent temperature. This smart move will save you several dollars a month on your heating bill. Wrap your water heater lines, too, so you aren’t dealing with frozen or busted lines during a deep freeze.

Inspect Your Roof

One of your home’s biggest investments is its roof. Hire a pro to climb up and examine your shingles, replacing any that are broken or missing to avoid costly leaks down the road. They can also check your gutters for asphalt grit from your shingles, too, because this can be a sign that it’s time for you to replace your roof.

Check Your Doors and Windows

Don’t lose money out of the cracks! Closely inspect your windows and doors for places your heat can seep out. Use caulking strips, or caulk, to fill these spaces. A few hours of doing this will save you several dollars a month in heating bills and help your house feel toasty during the winter.

Service Your Heating Unit

Set an appointment with your heating/air company to come out and inspect your unit. They can check that all parts are functioning properly. Take this time to pick up several months’ worth of air filters and set an alarm on your smart device to remind you to change them every month. This will save you money on your energy costs and cut down on indoor allergy issues that stem from dust and dirt.

Eyeball Your Fireplace

A house full of smoke is nobody’s idea of fun. Look inside your fireplace’s chimney and make sure the flue opens and closes correctly. Check for anything that is blocking the flow, like a bird’s nest or wayward leaves. You may want to spend a few extra dollars to hire a professional to clean it out and maintain it for you.

Walk Around Your Foundation

Take a stroll around your house and check your foundation for cracks and damage. Patch, or hire someone to repair, any that you find. After all, you don’t want critters making their home underneath your place once the weather grows cold (or any time). In addition, check the vents and doors that go underneath your house and repair or replace any that are damaged or don’t fit well.

Smart homeowners are willing to spend a little money upfront to mitigate big repair or replacement costs in the future. Vow to be a smart homeowner and start on this outdoor fall maintenance checklist next weekend.