Fall Maintenance

The air is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. The time to perform fall maintenance on our home is running out and you’ve got a list of items that need to be done. You can trust Waters Handy Services to get your house ready for winter. We can take your fall maintenance list and also do an overall check up on the house to help you see some other things that might need attention before the wind and rain start howling. Here are a few things we suggest taking a look at while you’re putting together a list.

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How’s the siding, roofing, and trim look?

These areas need a thorough inspection. Take note if anything is broken, cracked, curled, split, or crooked. But also pay attention to smaller signs: stains on the siding that could mean water isn’t flowing through the gutters and downspouts, peeling paint or missing mortar in distressed spots, small holes or droppings near animal or insect nests. Be very aware of the presence of animals, because they chew on framing and wiring. Often times some basic trimming of trees or bushes can remedy a problem. A few paint touch ups or siding repair can go a long way towards preventing damage that’s going to cost you a significant amount of money later.

Is the water draining away from the house properly?

Water is the biggest enemy of your house and its foundation. Foundation repairs are costly but can often be avoided by paying attention to the water flow around your home. Next time it rains, step outside and take a look at your gutters and how the water is flowing away from the house. This will tell you a lot about where problems are already occurring or are going to start occurring. Water needs to be channeled away from the house properly and not pooling or settling near your foundation. Make sure the ground is properly sloping away from your house and preferably sits at least 8 inches below the sill. Many times a solution exists that is pretty simple such as extending a down spout or cleaning a tennis ball out of your gutter pipe.

What about the inside?

There are some things to do on the inside that will help the place stay in good shape over the winter. Make sure to change your furnace filters and start the furnace up before that first real cold day sets in. Keep the area around the furnace clear and clean. It’s a good idea to have your furnace inspected and cleaned by an HVAC professional every year.

It’s also a great time to do the fall maintenance on your hot water heater. Draining the hot water heater keeps sediment from building up in the bottom which can diminish the life of your hot water heater. Vacuum out and do a basic clean up around the hot water heater while it’s draining out.  As with the furnace, make sure to keep the area around the hot water heater clear and clean and always turn the pilot light off before doing any work.

Inspect your doors and windows all around the inside to make sure they are closing and opening properly. Small adjustments can usually be made to repair and get them working properly again. Problems with doors and windows can also be signs of foundation issues so make sure to take a good look at the walls in the rest of your house to see if there’s cracking or bowing in other areas that may give a signal to the larger problem.

These are just a few of the fall maintenance items that Waters Handy Services can help you out with and make your home a comfortable place to live.

Give us a call and let’s get your house ready for winter!