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Your Home's Fall Maintenance Checklist
Tips to Keep Your Mansfield Home in Top Shape
When colorful falling leaves drift into your yard, it's a clear sign that cold weather is on the way. Fortunately, during the weeks-long transition from fall to winter, you'll have plenty of time to take care of pre-winter tasks. If you start just as the leaves begin to change color, you'll have enough DIY weekends to get your Mansfield home into shape before the first wintry chill.
Our REALTORS® know the ups and downs of winter weather in the Mansfield area. We understand that snow, sleet, and temperature extremes can be tough on your home. To minimize winter deterioration, we recommend that you follow our Fall Maintenance Checklist.
Backyard and Beyond
You designed your yard to be perfect for work and play. These fall maintenance and repair tasks will ensure that everything is ready for action when springtime rolls around.
- Clean, repair, and seal your wooden deck.
- Clean and put away outdoor furniture.
- Drain outdoor faucets to prevent freezing.
- Maintain your driveway - Eliminate cracks, chips, and gouges that can expand due to winter snow and ice. Seal to finish the job.
- Repair your walkways - Repair crumbling concrete, loose pavers, broken bricks, and sidewalk height variances. These problems can become slip and fall hazards when covered with snow or ice.
- Prepare your lawn - Complete these takes now for a beautiful spring lawn: Clear and seed dead patches, fertilize or add compost, aerate and loosen soil, remove fallen leaves and debris to allow sunlight in.
- Close your pool - Remove accessories and drain equipment. Clean and condition water. Add antifreeze and secure your pool cover. Check with your supplier for the proper chemicals.
Get Up On The Roof
A damaged roof makes your home vulnerable to winter weather. If you're okay with climbing a ladder, head for the nearest rooftop. Look for loose, damaged, deteriorating, or missing shingles and tiles. Make sure vents, flashing, and pipes are in place and sealed properly.
While you're up there, clean leaves, twigs, and other debris from your gutters, and look out for small furry animals who think of your gutter as home. Hire a professional if you don't like heights.
Weatherize Your Windows
Your windows are a primary source of heat loss during winter. If you raise the thermostat to eliminate the chill, the added fuel consumption increases your energy costs. Several things you can do to minimize this problem include:
- Hang insulating curtains or drapes.
- Add insulating climate control film to your window panes.
- Caulk windows where you detect air leakage.
- Install your storm windows.
- Repair damaged window seals.
- Install insulated glass windows (dual panes) for greater insulating ability.
- Replace aging dual panes if you notice condensation between panes or damaged seals.
Seal Your Doors
Check the weather stripping around your doors. If there's a cracked, damaged, or missing section, install new stripping. If you have a storm door, remove the screen and install the glass storm window pane.
Stay Warm & Toasty
Your heating system works hard to keep you comfortable. Perform these tasks to make sure they continue to do their job.
- Replace furnace air filters
- Remove dust from vents, ductwork, coils, and motors.
- Clean and maintain wood-burning stoves.
- Clean your fireplace and chimney or call a chimney sweep for optimum results.
- Cover outdoor AC units to minimize drafts.
Whether you're buying or selling a home in Mansfield, you need assistance and advice from a dedicated professional. Contact Haring Realty and we'll work hard to give you the results you desire.