What Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Tackle This Fall

Seasonal changes in North Carolina are a good reminder that certain tasks need to be completed around the home. When temperatures begin to drop along with the leaves, fall home maintenance is a must, to ensure your comfort and safety throughout the upcoming heating season. Here’s a checklist of recommended items to help you get started.

• Examine the exterior. Perform a check around the perimeter or your home, looking for damaged siding, cracks in the foundation or loose bricks, and make the necessary repairs. Ensure all outdoor receptacles are watertight, before heading up to the roof to clean gutters and downspouts, and inspect your shingles and flashing.
• Improve circulation. Improve indoor air quality and airflow by cleaning your dryer vent, stove hood, cold air returns and room fans. Check that supply and return vents aren’t blocked by furniture or draperies, and change your air filter to improve efficiency, protect equipment and reduce dust and allergens.
• Make a clean sweep. Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned before the first use.
• Check your ducts. Leaky ductwork can account for decreased efficiency, poor indoor air quality and higher energy bills. Visually inspect ducts for breaks or cracks, and repair with a good quality duct mastic or foil-backed tape.
• Schedule annual maintenance. Fall home maintenance should include an annual professional HVAC inspection, cleaning and tuning of your heating system, to ensure efficient, uninterrupted service throughout heating season.
• Seal and insulate. Inspect doors, windows and exterior wall switches or outlets for signs of air leakage. Use caulking or weatherstripping where needed, and outlet or switch-plate seals to eliminate heat loss. Head up to the attic to gauge insulation levels; if you can see the joists it may pay to add another layer, aiming for a combined R-value of 38.
• Change your batteries. Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors may be battery operated or have a battery backup, and these should be changed annually to ensure performance in the event of an emergency.

For more fall home maintenance tips, or any other HVAC concerns, give us a call at Air Experts, proudly serving homeowners in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area.

Image Provided by Shutterstock.com