5 Ways to Maintain Your Home in the Fall

As we roll into the tail end of September, it is now officially the first week of fall.   Many people (myself included) believe this is the best of the 4 seasons.  Between the changing of the leaves, cooler weather and football, fall is a great time of year.  Although people enjoy this time of year, a great deal of homeowners do not take into account the amount of effort their home requires before the colder weather hits.  These 5 home maintenance ideas will ensure you have an enjoyable autumn and a stress-free winter.
Clean Out Your Gutters  
Cleaning out your gutters this time of year is very important. Because the leaves are starting to fall, they will find their way into your gutters which could cause them to clog, causing drainage issues.  Not only will leaves cause drainage issues, but if wet leaves are left in gutters long enough, they will end up freezing when it gets cold enough, and the weight of the frozen leaves may cause your gutters to break.  One smart way to combat fallen leaves and other debris is by installing a gutter guard so you don’t have any issues.
Clean and Inspect Your Roof
When you’re cleaning out your gutters of leaves, sticks, etc., it would be a good idea to clean and look your roof over.  Fall is a great time to inspect your roof over because if something were wrong, you still have time to get it fixed before the snow falls.  No homeowner likes the thought of having to replace their roof, but if it has to be fixed now, it could save you a great deal down the line.  Wet leaves and snow can get very heavy, and if your roof is not in the best shape, it can cause further damage.
Test Your Furnace
Late September and into early October is the best time to make sure that your furnace is ready for the upcoming winter.  In case anything is wrong and your heat does not work properly, you have time to fix whatever needs to be done before it gets too cold.   It’s better to find out that your heat isn’t working when it’s still 65 degrees outside as opposed to 35.
Rake the Yard
We all love the colors of the trees when the leaves change, but we can all agree that they look better on the trees than on the ground.  Raking leaves is one of those necessary chores that homeowners need to do, unless they don’t want a nice organized yard.  Cleaning up all the leaves can be a great time to work together with your family, especially if you have young children who make big piles and jump in them like I used to.  One benefit of cleaning leaves is that you can use them as compost if you have a garden or flower bed.  I look at it this way, the more you clean in the fall, the less you’ll need to do in the spring.
Check All Windows and Doors
When the cooler weather comes and you put your heat on (which I hope you tested beforehand), checking all your windows and doors is a big part of keeping your home warm.  Over time, the weather stripping on all doors and windows starts to go bad and will not be very well insulated which can let the heat out and cold air in.  This will cause your furnace to stay on more because the temperature in your home is not staying consistent.  By inspecting all windows and doors, if you need to replace your weather stripping, this will save you a great deal of money due to the fact that your home is staying warmer and less warm air is getting out.
Fall is a great time of year that many of us enjoy.  Being a homeowner this time of year means that you have to prepare your home for the coming months when the weather is no longer enjoyable and the snow starts to fall. Preventative maintenance will ensure that your home will be safe and ready for the winter ahead.
Keeping your home and family safe is a priority of ours here at Ion insurance.  Contact our team of professionals for a homeowner’s insurance quote today.