Your home's HVAC system, furnace or boiler and air ducts should be checked annually, and calling a professional in the fall means you won't be stuck in the cold if you need repairs. Clean the outside of heating units and ventilation grilles to remove any obstructions and prevent fires. If your property has trees, have it inspected by a certified arborist, who can check for signs of disease or dead branches and detect problems before they worsen and kill a tree. The untrained eye may miss signs of damage, and a dead or dying tree poses a safety hazard to you, your home, and neighboring properties.
Even if you don't use the fireplace regularly, the chimney still needs a regular check. A chimney transports hazardous gases from the chimney, wood stove, or oven out of the house, helping to keep indoor air breathable. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, your chimney should be inspected annually and cleaned periodically depending on how often you use it. Once the leaves fall, call your gutter company to clean and inspect them.
Any repairs that need to be made to gutters or downspouts must be done before winter arrives. Your workers should also inspect the roof for loose or broken shingles. Schedule work before it snows heavily, which could leave leaves and debris frozen in gutters, faucets and hoses. Before the first freeze, drain and turn off the outdoor faucets so they don't freeze.
Roll up the hoses and store them for the winter. Have your oven and ducts repaired. A clean system will be more energy efficient and an inspection will alert you to problems. Check and replace air filters, as needed.
Check the thermostat to make sure it works properly. Make sure the heater vents are open and that nothing is blocking them. If you didn't clean or inspect your chimney in spring, call a chimney sweep now and do it before you start using the fireplace or oven. Clothes dryers cause 2,900 fires a year, and many fires occur in the fall and winter, according to the U.S.
Fire Administration. Lint is a major culprit, so have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned annually by an HVAC specialist who specializes in dryer ducts or vents. He advises homeowners to perform a series of maintenance items on a regular basis to keep their home safe and in good condition. This also increases the resale value of your home and minimizes unexpected expenses when selling it.
With that in mind, consider printing out this handy checklist. Keep it in a convenient place and use it all year round. We hope you find this list useful and we hope you will consider inspecting Texas for a home inspection the next time you decide to buy a home in the greater Houston area. The “How to Do It” home maintenance videos can be viewed on our Do It Yourself page.
Following the cycle of the seasons can help divide some of what can be a long and overwhelming to-do list into a manageable home maintenance checklist per month, and following changes in weather strategically can make some tasks easier depending on when you do them, as well as choosing The best time to program them. Professional home maintenance services and buy appliances at their best prices when the new models come on the market or go on sale.
