With summer in the rearview, your homecare needs change with the leaves. The fall brings its host of challenges, including intense storms throughout hurricane season, colder weather and leaves and debris that wreak havoc on your home’s defenses. As we enter the colder months of fall and prepare for winter, here are the three things that homeowners should put on their fall home maintenance checklist.

#1 — Shut off exterior faucets and store hoses. 

Even buried irrigation lines can freeze. To prevent busted pipes and broken sprinkler heads when freezing temperatures arrive, you’ll need to take the appropriate steps to winterize by shutting off water to exterior faucets. Drain and disconnect garden hoses from outside spigots and store them indoors. Remove and shake the water out of any above-ground sprinkler heads, then replace.

#2 — Schedule chimney cleaning and maintenance. 

Before the cold season, make sure your chimney, furnace and boiler are ready to go. You’ll want them cleaned and checked to guarantee they are in top condition working order before you begin to heat your home regularly. You may also want to consider asking your roofers about a chimney cap to prevent rodents from entering if your home does not already have one.  

#3 — Clean your gutters and downspouts.

The leaves and debris that come with fall can do more damage than you’d think. Clogged rain gutters can cause ice dams, leading to flooding and damages that require expensive repairs. Once the leaves have fallen from the trees surrounding your home, it’s time to clean your gutters — removing leaves, twigs, and other debris. This is also the best time to check the condition of your gutters to make sure they are ready for winter. Make sure your gutter system isn’t sagging and trapping water, and tighten gutter hangers and downspout brackets. If there are significantly worn or damaged gutters and downspouts, it is time to repair them before winter. 

For most homes, contacting your local roofers for seasonal gutter maintenance and repairs is a quick and essential step to ensure your home is good to go for winter. Find out more about fall gutter maintenance, and call Powell’s today.