Fall is such a gorgeous time to enjoy Atlanta. The morning temperatures are reasonable, and the leaves begin to change. It’s also a great time to take care of some home maintenance items to prepare for winter. Although our winters are typically mild, these tasks should be performed to ensure that you are protecting your investment and to avoid costly repairs later on.
Should you need a list of recommended professionals to help with your projects, Karen can help with that. Check out Salters Sources on her website.
YOUR FALL CHECKLIST
Clean the Gutters
Water needs to be successfully diverted from your home’s exterior and foundation walls, so clogged gutters are not an option. Water improperly diverted can damage everything quickly. Clean your gutters (typically a professional is best for this job) and consider mesh gutter guards particularly if you live on a wooded lot.
Check for Gaps and Seal Them
A properly sealed home can save you a shocking 20% on your heating and cooling bills according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Weatherstripping is your friend and is straightforward to install making it a DYI project that you can handle. However, it doesn’t last forever so it’s important to inspect it to ensure that it hasn’t begun to deteriorate.
TIP: Test with a piece of paper in a closed window or door, If the paper moves easily, you don’t have a tight seal. You can also carefully use a candle. If the flame flickers, you have a leak.
Be sure to also check for missing or damaged caulk around windows, doors, and don’t forget all the other entry points – electrical, cable, phone, and gas.
Inspect the Roof
While we are fortunate not to have massive amounts of snow and ice to compromise our roofs here in Atlanta, our roofs can still take a beating from the summer temperatures and the occasional hailstorm.
While it’s probably not the safest move for you to get up there yourself, you can get a good sense in some homes by looking out upstairs windows and checking for cracks and damage. Roofs often have metal flashing and valleys, and these are often the first to bring trouble.
Safeguard Faucets from Freezing Temperatures
Again, freezing temperatures are not the problem we deal with often in Atlanta, but typically, we do get several freezing and below freezing temperatures. So don’t be complacent. Make sure outside faucets, and in-ground irrigation systems don’t freeze and burst.
Begin by shutting off valves serving outside faucets, then open the outside faucet to drain the line.
If you don’t have shut-off valves, and your faucets are not “freeze-proof ” types, you can install inexpensive Styrofoam covers.
For your in-ground irrigation system, shut it down and then drain.
Inspect Your Furnace
Several companies offer contracts where they will automatically inspect your system and make service calls a priority of you are in their system.
Once a year, it’s a good idea to have your heating system inspected by a professional. To avoid the last-minute rush, consider scheduling this task in early fall before the heating season begins. Here are signs that you should have an inspection performed sooner:
Check back next time for more of your Fall Checklist to protect your family and your investment. In the meantime, should you need any real estate expertise, or if you are considering buying or selling, please contact Karen.
She would love to help you!
