A Preventative Maintenance Checklist For Homeowners For Autumn

Fall home preventative maintenance is SUPER important . Top Tips for Fall Home Maintenance It's been a long, hot summer and Autumn is finally upon us. Many of us have put off outdoor maintenance projects waiting for the heat and mosquitos to die down. I know because I'm one of 'em.

It's autumn now so it's time to make the effort necessary to maintain your biggest investment: your home.
What follows is a quick, down-and-dirty checklist of "to-do's" that need to be taken care of this season to maintain your home and keep your energy bills in check.

Put your overalls on, grab your flashlight and load your tool belt. We've got our work cut out for us.

Check and Seal Windows

Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Here are a few great tips from ENERGY STAR to improve your home's efficiency and save money on your energy bills.

Check and Clean the Humidifier (if you have one)

Close Critter Entrances

Look for small holes in the exterior of your home and seal them caulk, etc.

Shut Off Hose Bibs

Turn off the inside valve to outside spigots and then open the valve on the outside spigot.

Check and Maintain the Dishwasher

Also, put a scoop of Tang (the powdered drink mix) in your dishwasher and run it on gentle cycle to scour the interior walls and make it smell clean and fresh.

Clean Out the Gutters (after the leaves have fallen)

Check and Clean Outdoor Drains

Check Toilets

Clear Out Sink Drains

Change the Furnace Filters

Test All Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors: Remember: When it's time to push the clocks back, it's time to change the batteries on your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

Here are a few great videos from DIY Network to better explain some of the above preventative maintenance checklist items.

Source: DIY Network

Need to finance a remodel on your home or some other home improvement? LendingTree Home Equity Loans
has some great options that you should consider.

Tip: Fall is a great time to make a careful inspection of the entire exterior of your home and make notes along the way of things to fix or maintain. It's important to take notes so that you can prioritize your list when you're ready to get started.

Here's a link to some great fall home maintenance videos courtesy of DIY Network

Here's a handy Home Energy Yardstick from ENERGY STAR. If you have 5 minutes and your energy bills are handy, find out if your energy use is above average. You will need to enter some common information about your home such as age, square footage, number of occupants and energy bill totals for a consecutive 12-month period (one year). If you don't keep your bills, contact your utility for a 12-month summary.

Home sealing tips from ENERGY STAR

Source: D.O.E. and E.P.A. ENERGY STAR program