September Home Maintenance Checklist!
With the fall season arriving, so do maintenance tasks around the house. September is the month to do all those pending tasks you’ve been wanting to get to, but just never did.
Fall is the time of year where you’re closing out summer and gearing up for preparation of the winter months. Cooler temperatures, increased rain, and upcoming snow fall can do a number on your home.
1. Basement
Check your basement for any changes in the walls or drains. Flush out hot water heater and remove residue to prolong the life and efficiency of your heater. Don’t wait until you need your sump pump to find out it’s not working. Test it often. Purge and declutter your basement so there’s no obstruction in and around sewage drains.
What’s documented is what’s accounted for. In the event of a flood, inventory details of your basement can be the most important thing you do in recovering precious items in your home. Make sure you include photos and checklists of your valuables. Inventory and insurance professionals can help you in staying proactive in this process.
2. Bathrooms And Kitchen
Look for any new water leaks. Make sure that caulking around sinks and tubs are sufficient in order to prevent water from getting into places it isn’t supposed to be. Check caulking around your doors and windows to reduce heat or cooling loss. While you’re at it, visit your sink disposal and dishwasher base to ensure adequate water flow and plumbing connection.
3. Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Generator
Test your smoke/carbon monoxide detector devices for proper functioning. Test, dust, and clean all home alarms, including your emergency generator. Make it a habit each September during daylight savings time change to take a close look around your home. These devices could very well save your life one day.
4. Garage
One good sweep will give you a chance to notice any variances in the cement and surrounding driveway crevices where water can seep in. Make sure to have these cracks re-sealed before winter; water can freeze and expand in these gaps, causing more damage. Clean out your garage by putting away dangerous equipment and hanging up the rakes where you can get to them. Make sure they are out of harm’s way of children or pets.
5. Roof
Let’s start with the roof. Use a ladder to inspect your roof from the outside. Climb up and get a close look at the condition of your roof. Sweep away leaves and debris to prevent water or snow buildup. Examine your shingles to see if any are missing, bent, loose, or broken. If possible, climb up with a ladder to get a close look at the condition of your roof. Sweep away leaves and debris to prevent water or snow buildup. Examine your shingles to see if any are missing, bent, loose, or broken.
Inspect your chimney for loose flashing and missing mortar. Damaged shingles can cause unwanted leaks and ceiling harm. If you have access to your attic, check underneath your roof just after a rainstorm to determine if water is entering your home. Pay particular attention around your chimney, where leaks are most prevalent.
6. Gutters
As mowing your lawn ceases for the season, it’s time to clear your gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris. Whether you do it yourself, or hire someone to maintain your lawn, putting gutters on top of your list in September is a wise move.
Cleaning out your gutters will help eliminate waste matter and muck that clogs your home’s external drainage and causes trouble with your plumbing system. If your downspouts loose, dented, broken, run over or unattached, it’s time to replace them. Make sure your downspouts run at least 10’ away from your exterior walls.
Planning your home maintenance tasks can seem like one more thing to tackle, but the extra time investment is worth it. The time you will save on preparation will outweigh how much time you’ll have to recover if you have major home maintenance troubles.
From the interior to the exterior of your home, being a homeowner is quite the responsibility, especially when seasons change