When the leaves start to change and our Wisconsin temperatures drop, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your family and home for the winter. Though the fall home maintenance checklist isn’t very long, it does take time that you don’t have—especially when the clock is ticking to the first snow fall. If you don’t have time to check off all the boxes on your fall home maintenance checklist or physically can’t take on fall maintenance tasks, contact a contractor so you’re ready for the cold and snow.
• Check your windows and doors. Test for drafts by holding a flame in front of the window. If the flame flickers, it’s time to replace that window. Fill in holes around windows and doors with caulk. Drafty windows are inefficient and expensive, costing you additional money for heating and cooling your home. If your window seal is broken, or you question their efficiency, contact a contractor about window replacement.
• Insulate against the cold. An estimated 35 percent of energy loss occurring through your home’s roof. Hire a contractor to check your attic insulation and add another layer against the cold.
• Have your chimney inspected. Before you fire up your fireplace on that first cool night, contact chimney professionals to inspect your chimney flu so you can prevent a fire.
• Pressure wash your siding. Fall is an ideal time to clean the mold and mildew off your siding or brick. Hire a professional to clean your house before it’s too cold to run that pressure washer.
• Test and inspect your furnace before winter. Hire an HVAC technician to do annual maintenance and make sure it’s in top shape. An annual HVAC check up can save you money as well, because heaters not running efficiently cost you more in utility bills.
• Change your furnace filter. A clogged furnace filter can damage your furnace in the long run and compromise the efficiency of your furnace. Swap out those dirty furnace filters regularly to keep your furnace running well.
• Check your roof. Summer storms and high winds can wreak havoc on your shingles. If you only have a few damaged or missing shingles, contact a handyman to replace the shingles and ready them for winter.
• Set off your smoke detectors. Test your smoke detectors and do a test run of where and how to evacuate during a fire. Change out any low batteries.