By the time October rolls around, cooler temperatures are a welcomed relief from summer’s unrelenting heat. While autumn has its own highlights, ranging from college football game days to fall festivals like the Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival, it’s also a good idea to do some home maintenance.
Be sure to check these chores off your fall prep list before winter rolls around.
Clean the Gutters
There’s nothing glamorous about cleaning gutters, but it is incredibly important. Water is the enemy of your home, and if your gutters get clogged, it can cause a watery buildup that can damage your roof and walls or lead to foundation problems down the road. Plus, clogged gutters are a nursery for mosquitos – yuck!
Wait until all the leaves have fallen off the trees before bringing out the ladder or calling a professional to clean them.
Roof Inspection
It can’t be overstated how important ladder safety is, so when it comes to a roof inspection, it’s best to hire a pro. Fall is often the ideal time for roof inspections because it allows for inspection and potential repairs that otherwise may be too difficult to complete in winter months.
Roof inspectors will not only survey for any missing or damaged shingles but will look for any moss or lichen growth, signs of sagging, masonry cracks with chimneys, damage to vents, or potential leaks inside the attic.
HVAC Tune-Up
After months of working overtime to battle the Central Texas heat and cool your home down, your HVAC system could use a little TLC. Just like a car, regular maintenance is the best prevention method for bigger issues with your AC/heating unit.
A tune-up in late fall to prep your HVAC for switching over from cooling to heating will usually run $75 to $100 but can reduce your annual energy cost by as much as 15% and add years to your unit’s lifespan if done twice a year (schedule another in spring just before summer).
Prep the Yard
Whereas spring is the season to nurture new growth in your yard, fall is the time to trim that growth back and prepare for winter. Fall yard prep isn’t typically a one-day job, so pace yourself and tackle a little at a time.
- Rake up fallen leaves
- Trim dead limbs on trees or shrubs
- Cut back perennials
- Aerate the lawn
- Put down fresh seed
- Dispose of annuals or any dead plants that didn’t survive the summer
- Remove weeds and mulch flower beds
- Plant any new trees or shrubs
- Drain hoses and irrigation lines before any freezing temperatures
Inside Home Prep
We’ve covered most of the outside prep, but there are a few things you should do inside your home as well after summer winds down.
- Change smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries
- Change air filters
- Reverse ceiling fan direction from clockwise to counterclockwise
- Seal any air leaks in windows or doors
While fall chores aren’t exactly fun, taking the time to do a little home prep can help save you a homeowner headache come January.
If you’d like to find out more about owning a home in the master-planned Caliterra community, contact our team to learn more about our inventory of available homes.
