As boring as it is, it really is so important to stay caught up with home maintenance tasks. These are of the things we mean to get around to but can put off forever, if you know what I mean. (Believe me, Realtors are not immune from this problem. Ahem.)
I thought I’d start putting out quarterly home maintenance checklists, starting with fall tasks you should tackle. I also have the good fortune to work with many wonderful service providers in the Greater Lafayette area, so, where applicable, I’m giving you my recommendations for someone to call. Believe me—if I wouldn’t call them to come to my house myself, they are not on this list.
August
Clean the Carpet
Carpet gets dingy so fast, especially if you have anything on the lighter side. It’s always amazing to me how new my carpet looks after a professional carpet cleaner comes through my house. When you do it once a year, it never gets too bad.
My recommendation: Magna-Dry, (765) 588-5628
Tune Up HVAC
The best time to look at your HVAC system is before it gets cold outside. Vacuum and dust the entire unit, and then set up an appointment for fall servicing. That way, if there are any issues or potential issues, you can get them spotted and taken care of before you need heat inside your house.
My recommendation: Blue Fox Heating & Cooling, (765) 252-0051
Tighten and Lubricate Doors
Go through your house with a screwdriver and tighten all of your door hardware (don’t forget the closet doors). I also recommend lubricating any bi-fold closet doors.
Clean Out Water Heater
Water heaters get all kinds of sediment trapped in them, especially with Indiana’s hard water. A plumber can remove all that residue for you and make sure your water heater is in tip-top shape.
My recommendation: Anderson Plumbing, (765) 414-2080
September
Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors only work when they have working batteries. Test them all and replace the batteries, even if the old ones still have some life left in them. If your detectors are more than ten years old, replace them with new units.
Clean Your Range Hood Fan
Do you know how dirty range hood fans get? Remove the blower from your range hood and unscrew the fan blades. Soak them in warm water and soap or run them through the dishwasher. This what keeps your range hood working right, so keep it clean!
Test Fridge Door
Did you know you should be testing your fridge door for tightness? Get a dollar bill and try to pull it out of the fridge after closing the door on it. If the seal isn’t tight enough, here are some things you can try
Check Windows and Weatherstripping
Check all caulking around your windows for separation and cracks. Re-caulk if needed. If you have any other concerns about your windows, have a pro check them out.
My recommendation: White House Home Repair, (765) 427-4077
October
Clean Up the Garden
After enjoying all that fresh produce over the summer, it’s time to give the garden some attention. Rake up or remove all the leaves, old plant material, and mulch. Then, spread fertilizer or composted manure on the beds. You should also remove any materials you used to support plants, like tomato cages, trellises, and bean stakes—you can spray them with a mild bleach solution to make sure they’re clean before putting them into storage.
Clean Up the Yard
It’s time to trim all those overhanging tree branches and clean up the unruly shrubs that grew all summer. These can get very heavy with ice once it gets cold, and ice-laden branches are the kinds of things that fall onto houses and cause damage.
My recommendation: Jeff Clark, (765) 413-4520
Winterize Sprinkler System
It’s time to winterize your sprinkler system before it freezes! Disconnect all water hoses and blow out the irrigation system so there’s no water left inside that can freeze and cause damage.
My recommendation: Swann Irrigation, (765) 532-5111
Clean and Check Roof and Gutters
Full gutters can cause a lot of damage to your roof when the rain and snow comes. It’s also a good idea to have someone get on your roof and check for loose shingles or other damage that may cause leaks. It’s so much better (and less expensive) to catch those problems when they’re small!
My Recommendation: Guys & Gutters, (765) 426-8366
That’s it! If you do all of these things this fall, your home should be in tip-top shape for the cold weather to come. If you need any other recommendations for service providers for your home, just leave me a comment or email me at stacy@russellteam.com. I’m always happy to help!
Leave a Reply