Fall Home Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

It’s nearly the end of October already! Halloween is right around the corner, followed closely by other major holidays. This time of year can be both exciting and stressful, but before you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, make sure you take care of some business first.

As the holidays grow nearer, so do the cold, snow, and ice! Before they arrive, we recommend that homeowners take care of these four fall home maintenance jobs before it's too late.

Home Maintenance To-Dos for Homeowners in the Fall

1. Gutters & Downspouts

Fall is the prime time to clean out your gutters! Gutters and downspouts can easily become clogged as leaves and twigs fall from nearby trees. If you clean them out yourself, use gloves, and take a bag up on the ladder with you to place the debris inside rather than dropping the debris on the ground as you work. This will save you from having to walk across your yard and clean up after yourself when you’re done.

Once you pull all the debris out of your gutters, spray them down with a hose to finish the job. Watch the water flow down the gutters and out the downspout to make sure everything is positioned properly and working correctly. If your downspout is clogged, try spraying into it with a hose. If you can’t free the clog with water, you may need to use a plumber’s snake to clear the path.

If you don’t keep your gutters clean, many problems can result. Water won’t be able to flow through as it’s supposed to and will instead spill over the side of your gutters, possibly landing near the foundation of your home and leaking into your basement. Water could also leak through the roof and siding. As it gets cold and water turns to ice, blocked gutters could fill with ice, and the weight could break them off the side of your house.

2. Windows

If you live in an area where you experience long, bitterly cold winters, consider installing storm windows or “winterizing” your current windows. Storm windows are thicker and much more energy efficient than basic single-pane windows.

Regardless of what type of windows you currently have, you can remove your screens and give the glass a good cleaning before winter. Consider storing your screens safely away until spring to let in maximum light, making your winter a little less drab.

You could also cover your windows with plastic to keep out cold drafts. You can purchase a window insulation kit at a home improvement or hardware store. Use a blow dryer to shrink the plastic so it’s tight and flat. Without the wrinkles, it'll be hard to tell it's even there!

3. Weatherstripping & Thresholds

Check the weatherstripping around your doors and windows and the threshold seal at the bottom of your doors. These can wear down over time and allow drafts into your home, lowering your overall home energy efficiency and raising your heating and cooling bills.

You may need to replace an old threshold and install a new one. There should be a tight seal between it and your door so air can’t sneak through. If weatherstripping around doors and windows is worn down, pull it out and replace it with the same type.

4. Siding

Check for gaps or cracks in your siding and around your windows, vents, and doors. Depending on how big the crack is, you may need to fill the space with expandable spray foam and paint over it to match the color of the surrounding area. For small cracks, you can typically get away with simply running a bead of caulk over the area and painting on top of it after it's dry.

Window and Roofing Services in Ankeny

If you need any roofing or window repairs in Huxley, Ames, or Ankeny, contact Hedrick Construction! We have a brand new eBook that you can download for free as well. Click the button below to learn about several important concerns for homeowners in the fall and winter.