Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

I arrived back from vacation this past week from 90-degree Carolina sunshiny weather--and upon my return to New Jersey, I was greeted with some unseasonably low temperatures and I felt as though I had literally left summer on the beach of the Outer Banks, NC. and returned home to fall.

Summer is my favorite season, so I was a bit depressed--but it is September after all--September already?! Yup. And fall really is just around the corner. So I guess this is just as good a time as ever to get prepped for fall maintenance around the house. Below, please enjoy the autumn portion of the U.S. Inspect Seasonal Maintenance Series.

A home care checklist for the fall season:

Exterior: Check foundation walls, steps, retaining walls, walks, patios, driveways and garage floors for cracks, heaving and crumbling.

Heating & Cooling: Service oil burning equipment and heat pump annually. Service gas burning equipment every other year.

Interiors: Check underside of roof for water stains, leaks, dampness and condensation.

Plumbing: Have septic tank professionally drained and cleaned every two years.

Doors & Windows: Check all weather stripping.

Exterior: Clean gutters, leaders, strainers, window wells and drains. Be sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.

Roof: Check vents, louvers and chimneys for birds nest, squirrels or insects.

Doors & Windows: Check glazing putty on windows and check caulking for decay around doors, windows, corner boards and joints.

Plumbing: Drain exterior water lines, hose bibs, sprinklers and pool equipment. Check insulation wrapping on all water lines and drains exposed to weather.

Click here to view the Summer Maintenance Checklist blog post.