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Tips for Winter Home Maintenance

November 9, 2015

Fall has arrived in the Mid-South and it’s time to do those home maintenance chores to get your home ready for Old Man Winter. Get these things done early so you can sit back and enjoy all things pumpkin spice and watch your favorite team score! Here is a nifty checklist from our friends at Lowe’s: In Fall, prepare your home and yard for cooler temperatures, falling leaves and more hours spent indoors. Outdoor Tasks:

• Clean gutters and downspouts.
• Inspect roof and chimney for cracks and damage.
• Rake leaves and shred to use as mulch
• Close or install storm windows.
• Remove hoses from spigots and drain and store indoors, coiled and flat.
• Store outdoor furniture and cushions.

• Indoor Tasks:

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the fall.
• Check windows and doors for weather-tightness and install weather stripping where it's needed.
• Have furnace professionally inspected.
• If needed, set traps for rodents.
• Dust blinds and vacuum curtains throughout your house.
• Clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and throw away outdated food, medicine and cosmetics

• Outdoor Tasks:
• In Winter, enjoy energy-efficient warmth and the fruits of your home-maintenance labors. Use this time of the year to thoroughly clean and care for your home's interior while taking a few precautionary measures on the outside.
• Protect your central air conditioning unit with a cover, and remove and store window air conditioners.
• Clean and store garden tools.

• Indoor Tasks:

• Change or clean furnace filters. Consult manufacturer instructions for your furnace to determine how frequently the filters should be replaced.
• Clean kitchen appliances inside and out, including refrigerator coils.
• Maintain clean drains by adding one-half-cup baking soda followed by one-half-cup white vinegar. After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water.