Fall is a great time to take care of home repair and maintenance before those cold Cleveland winter months arrive. Take some time this fall to do safety checks and boost energy efficiency. Check these items off your list this season, and you can rest easy knowing that your home is buttoned up and ready for winter.
Shut off exterior faucets and store hoses. Protect your pipes from freezing temperatures by shutting off water to exterior faucets before the temperature dips below freezing. Make sure to drain hoses and store them indoors.
Check safety devices. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed. Make sure to also check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher.
Remove window A/C units. If you use window air conditioning units in the summer, remove them before the weather turns cold. If you must leave in window A/C units, make sure to cover the exterior with an insulating wrap to keep cold air out.
Test outdoor lights and replace bulbs as needed. We rely more on exterior lighting as the days get shorter. Be sure to test lights on the front and back porch and on the garage.
Weatherize. Weatherstripping or caulk applied around the frames of windows and doors helps boost winter warmth and cut energy costs.
Clean dryer vents. Clogged vents could become a fire hazard. Regularly cleaning the vent ensures your dryer works safely and efficiently.
Clean gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters can cause water to pool and damage your roof or siding. Once most of the leaves have fallen, clean out gutters and downspouts.