Temperate fall weather is the perfect time for home maintenance. The tasks you undertake now will help you save money on utility bills and keep you warmer when winter storms arrive. Here are some tips to get you started.
Exterior Chores:
- Examine your foundation for cracks, particularly where the masonry meets the siding. That’s a perfect entry point for moisture from snow or cold air. Seal the cracks with caulk. Also check for holes in siding and fill them with caulk. Examine the roof for missing shingles or cracks where moisture might leak into your home. Have the roof repaired if necessary.
- Examine the walls of your home for peeling or cracked paint. With lower temperatures and humidity, fall is a good time to paint the exterior of your home.
- If you have rain gutters, clean any debris out so you don’t get ice dams. Make sure all segments are connected.
- Drain exterior water pipes and turn off the valves to prevent freezing and damage.
- Remove all debris, weeds, leaves and overgrown shrubbery from around the outdoor condenser unit. Anchor a piece of plywood on the top with bricks to keep out leaves, but don’t wrap the unit. Moisture can get trapped inside and cause rust.
Interior Tasks:
- Apply caulk or weatherstripping around windows and doors to keep out cold air and moisture.
- Schedule fall furnace maintenance. Have the service tech examine the heat exchanger and vents for cracks where carbon monoxide could leak. Ask the technician to examine the condensate line to make sure it’s draining properly.
- If you have a humidifier, clean it out regularly to prevent mold.
- Inspect your ductwork for holes and loose segments. Repair them with mastic and metal tape (never use duct tape) to prevent heated air from leaking out into unconditioned spaces.
- Reverse your ceiling fan blades so they run clockwise. This will push down heated air from the ceiling.
For more fall home maintenance tips, contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve served Central Indiana for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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