Raking Up Fall Maintenance Mistakes at Home

Fall is a stunning time of year, full of family gatherings like Thanksgiving and fun times with Halloween. However, seasonal changes come with some challenges, and there are a few fall maintenance mistakes you can make at home that can almost guarantee a miserable time.

All it really takes is a little forethought and planning to ensure a peaceful home during arguably the best season. From roofing to gas detectors, here are some handy seasonal suggestions.

Poor Preparation for Pests

There are pests that come and go all year round. But some of the most prolific come about in the fall season. Spiders, mice, and, of course, rats can cause any issues and become a problem. Preparing your home for pests, such as using glue traps for rats, means you can get rid of them effectively. If you prepare the house early for such pests, you drastically reduce the chances of pests becoming a major issue so you can enjoy the most beautiful season.

Roofing Fall Maintenance Mistakes

The roof is one of the most essential parts of a home. It ensures rainwater runs off where it should and doesn’t enter your home. Which is good because water is the enemy of a house. There are so many issues water causes, such as dampness, mold, and electrical fires! It helps to inspect the roof a few times a year, especially in fall and winter. There are around 3,000 collapsed roof incidents in the US alone each year. Make sure yours isn’t one of them this fall!

Exterior Painting Late in the Season

Most people get outside and finish DIY jobs such as exterior painting in the summer. However, things can get in the way of planned home maintenance, such as summer fun! If this is the case, you don’t want to leave your painting jobs until later in the fall season. Most exterior paints are designed to set properly at higher temperatures. So, a cold late fall paint job in November might not be the best idea. It pretty much stays warm during early fall, so aim for that timeframe.

Forgetting About the Chimney

As fall gets underway and winter approaches, you will be thankful you have a home heating system. Many of us rely on HVAC or central heating. But how about a toasty fireplace? If you have a fireplace, it is essential that it is maintained, as you will probably be using it more in late fall and throughout the winter. Professional chimney maintenance is vital as it helps your firework correctly and prevents blockages that can cause a buildup of deadly carbon monoxide.

Leaving Fall Maintenance Mistakes Too Late

Of course, summer is a time for fun in the sun, and we also tend to keep it up until early fall while it’s still warm outside. However, this means we can often forget about certain tasks that we need to get out of the way. When you have a spare afternoon, consider these before fall arrives:

• Check for signs of internal and external damage in the weeks leading to fall.

• Keep gutters and drainage clean and clear throughout the summer months.

• Keep up with HVAC maintenance such as changing air filters when needed.

• Begin raking up the leaves as soon as the first few begin to litter the lawn.

• Fill in any cracks that can potentially cause rainwater leakage into the home.

• Ensure your storage shed is waterproof, lockable, and sturdy.

• Give the home a top-to-bottom clean to welcome in the new season.

These might seem like minor jobs, but they contribute to ensuring your home stays in good working order. Preparing for a fall like this helps keep smaller issues from becoming big ones.

Not Preparing Equipment for Winter

Winter is harsh on the garden and makes it almost impossible to keep up with maintenance. This is when we store our equipment away and make sure it lasts through until spring. This is simple enough for manual tools. But motorized ones need some extra care. For example, your lawn mower and power tools need some fogging oil. You may also need to use a fuel stabilizer or ensure that all fuel has been used up. Learning about your tools is best for proper care.

Checking Window Ventilation

Ventilation is vital for a healthy home. When it’s cold, we tend to close the windows and crank up the heat. While it’s nice to stay warm, this can lead to a rise in moisture, and combined with heat, leads to other issues. This includes dampness, mold, and a cozy home for pests such as spiders! Modern windows come with ventilation systems that ensure water goes where it should. They can be found at the top or bottom of windows. Keep them open, clean, and unobstructed.

Deadly Fall Maintenance Mistakes

Home is somewhere we should feel safe and protected, and most people do. However, there are things around the house that can harm you if you aren’t careful! For example, over 400 Americans per year succumb to preventable carbon monoxide poisoning. This typically comes from heating systems such as the furnace. But anything that burns gas can cause this. A simple CO alarm can be enough to prevent a death. The same obviously goes for smoke detectors.

Using Too Much Fertilizer

Who doesn’t love an emerald lawn? A bright green lawn can be the pride of your home. But you know what isn’t the pride of the house? A black and brown scorched lawn! Most people tend to use any old fertilizer and apply it liberally all over the lawn so the grass has nutrients for winter while it’s dormant. However, the type of fertilizer and how much it is used depends greatly on the climate, type of grass, and soil quality. Research your lawn before using any fertilizer.

Not preparing the home for pests such as rats and mice is one of the biggest fall home maintenance mistakes you can make. Leaving smaller jobs until late in the season can also cause bigger problems. Misuse of lawn fertilizer often leads to burned lawns come spring.

Related Article:

• Home Maintenance Tips for Spring
• The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist