City of Hopkins • Seasonal Home Maintenance Tips

This is the season to tackle big exterior projects such as painting, carpentry or cement repair.

Move the lawn mower blade height up so that it cuts no more than the top one-third of the grass blade. Your lawn will be healthier, and you'll have fewer weeds if grass isn't mown shorter than 2 to 2 1/2 inches.
Take inventory of your yard. Are there areas of grass that never do well? Consider replacing that grass with shrubs, perennials or ground covers. Take photos now for winter planning.
If it doesn't rain, water lawn deeply once a week. (Deep watering is better than frequent, shallow watering.)

This is the season to finish summer projects, and prepare your yard and home for winter.

Replace loose or missing glazing putty.
Replace deteriorated weather-stripping. Replace deteriorated caulking at all openings around doors and windows.
Check all door and window hardware. Replace as needed.

Change your smoke detector battery when you set back clocks.
Clear debris away from heating and cooling equipment.
Have system serviced annually.
Clean or change furnace filters every month or as recommended by the manufacturer.
For forced air systems: check fan belt tension, and lubricate fan and motor bearings. For steam systems: check shut-off valve for leaks and drain low water cut-off per manufacturer's instructions. For hot water systems: top off water, bleed radiators and bring up to recommended pressure.
Check boiler pressure relief valve. Check pressure and temperature relief valve on water heater.

Deeply water trees and shrubs. Consider planting bulbs to enjoy next spring.
Trim back any tree limbs that hit your roof or house. If needed, arrange to have trees pruned this fall or winter.
Shut off and drain outside faucet(s).
Fertilize your lawn: once in mid-September and again in early October. Consider aerating your lawn.
To ease raking, cut grass to a shorter length and try mowing over leaves. Use chopped leaves for mulch. Rake leaves off lawns and streets (especially leaves clogging storm sewer openings).
If you have an underground lawn sprinkler system, check for leaky valves, exposed lines and back-flow protection.

This is the season to take care of interior maintenance and decorating.

Check ceiling at exterior edge and surfaces around windows for evidence of moisture (ice dam problems).
Check all tile joints for adequate grout. Regrout as needed.
Check caulking, look for leaks around showers, bathtubs, sinks, faucets, toilet bases and supply valves. Repair as needed.
Check ceiling beneath bathroom for leakage. Repair as needed.
Check all stairs and railings for loose elements. Repair as needed.
Test all smoke and safety alarms. If you don't have a smoke detector on each floor, buy and install them.
Know the location of all gas shut-off valves and the main water shut-off. Label them.
Take care of indoor decorating projects that don't require extensive ventilation.

Check for exposed wiring and cable. Also check cords and plugs for damage and wear. Replace at first sign of wear or damage.
Label circuits. Trip circuit breakers and ground fault interrupters to ensure proper function.
If fuses blow, circuit breakers trip frequently or any appliance sparks or shorts out, contact a licensed electrician for repairs.

Shovel sidewalks and driveways before foot and car traffic makes snow hard to remove.
Very carefully remove heavy snow from roofs to avoid ice dams. (Hire a professional if you're unsure how to do this.)
If your home is near a fire hydrant, shovel snow away from the hydrant so firefighters can quickly access it.
If your home is next to a storm sewer opening, shovel snow away from the sewer grate when temperatures begin rising.

This is the season to get your yard in shape, fix winter damage, and tackle interior jobs that require good ventilation.

Check foundation walls, floors, concrete and masonry for cracking, heaving or deterioration. Repair problems.
Check chimney for loose, deteriorated or missing mortar. Repair problems.
Check grading for proper slope away from foundation walls. Build up soil wherever needed.
Check all wood surfaces-especially at the soil level-for weathering, peeling paint or dry rot. Fix now or this summer.
Check deck, patio, porch, and exterior stairs and railings for deterioration or damage. Repair now or this summer.
Remove debris from gutters and downspouts. Repair any leaks.

Check for any missing, loose or damaged shingles. Have these replaced.
Check for open seams, blisters or bald areas on flat roofs. Have these fixed.
Check flashing around all surface projections and sidewalls.
Check antenna supports for possible leak sources.
Check fascia and soffits for deterioration and damage.
Check roof louvers for damage or plugging (birds nests, etc.)
If ice dams were a problem last winter, have your attic properly insulated and ventilated.

Plant trees, shrubs, flowers and/or vegetables.
Remove left-over fallen leaves, dead plants and lawn debris. Trim shrubs that brush against the house.
Plant grass seed in bare patches.
Apply pre-emergent weed preventer, if needed. Fertilize lawn, if needed.
Unless trees are storm damaged, hold off tree trimming until autumn or winter when it's healthier to prune trees.

Repair or replace torn screens or broken windows. Replace broken sash ropes or hold-open devices.
Check basement and crawl space for moisture or leaking water. Take care of all moisture problems.
Check your home's cooling system before hot weather arrives.
Open vents in crawl space and vent crawl spaces in basements.
Once windows can be opened, do any interior painting, varnishing or other projects where odor can be a problem.
Check your smoke detector when you change clocks ahead.
Take note of slow drains or back-ups. If needed, have sewer pipes cleaned before a really big back-up occurs.