Home with blue sky and orange leaves

Fall Property Maintenance Tips

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

Fireplacefireplace

  • If you have a fireplace, have it cleaned by a professional.

Exterior

  • Seal driveway and sidewalk cracks.
  • If you have a septic tank, it should be cleaned once every two years.

Doors & Windowstrim on door

  • 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.

Lawn & Landscape

  • 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.tree trimming
  • 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.

Roof

  • Repair damage to the roof and valleys.

Heating system

Fall is the time to get your furnace ready to fire up for the winter months. Have you had your system serviced yet this year? Also, check for these things in the fall:

  • Clear any clutter away from heating and cooling equipment.
  • 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.

Test your carbon monoxide detector and be sure to change your smoke detector battery when you set back the clock!