If you hated last winter, then you are probably not thrilled to hear that this winter is expected to be worse than last. Winters in Massachusetts can be really rough on your property,…causing expensive damages. Here are a few fall home maintenance tasks for Massachusetts homeowners to consider.
Roof Check
Your roof is one of the most important areas of your home to prepare for the winter. Have any missing or broken shingles repaired. This will prevent leakage from rain and/or snow. If you had ice dams during last winter, you may want to have your attic evaluated. Proper ventilation is important and may minimize problems such as ice dams.
Gutter Cleanup
After the majority of leaves have fallen, it is a good idea to clean out your gutters. Leaves in the gutters will cause problems when it snows. Melting snow will not drain properly and may cause ice dams. Damage from ice dams is extremely expensive, so anything that you can do to avoid it is worthwhile. For safety reasons, consider hiring a gutter cleaning company rather than attempting to clean the gutters yourself. This is especially true if you have a high roof line.
Heating Maintenance
The Fall is a great time to make sure that all of your systems are in proper working order. Have your heating system serviced and cleaned. Check your chimney and have it swept (if you didn’t already do so at the end of the last heating season). Don’t forget to replace filters on units as well.
Winterization
Before freezing weather arrives, be sure to winterize several items in your home such as your irrigation system and exterior faucets. For irrigation systems, hire a professional if you are not familiar with the process or do not have the proper equipment to winterize it. For faucets, shut down the water source using the valves on the interior of your home and turn on the faucet to drain the water remaining in the line. Eliminating water from inside of these exterior lines will prevent them from freezing and bursting over the winter.
Seal & Insulate
Loss of heat can increase your home heating costs. Fall is a great time to check your doors and windows for gaps. Fill or seal gaps as needed. It may be worthwhile to add insulation to areas that are particularly cold. Insulating your basement water pipes may also prevent freezing in the winter.
Check Smoke and CO Detectors
Fire hazards are increased during the winter months since your home is closed up most of the time and you also use different heating methods. It is important to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Change out batteries and test that all units are functioning. Replace/upgrade any old hardware to keep your home current and safe.
Other Fall Home Maintenance Tasks
The above Fall home maintenance tasks for Massachusetts include just a few important items for your list. Take a good look around your home to identify other areas that should be addressed. Pay particularly close attention to any areas of the home that experienced problems in the past. Damages to your home can be expensive, so being proactive will definitely pay off by reducing expenses and headaches.
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