Fall Home Maintenance Tips & Welcoming Fall Guests

Leaves changing colors. Bonfires and roasting s’mores. Warm pies baking in the oven. A fire crackling in the fireplace. The weather is cooling down signaling the time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. It’s also the time to to get your home ready to welcome guests for the fall holiday gatherings. We’ve put together a fall home maintenance check list and some tips for creating a welcoming home for fall guests.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Clean gutters and downspouts frequently throughout fall to prevent build up of leaves and other debris. Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot problems and pest infestations, not to mention ruined gutters.
• Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place.
• Ensure that water drains properly and doesn’t pool. Pooling can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and walkways.

Heating Systems

• Now is the time to turn on your furnace to make sure everything is running properly. This helps avoid costly after hour fees of hiring a professional when temperatures are below freezing.
• Replace the filter in your furnace.
• Consider having a heating professional check your heating system to ensure optimal performance and discover minor problems before they turn into costly major repairs.
• Clean your ducts to better your heating system’s efficiency as well as to reduce household dust and to provide relief to those with respiratory problems.

Windows and Doors

• Change summer screens to cool weather storm windows and doors.
• Inspect and repair any loose or damaged window or door frames.
• Install weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors to prevent drafts and to lower heating bills.

Plumbing

• To prevent pipes freezing and bursting, ensure that the pipes are well insulated.
• Know how to locate and turn off the water shut-off valve in case pipes do freeze.

Interior and Exterior

• Change batteries in smoke detectors.
• Check windows and doors for drafts, lose frames, or cracked panes.
• Check for cracked or peeling paint.

Chimney and Fireplace 

• Call a professional in to inspect and clean your chimney. Fireplaces that are regularly used during the season should have an annual cleaning to prevent dangerous chimney fires.
• Test your fireplace flue for a tight seal when closed.

Attic Ventilation

• Be sure attic insulation doesn’t cover vents in the eaves to prevent winter ice dams on the roof.
• Be sure ridge vents and vents at eaves are free of plants and debris.
• Check bird and rodent screens for attic vents to prevent any unwanted guests.

Landscape and Yardwork

• Although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn.
• Prune your trees and shrubs after the leaves turn to encourage healthy growth.
• Trim any tree limbs that are dangerously close to power lines or the roof of your house. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter.

Get Ready to Welcome Fall Guests

 

Warm Things Up Indoors

Create a welcoming home by swapping out lightweight summer pillows for luxe velvet ones in rich, fall shades. Then add some layers. Fall’s crisp weather calls for layering up your wardrobe — put the same idea to work in your home. Toss cozy wool, cotton, chenille, or even luxurious cashmere throws over furniture in rooms and get ready to cozy up by the fire.

 

Set the Table With Seasonal Style

Turn every day into a holiday by decking out the dining room in fall’s favorite hues. For a can’t-miss combo, pair warm shades of orange, red, and yellow with muted greens and copper metallic accents.

Welcoming Fall Bathroom

There are several ways to make your bathroom toasty in chilly weather for your family and overnight guests. One of the most luxurious things you can do is invest in radiant-heat flooring. Stepping onto a warm floor is far nicer than stepping onto a freezing cold bathroom floor. Radiant floors also provide a great source of ambient heat, which is particularly helpful in bathrooms located in colder parts of the house like basements. Heated towel bars are also a wonderful way to quickly warm up when you step out of a shower. Then get ready for guests by stocking the shelves with everything they’ll need, like towels and soap. Really make them feel at home by stocking the bath with little amenities they may have forgotten to pack like toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a razor.

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