Home Maintenance Schedule

Fall and winter

Fall

Outside:

• Remove garden hoses from spouts. Drain and store for the winter. Wrap spouts in insulation.

• Drain in-ground sprinkler systems.

• Clear debris out of window wells, gutters, downspouts, and storm drains.

• Check weather stripping on windows and doors for fit and condition. Replace as necessary.

• Check windows, doors, and siding for holes and cracks. Caulk as necessary.

• Check and clean chimney (if you don't do it in the spring).

• Inspect all soffit vents and other venting systems to make sure they're clear of debris.

• Check bricks or blocks for cracked mortar or loose joints.

• Check painted surfaces for paint failure, water damage, or mildew.

• Examine all trim for fit, damage, and condition.

• Check caulking where two different materials meet, where wood siding joins the foundation wall, at inside corners, and where the window and door trim meets the siding.

• Check for loose putty around glass panes.

• Check for broken or cracked glass and damaged screens or storm windows.

• Insulate outdoor faucets, pipes in unheated garages, and pipes in crawl spaces with materials such as rags or newspapers.

Inside:

• Have furnace checked and serviced if necessary.

• Remove hair from drains in sinks, tubs, and showers. Use a drain cleaner approved for the materials in your plumbing system if necessary.

• Test all smoke alarms (when standard time resumes). Replace batteries as necessary.

• Test all ground-fault circuit interrupters, especially after electrical storms.

Winter

Outside:

• Check roof for damage and/or icicles indicating potential ice dams.

Inside:

• Check basement for leaks and seepage during thaws.

• Remove hair from drains in sinks, tubs, and showers. Use a drain cleaner approved for the materials in your plumbing system if necessary.

• Test all ground-fault circuit interrupters, especially after electrical storms.

• If leaving the house for an extended period, avoid frozen pipes by opening the cabinet doors to allow heat to reach the pipes. Don't turn the heat completely off.