Fall Maintenance Tips

12 easy and inexpensive maintenance tips to prepare your house for the upcoming fall season

Inspect exterior walls for blistering/peeling paint, peeling paint is a sign that the paint film can no longer protect the siding of your house, if left alone the siding will deteriorate leaving you with expensive repairs.

Clean the gutters, make sure your gutters aren't clogged and tighten the brackets if they appear loose. Clogged gutters can result into ice dams, which can cause major water damage to your house and water may leak through your roof.

Reverse ceiling fan, this way you are creating an upward draft that will redistribute warm air from the ceiling. 

Give your roof an inspection, as there could be missing/loose shingles. In making sure that your roof is in good shape you are preventing the upcoming winter hazards causing extreme damage to your home. 

Prepare your deck for the winter now, this means cover or hide any deck furniture you may have. Also look out for any damages to your deck and repair them immediately so that they don’t further deteriorate from the harsh winter conditions.

Make sure your fireplace is ready for the upcoming winter season now, therefore you don’t have to deal with the headache of getting it checked by a licensed heating contractor during the winter.

Seal your driveway, if your driveway is full of cracks it is best to clean out and repair the damage now, as it will prolong the life of your driveway throughout the winter.

Caulk your windows and door frames; this will prevent heat from escaping your house, if left uncaulked water may get into openings and freeze which could cause cracks and a build-up of mould.

Protect and clean your air conditioners, vacuum the inside of your air conditioners and cover it with a tarp if it is stored outside. This will prolong the life of your air-conditioner and protect it from the vigour’s of the winter.

Clean all your yard equipment that you use during the spring and summer, this will further extend the life of your equipment. Also check to see if your snow equipment is still working and have them readily accessible so that you are fully prepared for the winter weather conditions. 


Protect your garden, make sure to rake up any leaves before they get significantly wet as the leaves can compact and cause damage to the grass below.

Check your house for leaky faucets, leaky faucets are always a nuisance but its best to get them fixed now as opposed to the winter as fixing a broken pipe in the middle of the winter can be a major inconvenience.

Dryer Maintenance

 

Proper maintenance of your dryer vent will ensure safe and efficient operation of your dryer.
If clothes take longer to dry, it could be a sign that your dryer vent is obstructed. This can cause the dryer to overheat, potentially causing a fire.

• Replace white vinyl venting with metal venting. Vinyl venting is a fire hazard. 
• Clean the lint filter after every load. If the filter is damaged it should be replaced. 
• Clean the vent tube at least once a year. A long handled brush can be used to loosen the lint  and the vent can then be cleaned with a vacuum.
• Check that the outside vent hood is clear of debris. The dryer should always be vented to the exterior of the home.
• Have the inside of the cabinet cleaned periodically by a qualified technician as lint can build-up in here.
• Also the dryer should be level.

Dishwasher Maintenance

Dishwasher Maintenance

• Your Dishwasher should be level. If it is not level it could leak. Most dishwashers have adjustable feet.
• Check the door seals for signs of deterioration. Wipe around the seals to clean them. Damaged seals should be replaced.
• Clean sprayer arms. The holes in the sprayer arm can become clogged with debris. The spray arm can be removed and soaked in warm white vinegar. Debris can be loosened with a toothpick or stiff wire, but be careful not to scratch or damage the arm.
• Clean the filter. This is typically located at the bottom of the dishwasher. Check your owners manual for instructions on how to remove/clean the filter.

Refrigerator maintenance

• Use warm soapy water to clean the seals. If the seals are damaged they should be replaced. The cold air can escape from inside the fridge and make it work harder to keep the contents cold.
• Clean or vacuum the coils at the back of the fridge. The coils transfer heat from the fridge and this can’t be done effectively if the coils are covered in dust. Again the fridge will operate more efficiently if this is done every 6 months.
• If the fridge has a water/ice maker the filter should be changed twice a year or in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Most modern fridges have a self-defrost mechanism which will defrost automatically. Older fridges may have to be defrosted manually. In this case remove items from the fridge and unplug the unit. Be prepared for water from the melting ice. Do not use sharp items to chip ice away as this can damage the interior of the fridge/freezer.
• Keep the fridge clean to prevent bacterial growth in the fridge and dispose of spoiled food and items that are past there expiry date.
• An open box of baking soda can be used to absorb odours.