Fall Cleaning List

It’s still plenty warm in many parts of the country but, like it or not, it’s time to prep your home for seasonal changes.

The maintenance experts at DIY Network suggest seven chores you should be doing now:

• Clean leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Make sure the drainage areas are unblocked and consider installing gutter guards to make the job a bit easier.

• Check out your roof. Do it yourself or have a professional inspect it for wear and tear. Replace any damaged shingles and check the flashing around skylights and chimneys to guard against leaks or gaps.

• Wrap exterior water pipes. Wrapping water pipes that run along exterior walls with heating tap will save energy and prevent pipes from freezing if you live in a cold climate.

• Turn off the valves to the exterior hose bibs in freezing weather zones. Run the water until the pipes are empty. Make sure all the water has drained from the pipes.

• Paint the exterior if needed. Low humidity and cool weather make early fall an ideal time to put a new coat of paint on your home in many regions.

• Check windows and doors for leaks or drafts. The change in temperature and humidity, as well as normal wear and tear, can cause window seals to crack and shrink. Caulk any cracks you find and/or install weather stripping around windows and doors, including the garage door. Replace screens with storm windows, if needed.

• Replace furnace filters. Clean and replace the filters in your furnace or heating system. You can contact a licensed heating contractor to inspect and service your gas heater or furnace to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning; however, check with your local utility company first, because they often provide this service for free.