While you might not be thinking about winter weather during the heat of summer, now is actually one of the best times to tackle home maintenance projects. In fact, addressing small issues before temperatures drop significantly can help you avoid major repairs, unexpected expenses, and a full contractor schedule later this year.
“The most important thing homeowners can do this summer is pay attention to the little signs their home is already giving them,” says Daniel Ruddick, senior product manager at Great Day Improvements. “Drafts around windows, doors that won’t close securely, gutters overflowing when it rains, water stains near the ceiling, or a room that’s never comfortable can all be early warning signs.”
By catching these warning signs now, you can protect your home and head into fall with confidence. These are the most impactful steps homeowners can take now, before contractors start booking this fall.
Preventing flood damage before fall storms
Depending on where you live, fall and winter can bring hurricanes, storms, snow, and ice. Bad weather can easily expose weaknesses in your home’s roof or drainage system, and falling leaves can make the problem even worse.
That’s why it’s important to make sure water is properly diverted away from your home during storms. “Summer is a wise time to take advantage of the heavy rains and become aware of where water is coming from around your home,” says Matthew Sapri, director of sales operations at Leaf Guard.
Here are the best steps you can take now to prevent water damage this fall and winter.
- Check gutters for clogs, sagging, leaks, rust, and loose fasteners.
- During or after heavy rains, check to see if water is overflowing or collecting near the foundation of your home.
- Inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles, uneven areas, and accumulated debris.
- Look for dirt or moisture in the water that could indicate a leak
- Schedule repairs for drainage, gutter, and roof issues
Check for air leaks or hidden entry points
As fall turns into winter, small gaps around windows, doors, and other openings in your home can become a problem.
“Draughty windows, poorly sealed doors, and poor-performing insulation may not be a big deal when it’s warm outside, but when temperatures drop, these same issues can make your home feel colder, uneven, and less efficient,” says William Shannon, special projects manager at Champion Windows.
Not only will your heating be less efficient, but the same openings will allow insects and rodents seeking refuge from the cold to enter, creating a potential pest problem.
Here are some basic steps you can take right now.
- Seal cracked caulk around windows
- Replace damaged weatherstripping on windows, doors, and window air conditioning units.
- Check any openings where utility lines, cables, or pipes enter your home.
- Seal small cracks in your home’s foundation or around outdoor openings
Trim landscaping that may cause problems
Heavy rains from fall hurricanes and snow and ice accumulated during winter storms can weigh down loose or overhanging branches around your home, causing them to break. This can cause damage to your roof shingles, gutters, etc.
Overgrown landscaping, especially around the foundation of your home, can also attract insects and rodents. As temperatures drop, outdoor pests are more likely to seek shelter and enter your home.
Here’s what you should do now to prevent problems:
- Cut off tree branches that hang over or near your roof.
- Cut back any vegetation or landscaping that touches the side of your home.
- Remove piles of garden debris that can attract pests
Following these steps will also help keep your gutters clean and improve drainage around your home.
Prepare your heating system before the first cold snap
By the time the first cold night of the year arrives, it may have been months since you last turned on your home’s heating system.
If you can quickly confirm that your heating system is working, you can schedule repairs before the temperatures drop and service technicians are booked up.
Please take a few minutes and do the following:
It takes 5 minutes to test your safety device
It also means that the risk of fire increases as the weather gets colder and you start using your heating system, furnace, fireplace, and heating appliances again.
Please take a few minutes to check your safety equipment.
Bottom line: Get ahead of the fall rush with these projects
Proactively checking your home’s systems can help you identify problems before they become emergencies and help you cope with the influx of demand on contractors during the cooler months.
We recommend inspecting your roof and gutters, sealing drafty windows and doors, pruning overgrown landscaping, and checking your heating and safety systems. These are some of the simplest and most effective steps you can take before summer ends.
“By doing fall and winter maintenance in advance, homeowners can make decisions without pressure, avoid preventable damage, and gain confidence that their home is ready for the season ahead,” says Ruddick.
