BY CHIANA DICKSON

Why Is Fall Home Maintenance Important?

Fall home maintenance is important so that your property is in the best condition possible for enduring frosts, rain, and even snow as we enter winter. Without completing home maintenance early, you may find yourself having to repair more serious damage in colder, harsher months, especially when it comes to wooden structures and electricals.

1. Repair Your Lawn After The Summer Heat

The fall period is the perfect time to repair your lawn after the summer heat and days spent enjoying the sunshine.

2. Plant Fresh Bulbs For Next Spring

Fall is the ideal time to plant many bulbs ready for the following spring and summer. Many flowers and plants, such as tulips, benefit from the colder temperatures to help their germination period.

3. Improve Your Home Security For Darker Days

The fall months often see an increase in break-ins as the nights get darker. Because of this, it is important to protect your home and consider upgrading your home security with some of the best home security systems.

4. Clean Up And Prepare Decking Areas

Maintaining your deck ideas is easy when you prepare in advance. ‘Start to get on top of sweeping fallen leaves, especially on the decking as they can stain and discolor it,’ advises Nathan Gamba, director at Protea Gardens. ‘However, leave them in flower beds as they keep the roots of plants warm as the weather gets milder and provide shelter for insects,’ he adds.

5. Clear Out Gutters

Gutters can be forgotten about however it is important to check that they are not blocked or clogged before the rain sets in over Fall. Gutters can drain approximately thousands of gallons of water from your roof annually (depending on where you live) and should they become clogged, you may end up with both interior and exterior water damage.

6. Consider Extra Insulation For Your Home

Keeping your home warm is important to save money at home and cut energy bills. One way to prepare your home for the fall months is to improve your home insulation, whether through long-term investments such as insulating materials, or simple, quick fixes such as new blinds and curtains.

7. Check Your Boiler And Radiators

If your home has central heating, it is wise to check the system before turning it back on after summer.

8. Prepare Your Exterior Woodwork (If Applicable)

‘Time spent now properly protecting it means exterior woodwork will be shielded from the worst weather of those seasons, saving you repair time and money in the long run,’ says Richard Bradley, Marketing Manager at V33. ‘Particularly important is making sure external woodwork is waterproof and protected from mold, mildew, and those pests that cause rot. In addition, the timber should be shielded from the effects of repeated exposure to sunlight, which can damage it.

‘Applying a decent wood stain is the effective way of creating a barrier, which protects the wood from water and the sun.’

9. Fill In Any Cracks Around Your Property

Although a tedious task, making sure cracks in cement and wood are filled in correctly can save your home from worse damage in the long run. Water that freezes in cracks can expand, making cracks bigger and weakening the structural integrity of your property – whether this is on your house or your driveway.

10. Complete A Full Fall Clean

‘With the weather finally taking a turn for the chillier, now is the perfect time to prepare for the cold months ahead by deep cleaning your home to create the ultimate clean and cozy haven,’ says Sue Caldwell, managing director of Eco-cleaning brand, Clean Living. Although people traditionally partake in spring cleaning, fall cleaning is equally important to prepare a home for the colder months.

11. Clean Wood Burning Stoves (If Applicable)

'Wood burning stoves generally require little upkeep, but there are some key tips and tricks to ensure your stove runs at maximum efficiency for a better burn, an optimum flame, and superior heat output,' explains Phil Wood, UK country manager for Contura.

12. Check Your Electrics

'With fall approaching the nights are drawing in and it won’t be long until temperatures start to dip. As the weather changes, naturally, electricity usage across all homes will increase. To ensure your property is fully prepared for the coming months here are three electrical components you must check over,' warns Nigel Best, director of electrical training provider, Electrician Courses 4U.

• Ensure lights are in good working order
• Ensure consumer units are adequate for electrical usage, and
• Prepare yourself a power cut kit just in case

How Can I Stay On Top Of My House Maintenance?

Most home maintenance tasks only need to be carried out twice a year, usually in Spring and Fall. However, you can stay on top of home maintenance by completing smaller tasks such as checking smoke detectors and minor repairs more regularly throughout the year to reduce your to-do list in these pivotal seasons.