Best Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

The shorter days are a clear indication that summer is past and autumn is on the horizon. As the weather gets cooler, now is a good time to take care of home maintenance issues that can be difficult to accomplish during the busy holiday period or when there is excessive snow, sleet and cold. Here are some tips for general fall maintenance.

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Outdoor Maintenance

Roof

Start with your home’s exterior. Look at everything from the top down, beginning with the roof. Climb a ladder to inspect your roof. If you can’t climb a ladder, use a pair of binoculars to look for broken or missing shingles. Signs of wear such as curling or cracking and accumulation of granules in gutters indicate your roof is toward the end of its useful life. At the same time, look for damage or gaps to metal flashing around chimneys and vents.

If you have any doubt about the condition of your roof…

call a professional for further inspection and recommendations.

Gutters

After taking care of the roof, clean gutters and downspouts of debris and make sure that they don’t have holes and aren’t sagging. Secure any gutters or downspouts that may have become loose from their moorings to ensure that water and ice melt can flow freely.

Windows

Heading downward, check siding for cracks, holes and loose strips and repair as necessary. Look for gaps around windows and caulk or install weather stripping to keep out cold drafts. Both are easy fixes that can help tighten the building envelope of your home and help reduce energy costs when cold weather sets in.

Sidewalks

Before you head inside, take a walk around your premises. Look for major cracks and broken pieces of sidewalks, loose railings and the like.

Problems like these are nuisances in the summer…

but can become major hazards in the winter during ice and snowfall. Repair or call in experts.

Indoor Maintenance

Heater & Heating Oil Delivery

The first item on the interior maintenance list is…

your furnace or heater. Have a professional clean it and check all connections to ensure that it is working properly. Dirty heating units not only waste money and energy, they can pose dangers to your health and safety. Be sure to schedule a heater tune-up before the busy season begins for HVAC contractors.

If you have a heater that uses heating oil as fuel, schedule an oil delivery at the same time as preventive maintenance. By doing so early in the season, you’ll ensure that you’ll stay warm all winter and head off any potential problems while the weather is still warm. Also, prices tend to be cheaper now than in the middle of the winter. Therefore, by scheduling a fuel oil delivery, you can save a few dollars.

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Fireplace

If you have a fireplace, have the flue cleaned and inspected for excessive creosote, which is a fire hazard. Make sure the damper closes firmly to prevent excessive drafts when the fireplace is not in use.

 

Alarms

Because we spend more time inside during colder months, it’s doubly important to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly.
In order to get these important alarms ready for the upcoming heating season, replace batteries or even entire units that are past their useful lives. If you do not have alarms like these in your home, be sure to have them placed in your home.

At the same time, check portable generators and make sure you have emergency gasoline on hand for snowblowers or vehicles in case of an emergency. This fall is known for power outages and so it is a good idea to be as prepared as possible.

Heating Oil Delivery Service Allentown PA

By following the above steps, you will be able to properly prepare for the upcoming colder weather. Although all of the steps are important, be sure to schedule an annual heater tune-up as well as a heating oil delivery. For trusted HVAC services, contact R.F. Ohl. We offer heating system tune-ups that will ensure optimal performance of your heating system. Also, we offer heating oil delivery. You can count on us to get your fuel to you safely and affordably.

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We service Allentown PA 18101, Bethlehem PA 18015, Catasauqua PA 18032, Center Valley PA 18034, Coplay PA 18037, East Texas PA 18046, Emmaus PA 18049, Hellertown PA 18055, Lehigh Valley PA 18001, Limeport PA 18060, Northampton PA 18067, Whitehall PA 18052, and surrounding areas.