Fall Home Checklist

The passing of the Labor Day Holiday for many signifies the end of summer: The kids are back in school, leaves are just starting to turn color, and there’s that lovely “crispness” in the air. As those summer vacations fade to pleasant memories you may want to take a few minutes and work on your fall home checklist. Here are the top 5 things you can do — in the fall — to get your home ready for winter:

Replace the furnace filter. Indoor air quality is especially important during Fall and Winter, considering you will be closing the windows and increasingly recirculating indoor air.

Cover the hose bibs. They call them “hose bibs,” but they’re actually the outdoor faucets around your home. It’s still a little early, but better to be early than late — no one wants to call the plumber to fix freezing pipes.

Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors/thermostat. It’s a good routine to replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors whenever you move the clock forward or back for Daylight Savings time. And, while you’re at it you may as well replace them in your thermostat as well. (Some people go as far as replacing all the batteries in their TV remotes.)

Make sure your home’s exterior meets the grade. Walk around your home and make sure the soil is graded away from the building. Ensure no dirt is touching the exterior wood walls, and prune trees and shrubs so they’re not touching your siding or roof.

Look for leaks. Check around your windows and especially doors. Are there any gaps? Now is a great time to apply weather stripping to seal up those energy-sucking gaps and holes. It can save you money later.

Some of us are happy to say “goodbye” to all the heat and dry weather, but others are sad to see the long days get shorter. Either way you look at it, it’s best to be prepared for a change of season.

Yuck, what is that? If you suspect your air quality issues go beyond replacing a filter, speak with a Neil Kelly Home Performance specialist. They can identify the trouble and help you get cleaner, more healthful air circulating throughout your home.

Are your home exterior jobs beginning to pile up? Neil Kelly offers a comprehensive suite of exterior remodeling services. Whether it’s a small window or siding repair, or a large exterior project like replacing your roof, call upon the Pacific Northwest’s most trusted remodeler.