Here's A Handy Home Maintenance Checklist

Inspect and repair all pipes.The furnace filter should be replaced every three months. Proper sealing also protects against moisture damage and heat loss. Hint: If you have some extra roof shingles left over from your roofing job, immediately store a few in a not too noticeable area outside where they will be exposed to the elements. If this is not possible, wrap or cover them securely.Inspect the ducts, filters, and heating equipment. Use a certified HVAC professional, if necessary.Check for cracks in concrete and seal appropriately. Remember to drain the hoses first.Clean gutters and downspouts. The best protection is inside storage in a basement, garage, or shed.Install a top screen on your chimney to keep out debris and animals. It's amazing how rodents and insects can squeeze through even the smallest holes, especially those where pipes or wires enter the house..Clean the fireplace of ashes if you have not done this since last winter. Even raccoons have been known to fall down chimneys!Check the levels of your propane or oil tanks. You will most likely need to replenish the supply.Open and close the fireplace damper to ensure that it is operating correctly. They will weather along with your roof shingles, and if you do need to replace an occasional shingle in the future, they will blend in very nicely with the rest of the roofCheck for leaks around roof vents, skylights, and chimneys. For your convenience, print this out and keep it where you will see it. Don't want to get covered with soot? Leave the dirty work to a chimneysweep. To prevent freezing problems in colder climates, drain and shut off the outside faucets.Here's a handy home maintenance checklist for this fall. A good New Years Resolution would be to always clean the ashes in a timely fashion. One coat should be sufficient. An easy way to remember this is to perform the inspection on the first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter. It includes some items most homeowners tend to overlook.Clean the interior of the chimney.Inspect your foundation walls and seal any small openings. You may want to hire this out to a professional who is properly certified and insured.Protect outdoor items such as patio furniture, grills, and hoses. Or the first of each quarter (January, April, July, October). You don't want little "trees" growing in your gutters next spring. If you can't get Mary Poppins, try the yellow pages.Pressure wash and seal the deck.Inspect the roof for loose shingles. Many offer discount specials during the fall season. It may be best to clean and vacuum vents,.