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Five Must-Do Maintenance Tasks for Fall

Some folks like to fly by the seat of their pants. Others prefer a plan, defined path, and an organized to-do list. If you fall into the latter category Maintenance Tasks , this blog post is for you.

As you prepare to dig out the flannel sheets, swap the sneakers for boots, and prepare to make your home all things cozy, make sure to tackle these fall maintenance tasks to prepare your home for the colder months ahead.

1. Clean the Gutters 

While colorful and beautiful, those falling autumn leaves can cause big problems for your home this fall and winter if left to pile up in your gutters. Winter can be plenty rough with snow, sleet, and below-freezing temperatures. When accumulated ice melts, clogged gutters can cause roof and wall leaks, wood rot,  peeling paint, and damage to the gutters themselves. Clean gutters in the fall and spring and make sure downspouts a directed away from your home’s foundation.

2. Check Smoke Detectors 

Like anything else, your smoke detectors are not invincible. Batteries can die and parts of the device can wear out over time. Test all smoke and CO detectors once a month and replace batteries every six months.  If your detector has a power indicator light, make sure it’s illuminated. Then, press the test button to see if the alarm sounds.

3. Have the Chimney Cleaned and Inspected 

It’s best to do this before the urge to light a fire hits.  The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends sweeping open masonry fireplaces once 1/8” of sooty buildup has accumulated or sooner if any glaze is present in the system.  An licensed, experienced chimney sweep can also inspect your chimney for creosote buildup. Too much of this substance can ignite a fire that spreads into your living space, putting your home and family in danger.

4. Trim the Trees

No, we’re not talking about holiday decorating. Cut back any dead branches, particularly those that hang over your house. In stormy, windy, or icy weather, they could fall and potentially cause serious damage to your home, or worse –  injury to you loved ones.

5. Have the Heating System Checked

How confident are you that your heating system will perform without a hitch this winter? For optimum performance and a reduced risk of equipment problems or failure, contact Messmer Mechanical for our heating system tune-up and inspection. It’s also a good way to cut your home heating costs and extend the life of the equipment.