As the seasons change, it’s important to give your new home a seasonal checkup to ensure it continues to run smoothly. Here are a few tips from the experts on our Customer Care team that will help lower your utility bills, and protect your biggest investment. Download our Fall Maintenance Checklist, and never miss a step again.
Cover All Bases
- Check garage door tracks, and lubricate bearings – Lubricate all hinges, rollers, and the lock mechanism on the door: Spray lubricant into the keyhole and work the key several times to distribute it evenly. Proper maintenance of garage doors includes inspecting all hardware and moving parts, such as garage-door springs, cables, rollers, and other door hardware. Look for signs of wear or broken parts. If you find any signs of damage, be sure to contact a service professional to make repairs before the door is used again.
- Check caulking for air and water leaks.
- Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors (monthly) – Just like any electrical appliance, smoke alarm components wear out over time. When a smoke alarm reaches 10 years of use, the potential for failing to detect a fire increases substantially. Replacing them after 10 years reduces the likelihood of failure. Every smoke alarm comes with a test button, and it is recommended to test alarms regularly, at least once a month.
- Check roof, including shingles, vents, and eaves.
- Check weather-stripping on windows and doors – Windows can account for up to 25% of total house heat loss. Air leakage can be reduced by applying a continuous bead of caulking around window trim and between the trim and the frame. Weather-stripping is used to prevent air leakage at parts of an operable window that move. In most cases, it is a simple task to replace worn weather-stripping around doors and windows, which will help save on heating costs.
Winterproofing
- Winterize lawn, and remove leaves. (Learn more here)
- Clean and replace furnace filter – Regular maintenance of your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is critical to ensure its longevity and efficient operation. Proper maintenance of this system can help save money. The air filter keeps pollution and debris out of your HVAC system, ensuring proper and efficient operation. A dirty filter will slow down airflow, making both the furnace work harder to heat your home and the AC work harder to cool it. This wastes energy and can result in higher energy bills. Depending on the type of filter you are using, it should be changed every 1–3 months.
Still have questions? View our other home maintenance tips.