Fall Maintenance Tips for Your McKee Home

On the East Coast, there are things we do every fall to keep our homes operating at peak efficiency during the long winter months. McKee Builders has years of experience building superior-quality homes and communities, including Preserve at Marsh Creek or Friendship Creek. As the cold weather approaches, we have recommendations for some of the key fall maintenance tasks you’ll want to tackle, whether you live in one of our carefree 55+ communities or our townhome communities.

Outdoor Fall Home Maintenance

• Clean the gutters. (Or have them cleaned by a professional.) This task is especially crucial because of freezing and thawing. Have the roof checked for cracked or loose shingles, too. 

• Check the deck and porch boards. Loose or warped boards are hazardous. Check stairs and railings for stability. Damaged walkways, drives, or steps can be dangerous when the weather turns icy. Fixing problems now can prevent expensive headaches later

• Clean and put away or cover patio furniture and grills. Ensure every part of the grill is cleaned thoroughly of burned food and grease before it is covered and put away. 

• Power wash your home’s exterior, driveway, walkway, patio, porch, or deck. 

• Check for gaps around windows, ripped screens, or damaged siding—seal gaps and cracks around with weather-stripping and caulk. 

• Turn off all outside water and sprinklers. Close any shut-off valves, then open the outdoor faucet to drain the line. Empty all hoses, too. Set up bird feeders.

Indoor Fall Home Maintenance

• Have the furnace and ducts inspected and cleaned by a professional. Do this BEFORE it gets cold! Replace all filters. Set the humidifier for winter. Set the programmable thermostat for your current schedule.

• Make sure all chimneys and fireplaces are thoroughly inspected. For a gas fireplace, if you turned the gas off for the summer, turn it back on and start the pilot. Clean the glass so you have a clear view of the fire. 

• Make sure the dryer vents are clean. Static electricity builds up in the cold, dry months and can cause dryer lint to catch fire. 

• Test all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries if necessary. Buy a fire extinguisher or replace it if it is over 10 years old.

• Get an emergency kit ready. Include basic items you may need: water, flashlights, and batteries, a first aid kit, whistles to signal for help, jumper cables, basic tools, a manual can opener, a small supply of food, radio, candles, lighter, blankets, and rope.