I saw the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival circled on the calendar and thought now is the perfect time to talk about Fall Home Maintenance.
With average October highs reaching into the mid-70s our autumns in Richmond Hill, Ga and Savannah, GA are near perfect. Before we start pulling out old family turkey stuffing recipes, lets go over a few tips to keep your home running efficiently through this change of season.
5 Fall Home Maintenance Tips for your Southern Home
HVAC
Did you know that NOT changing your air conditioner filters is the main reason they break down? Really, a $2.00 filter change can save you a $200.00 service call or worse!
A dirty air filter makes air flow harder to pass through the unit. It also causes the unit to run less efficiently or not run at all if the system overheats. Changing your filters every month can extend the life of your HVAC unit. Take my word for it! Change your filters! This will lower your energy costs as well as be a health benefit to those living in the home.
This is a great time of year to call your HVAC company and have them do a yearly maintenance check up on your entire system. They will clean the drain lines and brush or clean the coils, as well as remove any obstructions. Have them check to make sure there are no refrigerant leaks and that the refrigerant levels are not low. You have to request it, but you can also have them look for duct leaks which are usually easily fixed and will also help your unit run more efficiently.
Fireplace
Have your fireplace chimney liner, firebox, smoke chamber and damper inspected for creosote. Even a small glazing has the potential for devastating effects. Along with removing the creosote, a chimney sweep will clean any soot and blockages.
Just because we may not use our fireplaces that often, doesn’t mean birds and other critters haven’t been. It will be important to remove any nesting debris before using the fireplace.
Fire Alarm Batteries
Now is also a great time to replace your Fire Alarm batteries. Even if your home has been hard wired with an alarm, you will want to replace the back up battery.
Window and door caulking and weather stripping
The weather strip acts as a barrier designed to reduce air and water infiltration. Make sure it is still effective by checking for leaks. A home air pressure test will suck outside air into your home and reveal areas with air leaks that need attention.
Inspect the exterior caulking around your windows and doors. Anything that looks old or is loose will need to be trimmed off. Seal the gaps with a good quality caulk. A $2.00 tube of caulk can also save you many dollars later on!
Clean the Gutters & Roof
Georgia has beautiful tree canopies, but along with that comes falling leaves and lots of Georgia Pine needles or “pinestraw” as we southerners call it. After most of the leaves have fallen, clean the gutters and downspouts and flush them with water. A great alternative is to have a built in leaf guard placed over the gutter. Make certain leaves and pinestraw are not accumulating in the valleys of your roof line. Check the valley to make sure the debris has not caused rotten wood. If so, have a qualified roofer flash those areas.
A buildup of debris can cause damage to your gutters, downspouts and roof line and can also lead to water damage to your roof.
DIY Gutter Cleaning:
- Wear gloves, a dust mask and safety goggles.
- Secure your ladder.
- Using a garden trowel to scoop the debris into a garbage bag.
- Use a high pressure nozzle on your water hose to rinse (toward the downspout).
- Wash down the gutter.
- Clear the downspout.
Please call or email me today for more information or questions about your relocation needs!
Melanie Kramer
Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners
912-459-5001 Office
912-658-1390 Cell Direct
