Things to do in the Fall
- Have your furnace or heating systems serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas furnace and every year for an oil furnace.
- Lubricate the circulating pump on the hot water heating system.
- Check and clean or replace air filters each month during the heating season.
- Vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust.
- Remove the grill on forced air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
- Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria once a year.
- Check the sump pump line to ensure proper operation and to ensure that there are no line obstructions or visible leaks.
- Remove screens from inside casement windows to allow for the heating system to keep condensation off window glass.
- Ensure that all doors to the outside are shut tightly and check other doors for ease of use. Replace the door weather stripping if required.
- Cover any outside air conditioning window units.
- Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall so that water does not drain into your basement.
- Clean leaves from roofs and downspouts and test the downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.
- Check chimneys for obstructions such as a bird nests.
- Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close the valve to the outdoor hose connections and drain the hose bib, unless your house has a frost-proof hose bib.
- If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if the tank needs to be emptied before the spring. Tanks should be pumped at least once every three years.
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