Regular home maintenance helps take care of your property and helps prevent unnecessary expenses later. It also helps avoid damage that could lead to big insurance claims.
Now that fall has arrived, here’s what you need to do around your home to protect and take care of it.
- Snake out the drains around your home to unclog them. This will help water drain more efficiently and prevent accidental flooding in your home.
- Clear your air vents of debris and vacuum out heat vents and registers. Also, change out any air filters. Air will flow more efficiently, keeping your home warmer in the winter.
- Rake and pick up leaves in your yard. Not only will this keep your lawn healthy, it’ll help prevent slips and falls on your property.
- Put away lawn furniture and other items that won’t be used in fall or winter. This will help them last longer and reduce potential hazards in a big storm, especially if the wind picks up.
- Have your heating system inspected and serviced. This includes your HVAC, furnace, boiler, and/or fireplace. Make sure it’s all in good working condition and repair problems now before they become disasters in the winter.
- Clean your gutters and downspouts. This will help water flow away from your house during a rainstorm or as ice and frost melt..
- Drain and winterize outdoor plumbing towards the end of fall. This includes pools, spigots, and sprinkler systems. The last thing you need is damaged hoses and pipes after a freeze or two.
- Inspect your roof. Take care of any missing or loose shingles now to prevent roof leaks later.
- Check for hot water heater leaks. Leaks could lead to flooding. Even if there are no leaks, consider the age of your hot water heater. If it’s more than eight years old, it could be nearing the end of its life. It may be time to replace it.
- Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries if needed. Tip: If you changed them in spring, it’s time to replace them again. If you can’t remember the last time you replaced them, do it now.
- Clean window wells around your home. When water from rain or melted snow gets into clogged window wells, it can’t drain easily. This could lead to additional pressure on the well, causing the window to break and moisture to get into your basement.
- Check your home insurance coverage to make sure you have enough. Your policy amount is based on what it would cost to replace your home from the ground up. As costs and values change over time, it’s good to check your policy once a year or so. If you don’t remember the last time you thought about your insurance, now is a good time.
Regular maintenance of your home keeps it in good working condition, helps maintain the value of your home, and reduces damage from weather and other perils. Fall is a great time to get your home ready for winter. If you have questions about your homeowners insurance or you need a quote for a new policy, contact us here at Charlotte Insurance. We can help you protect your home!