Fall is here and so are those chores you’ve been putting off since last year! Don’t let another autumn go buy without getting some of these important tasks completed. Call us at A+ Handyman to tackle your biggest honey-do-list of the year!
Gutters:
Cleaning your gutters and downspouts are vital to the health of your roof and foundation; the most important parts of your house! Gutters should also be checked for damage and repaired as needed to insure proper function.
Windows:
What’s worse than a drafty window? A drafty window in the winter. Fall is a great time to check on your window seals, sills, and glass and have them repaired if needed. It’s also a great time to get the outside of your windows cleaned!
Radiators:
Steal and hot water radiators should be checked every fall.
Hot water radiators should be bled every year. When trapped air clogs a hot water radiator, some or all of the ‘fins’ will stay cold. At the top of the radiator, look for a small valve like the one shown. Take a radiator key, 1/4-in. 12-point socket, or a flat screwdriver (depending on the valve type) and slowly turn the valve counter-clockwise until water starts dripping out. This releases the trapped air and lets hot water into the cold fins. While you’re at it, you might as well repeat the process on all of your radiators. Have a cup or dish handy to catch the water.
Steam radiators have vents on the side that should stay unobstructed. Unfortunately, many of these vents get painted over, plugging the air hole. Clear the air hole in the top of the vent with a small wire or sewing needle.
Hoses and Spigots:
Close the shut off valves to your outside spigots, disconnect and drain your garden hoses. Doing so guarantees that you won’t have to waste any cold hard cash in the spring on cracked replacements.
Air Filters:
We know you never remember to do this, so, PLEASE replace your air filters! Depending on the size of your HVAC air filter you should change it every 3-6 months. After the fall pollen has come and gone outside, some gets trapped in your filters and mixes with the usual dust and particles, making them less efficient.
Decks:
After fall comes the snow. And with snow comes slippin’ and sliddin’. Don’t make it any harder on yourself by neglecting the broken stair tread or rotting board. These last few days of sunshine are the perfect time to get your deck repairs taken care of!
Check your smoke detectors too!