Bob Vila Radio: Fall Checklist
While you were having fun in the sun this summer, it was no vacation for your house. A fall checklist will tip you off to little problems before they become nasty mid-winter surprises.
Photo: handymanmatters.com
Listen to BOB VILA ON FALL CHECKLISTS, or read the text below:
The easiest way to do it is to check from top to bottom. Start with the roof: are your shingles worn? Check for leak around the skylights, vents, and chimneys, and have that chimney cleaned.
Clear out your gutters and check for leaks there, too. Drain your outside hose spigots if you live where pipes can freeze. Switch your screens for storms, and seal any drafty windows and doors.
Same goes for paint and siding: make sure you caulk or repair any gaps, cracks, or holes, and re-point any brick surfaces that need it. Paint over your repairs while the weather’s still warm enough to do it, so you’re not looking at them all winter.
In the basement, check for dampness, change filters, and have your heating system serviced.
Do the top-to-bottom check this fall, and you’ll avoid expensive surprises this winter!
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.
For more on fall maintenance, consider:
Gutter Basics
Top 10 Home Tips for the Fall Season
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
