10 tips to prepare your Utah home for fall

Get your rake and ladder ready; it’s time to clean up and clear out.

Can summer be over already? It’s time to put away the pool noodles, send the kids back to school and get started on fall maintenance tasks. KSL Homes has 10 home care tips to get your house ready for the crisp weather ahead. 

Check the HVAC

Preparing your Utah home for fall should begin with an inspection of one of its hardest working systems — the HVAC. Hire a technician to service your heater and check the integrity of the ductwork. A pro can make any necessary repairs now, so you won’t have an issue on the coldest day of the year. Which is when equipment always seems to break.

Drain water heater

Your water heater should be drained at least once per year, to remove any sediment that has accumulated. Even if you have a water softener, minerals still collect in the tank. Doing so will not only increase your heater’s efficiency, but also extend its life. It’s not difficult to do it yourself — follow instructions in the unit’s user manual — but if you don’t do handyman, you can hire a plumber.

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Update safety devices

Checking on your home’s safety features can be done anytime of year, but making it part of your winterization routine may help you remember to actually do it. Replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Check the pressure indicator on your fire extinguishers. Vacuum vent covers and replace filters as needed.

Seal any leaks 

Is there a room you tend to avoid during the winter months because it’s just too darn cold? Make a dose of preventive medicine part of your Utah property care this fall — seal up all those leaks around your windows and doors. With a roll of self-adhesive weatherstripping or caulk, fill in gaps on door jams and down the sides of windows. 

Outside, use caulk to seal any cracks between trim and siding, and also anywhere pipes are attached to your home. If needed, add a door sweep to your exterior doors to prevent drafts. A little work for a few minutes now means countless hours of comfort later.

Deep clean appliances

A quick bit of maintenance on your appliances helps them work more efficiently and reduces the strain on their motors. Clean dust and grease from refrigerator coils located on the back and underside of the unit. Vacuum out your clothes dryer vent to remove any covert lint.

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Wrap up yard work

Fall means you finally get to put away the mower. But before you do, there’s some yard maintenance to take care of. Milder temperatures and less intense sunshine make fall the perfect time to bolster your grass for next spring. 

Lawn care

Aerate the lawn to allow air and nutrients to get deep into the grass, without stressing the exposed roots. Reseed any thin spots, giving new growth ample time to get established before next summer’s heat. Bonus: You won’t need to use as much water to get it there. 

About three weeks before your final mow, apply a winter fertilizer, preferably a 4-1-2 blend. It will provide nutrients for the roots to store throughout winter, giving it a boost in the spring. Rake up all the leaves. If left over winter, they smother the grass and inhibit spring growth, leaving you with unsightly bald patches. 

Finally, give your lawn a last trim at a lower height than in summer months. Aim for 1.5 to 2 inches, instead of summer’s 3 inches, to reduce the chance of mold from lingering snow and voles.

Sprinklers

Once the irrigation water has been turned off for the season, or you no longer will be using your sprinkler system, it’s time to winterize it. Using an air compressor, blow out as much water trapped in the pipes as possible. 

Drain your water hoses, as well. Any water left inside will freeze and expand, which causes cracks and tears. Unless you’re looking for an excuse to buy a new one next spring. Outdoor faucets may freeze as well. Wrap them with insulation to prevent pipes from bursting and potential flooding.

Trees and shrubs

Protect your trees, especially those with thin bark such as maple and linden trees. Add 2-4 inches of mulch — wood chips or bark — for additional insulation around the base. Burlap wraps can also help tender greenery in harsh conditions. 

Inspect home exterior

Take a walk around your house to look for any damage from summer storms. From the ground or on a ladder, examine your roof, checking for any missing or damaged shingles. If your siding or trim needs a touch up, wash and paint it while the temperatures are still mild. 

Repair cracks

Inspect your sidewalks, driveway and steps for cracks. Because slipping on icy, loose gravel is dangerous. And embarrassing. You can patch cracks ⅛ inch or less with a filler from a home improvement store. Clean out any debris, fill the gap, then coat the area with a commercial sealer. Do this before the daily temperature drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so the sealant can dry properly. Call a pro for more extensive damage. 

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Store outdoor furnishings

If cold weather puts an end to your grilling season, clean up your barbecue and smoker before storing it for the winter. Thoroughly clean up all the grease and any food scraps. Turn off the propane tank. Wipe all the metal areas with cooking oil to prevent rust, then cover the grill to provide additional protection. 

Clean, then store outdoor furniture cushions in a covered area — either a shed or a storage bench. Use covers on tables and chairs that will stay outdoors for the winter season.

Clean gutters

Your final fall maintenance task is to clean out your gutters. Once all the leaves are off the trees, check that your gutters are clear of any debris. Once they are free of rubbish, flush the downspout with water to remove any leaves trapped inside. A plumber snake can pull out any soggy clumps, if needed. 

Run some water through the gutters and watch for leaks near the seams. This is also a good time to straighten any sagging or crooked gutters that may have been damaged by windstorms, hail, drones or footballs.

Get busy now preparing your Utah home for fall, so you can spend the rest of the season enjoying the perks — festivals, tailgate parties and hikes in our colorful mountains. Find more ideas for getting your house in shape on KSL Homes.