The long, hot summer will soon come to an end and you know what that means. The race is on to batten the hatches and get all your home maintenance projects in before the snowflakes start flying and temperatures plummet.
But where do you start? There is so much to be done, it may seem overwhelming to some. A good rule of thumb, according to the experts, is to give the most attention to home repairs that will benefit your bottom line.
Here are three of the most common home maintenance projects to put at the top of your to-do list: home window repair, replacing an inefficient heating system and clearing gutters of debris.
Making sure your home is weatherized can save you between 30 and 40 percent on your annual heating bill, according to UtilityBillAssistance.com. Keep this on your regular home maintenance calendar. In many homes, 20 percent of heat loss is through leaks and poor ventilation in the home. It is recommended that you use caulk, foam sealant, window film and door sweeps to fill gaps and cracks around doors and windows.
If you find that taking these measures isn’t saving you as much money as you had hoped, it may be time to replace your heating system. EnergyStar.com offers some great advice as to when it’s time to replace rather than repair:
1. Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old.
2. Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.
3. Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.
4. Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.
5. Your heating or cooling system is noisy.
Another beneficial home improvement project to do every fall is cleaning out your home’s gutters. Clogged gutters cause all kinds of serious problems: leaking basements, cracked foundations, rotted wood, insect infestations, and in northern climates, slippery sidewalks and leaking roofs due to ice dams.
The snow will soon fly, so don’t delay in getting those home repairs on your to-do list finished.
