Debra Michaud is
a professional home organizer servicing San Francisco and the
greater Bay Area. Get more of Deb's Tips at organizing.diva.blogspot.com.
Clean furnace ducts and change filters to maintain efficiency
and improve air quality. Have the furnace belts and lubrication
checked.
Hire a certified chimney sweep to clean and inspect the fireplace,
and check the fireplace flue for a tight seal when closed.
Check weather-stripping—install new stripping or caulking
if necessary to prevent window and door drafts. Don't forget
the skylights.
Clean gutters. On a rainy day, check for gutter leaks and
repair using gutter
sealant.
Change screens to storm windows.
Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working.
Check smoke detectors.
Make sure pipes are insulated to keep from freezing.
Inspect the roof for signs of early decay.
Test your sump pump. A back-up battery-run sump pump is useful
in case of power outages. Sump pumps typically do not last
longer than 10 years.
Take out the humidifiers and clean.
Remove window air-conditioners. Clean air conditioner filter.
Drain hot water heater and remove sediment from the tank.
In the garden:
Prune trees and shrubs to encourage new growth.
Fertilize and reseed lawn—the roots are growing deeper
during the fall to prepare for winter.
Disconnect garden hoses from spigots, drain sprinkler systems
and hoses.
Watch for pooling of water around the house. This indicates
poor drainage and can be a hazard to your foundation.
Store your garden tools for the winter.
Pack up patio furniture.
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