With fall around the corner, it’s time to think about preparing your property for the colder weather. From roofing and siding to windows and storm doors, check out this handy fall inspection checklist to run through so you know when you need to hire a pro for repairs.

1.    Remove Garden Hoses

Take off all garden hoses from outdoor faucets. If you leave the hoses attached, water will accumulate and back up into the pipes inside your exterior walls. When it freezes, the pipes can expand and crack, causing a big mess. Turn off your shutoff valves on water supply lines leading to exterior faucets. Then, drain all garden hoses and store them in your basement, shed or garage.

2.    Check Out Your Roof

No need to climb up onto your roof and risk your own safety. Just grab some binoculars and inspect things from the safety of the ground. Look for missing, cracked or buckled shingles, rusty flashing, or black algae streaks which can signal decay.

3.   Clear Out Your Gutters

At the same time you inspect your roof, unclog your rain gutters to avoid stress on your roof, backups of water, and ice dams in the winter. Do this after most of the leaves have fallen off the trees, clearing out twigs, dirt and other debris. Are your gutters sagging and trapping water? Tighten up those hangers and brackets and hire a pro to replace damaged gutters.

And if you see small black granules, these are signs that your asphalt shingles are getting old and shedding. The sand-like grit is important because it protect shingles from getting damaged by UV rays.

4.    Caulk Your Windows and Doors

If your windows and doors are drafty, apply new caulking to seal up any gaps. If your windows and doors are no longer energy efficient and you can’t remember the last time you replaced them, you may want to consider getting new ones before winter hits.

5.    Drain the Sprinkler System

Take the time to drain your irrigation system or have your landscaper do it. Buried irrigation lines often freeze with extreme temperatures, which can result not only in busted pipes but broken sprinkler heads as well.

  1. Turn off the water at the main valve.
  2. Switch off the automatic controller.
  3. Open valves to drain any remaining water.

6.    Prune Plants and Trees

Late fall is the perfect time to prune your plants and trees, as this is when the summer growth cycle is coming to an end. Keep limbs and branches trimmed back at least three feet from your house so they won’t overhang your roof or hit your siding. This also helps to keep moisture from dripping onto your home, and it will also keep critters from getting a boost onto your home.

Contact Hi-Tech Windows and Siding for Your Fall Home Improvement Projects

If you need help with routine fall maintenance tasks, replacements or repairs, we are more than happy to help. Just contact us at 800-851-0900 for a free estimate.