With schools starting back and football season in gear, it’s a reminder that Fall is soon approaching. Now is the time to prepare your home for cold weather- before it gets here. These steps will lower your utility bills and protect your investment. Don’t have time to do these yourself? The Henderson Properties Maintenance Team is available to help you with these projects. Contact us at 704-970-4154.

Tune Up Your Heating System

For about $120 to $155, a technician will inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the system is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage.

If you act soon, you’ll minimize the chance of being 200th in line for repairs on the coldest day of the year.

Hit the Roof
Check out the roof or at least scan it closely with binoculars. Look for damaged, loose or missing shingles that may leak during winter’s storms or from melting snow.

If need be, hire a Henderson handyman to repair a few shingles ($95 to $127, according to www.costhelper.com) or a roofer for a larger section ($100 to $350 for a 100-square-foot area). Check and repair breaks in the flashing seals around vent stacks and chimneys, too.

If your roof is flat and surfaced with asphalt and pebbles, as many are in the Southwest, rake or blow off fall leaves and pine needles, which hold moisture, says Chris Dawalt, with Henderson Properties. (Don’t sweep aside the pebbles; that will expose the asphalt to damaging sunlight.)

Caulk Around Windows and Doors

Chris says that if the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. Check the joints in window and door frames, too. Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements.

Try GE’s Silicone II Window and Door product, which is “rain ready” in three hours. Add weather-stripping as needed around doors, making sure you cannot see any daylight from inside your home.

Clean the Gutters

If your gutters are full of debris, water can back up against the house and damage roofing, siding and wood trim — plus cause leaks and ice dams.

You’ll typically pay $70 to $225 to clean gutters on a single-story house, depending on its size. Also look for missing or damaged gutters and fascia boards and repair them.

Test Your Sump Pump

Slowly pour several gallons of water into the sump pit to see whether the pump turns on. You should do this every few months, but especially after a long dry season or before a rainy one.

For more complete instructions for testing and maintenance, check your owner’s manual. Most sump pumps last about ten years, according to Chubb Personal Insurance.

The Henderson Properties Maintenance Team can be reached at 704-970-4154 or online at www.HendersonProperties.com/maintenance-services/