Fall Maintenance Tips for Northern Virginia

leafs on roof

When the leaves change and the temperatures begin to drop, you know fall is here. Cold weather and the holidays will be here before you know it, which means now is the perfect time to make sure your home is ready.

Follow these simple steps to help prevent unwanted surprises come winter or spring.

Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters may seem like a daunting task, but it is one of the most important things you can do to prepare your home for winter. Clogged gutters can lead to roof damage, pest infestation, cracks in your foundation, and more.

As you’re cleaning, keep an eye out for sagging gutters or trapped water. If you do notice gutter damage, be sure to perform or schedule repair right away so it doesn’t get worse as the fall and winter seasons progress.

Schedule Preventive Maintenance

Having your heating systems tune-up in the fall helps you prepare for the cold season ahead and you’ll know your system is safely operating. Fall is the perfect time to schedule your furnace maintenance and boiler maintenance with your local HVAC company.

A technician will come to your home and inspect your furnace’s performance and assess for potential problems. Addressing potential issues before you start running your system regularly can prevent catastrophic breakdowns later.

You can also schedule plumbing maintenance this time of year, too. An experienced plumber will come to your home and ensure your system is in top condition. You should expect your plumber to do a thorough inspection of your water heater, toilets, fixtures, garbage disposal, exposed pipes, drains, and more.

Disconnect Outdoor Hoses

To prevent cracked pipes, make sure to disconnect your garden hoses from their faucets. You should also make sure the water lines to the outside faucets are turned off and drained.

Insulate Pipes

In addition to turning off outside water lines, eliminating drafts around pipes and wrapping both cold- and hot-water pipes can also help prevent pipe bursts. Pipes that are in unheated spaces of your home are particularly vulnerable.

It’s also important to know where the main water shutoff valve is in your home. If you do have a burst pipe, you’ll want to get the water turned off as quickly as possible while you call your local plumber for repair.

Test Your Sump Pump

Rain or even melted snow can cause flooding, and a quick test of your sump pump can help prevent a breakdown when you need it most. To test your sump pump, run water through it to ensure it removes water properly.

You just need enough water to raise the float until the pump kicks on. When it does, watch carefully to make sure the water gets pumped out the hole.

Inspect Your Roof

Take a quick peek at all areas of your roof to make sure there are no warning signs of potential problems. Loose or cracked shingles should be replaced immediately, and while black algae stains are usually nothing to worry about, be aware that large patches of moss could be a sign that your roof is decaying in that area.

Fall Maintenance with M.E. Flow

For help with your fall maintenance checklist, you can count on the professionals at M.E. Flow. Since 1951, we’ve been providing reliable HVAC and plumbing services in Northern Virginia from Woodbridge to Winchester!

Contact us today to schedule preventive maintenance services with M.E. Flow!

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