Homeowner’s Academy
This is your guide to interesting facts, tips and general homeowner information. We hope you find the information useful – and feel free to share with friends!

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Spring cleaning often comes with a fresh coat of paint. Painting can be a great way to change the feel of a room or give your home some great curb appeal. Painting also plays a role in home repair by protecting the wood of your home against the elements, essential here in Florida.

If you decide to try your hand at painting this spring, People’s Trust has some tips that can keep the experience enjoyable and safe for everyone in your family.

Try Some Eco-friendly Paint

Spring conjures up the sniffles for many people in the great outdoors, but paint may do the same thing inside of your home. Household paints have previously contained up to 300 toxic chemicals, including the hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release particles into the air for years after you paint.

Try a low-VOC paint, which tends to be water-based, for any home interior painting. These have taken off in recent years and come in every shade and finish imaginable. Some brands also create no-VOC paints by replacing chemicals with more natural ingredients. These no-VOC paints are often pet-safe, but always check the label and never leave your pet unattended in a room where paint cans are open.

Home Repair Supervision

If you have children, never let them be in a room with open paint cans by themselves. If children are under the age of 10, they should never be in a room with any open painting materials. Even eco-friendly paints are extremely dangerous if ingested. If you believe your child has ingested any paint, immediately call poison control at 1-800-222-1222.

Try Cloth Catchers for Indoor and Outdoor Painting

You can pick up plastic sheets to protect your floors and lawn, but these often move and tear as you walk around painting. Turn to cloth or canvas drop cloths that will stay in place easier and can be weighed down with objects without the risk of tearing.

For painting the outside of your home, try a tarp with tie-holes. These can be staked into the ground to provide a steadier surface for a ladder.

Ventilate: Make Room to Breathe

If you’re painting inside, open the doors and windows. If your room has a fan, turn it on. You want proper ventilation for any space you’re painting to help air out the room and not breathe in paint fumes. If you can’t ventilate where you’re working, get a respirator and only paint in short stints.

Ventilation is essential to most common home repair improvements.

Stick to the Shade

If painting outside, you know that you need to take a break in the shade, but what about your materials? Paint, paint thinner and lacquer all need to stay in the shade as much as possible when painting outdoors.

Not only can heat and sun alter some of these items when they’re sitting in the can, but heat can also be a big problem for these flammable items. The city of Las Vegas actually warns its citizens to be careful when painting their homes or canvases outside because paint thinner has been ignited by the sun and started home fires.

Clean Up after Home Repairs

When you finish painting for the day, clean up the entire space. This will prevent spills and any accidental exposure.

Latex paints can typically be cleaned from surfaces and your skin with soap and water. Oil-based paints will have specific cleaning instructions located on the paint can itself. Take a look at your can before you start painting and write down what it says, because paint often spills on the outside of the can during the painting process.

Gasoline was once used to clean paint off of brushes, but this should never be used. Gasoline is extremely dangerous and should never be used as a cleaner for any object.

It’s always a smart practice to clean up and watch your space clearly when doing any home repair project.

The beginning of each season brings a unique list of home maintenance tasks. Between slightly cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, fall is an ideal time to cross off large portions of your to-do list.

To keep your home in great shape throughout the fall season, we’ve compiled a list of the 9 most helpful fall home maintenance tips every homeowner should follow!

1. Check for leaks

Watch for changes in your water meter that indicate you may have a leak. Examine each of the toilets in your home. Add a few drops of dark food coloring inside the toilet tank, and wait about 30 minutes without flushing the toilet. After the 30 minutes have passed, look to see if the dye has made its way into the bowl. If it has, it may be a worn-out flapper valve you can easily replace from a hardware store.

Check your shower heads, drains, sinks, and faucets, and reseal or replace these before more serious issues occur if you notice water around these areas or cracked grout.

2. Clean out your gutters

Clean out your gutters and clear them of any leaves and debris that have piled up during the summer storm season. If you need some guidance on how to clean out your gutters properly, make sure to check out our step-by-step gutter maintenance guide.

3. Inspect your roof

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against major weather threats, so it’s important to keep it in good shape. Inspect your roof for missing and loose shingles. If you discover any issues, call a professional to help make necessary repairs immediately to prevent additional damage.

4. Replace smoke detector batteries

Replace the batteries in all of your smoke detectors and then test one throughout your home to make sure they are working properly. Remember that it’s not enough to merely press the “Test Button.” We recently debunked that popular smoke detector myth.

5. Check and replace filters

Change furnace and air conditioning filters to keep your HVAC system running at a proper performance level. Frequently replacing these filters will also significantly improve your home’s air quality.

6. Check and clean the dryer vent

You probably clean out your lint trap after every dryer cycle, but did you know that lint could get stuck inside the dryer vent? Check your dryer vent and use a wet-dry vacuum hose to suck out any trapped lint. Call a professional if you need assistance! This should be done every 1-2 years.

7. Maintain your swimming pool

Clean your pool thoroughly. Clean out debris traps every few days to prevent leaves and dirt from building up and clogging your pool’s filtration system. If you rarely use your pool at this time of year, consider covering it. Remove any pool toys from the water and detach the ladders and handrails before covering.

8. Exterior repairs

Take a walk around your property to inspect your roof, siding, and foundation. Look for any damages and repair as needed. Look for any small gaps where critters could enter your home. The smallest crack can welcome a ton of unwanted guests. Call an exterminator if you notice pests or nests.

9. Care for your yard

If you have trees or shrubs on your property, you should trim them and clean up your yard. Rake up your yard and cut your grass for a fresh look. Fertilize your lawn to prevent any winter damage to your grass. By trimming trees, you can help keep them healthy! Learn more about trimming trees here.

Tackling these tasks is essential for every homeowner to keep their home and family safe this fall and into the winter months. Get started today—your home and family will thank you!