Time for Fall Home Maintenance

Getting your property ready for the change in seasons.

California Casualty Management Co.

The fall season is a good time to look over the household and see what things need to be readied for the coming cold rains and snowfall.

If you live in a climate where the fall season is a prelude to tough winter weather, the turning of leaves is a good time to tackle home maintenance tasks. For example, shoring up a wobbly fence or cleaning out the gutters may help avoid having a claim on your homeowner’s policy after some heavy winds, rains, and snows this winter.

Here are a few places to get started with your fall home maintenance chores:

• Check the chimney and venting system to ensure they are both in safe working condition.
• Inspect and clean the furnace by using a qualified professional. Clean and eliminate dust and dirt around the furnace, registers, and condensing unit.
• Install storm windows if they are called for in your climate. Storm doors are recommended to improve heat conservation.
• Check the roof for leaks and damaged shingles. Look over vents, louvers, and chimney caps for bird nests or animal intruders.
• Clean the gutters, eaves, and downspouts. Particles from asphalt shingles washed down by the rains often settle in gutters, so remove the debris.
• Drain sediment from the water heater.
• Repair cracks in the concrete walkways before water penetrates, freezes, and expands into larger, more expensive problems.
• Seal out drafts in doors and windows. Use weather stripping around openings. Lubricate weather stripping with petroleum jelly to keep it pliable.
• Check exterior finishes for signs of moisture that might be penetrating wood sidings.

NEA offers two homeowner's insurance programs: NEA Homeowners Insurance®, underwritten by Horace Mann Insurance Companies, and NEA Members Auto & Home Insurance Program®, underwritten by California Casualty Management Company. Both programs offer special features for NEA members. To learn about these programs, visit www.neamb.com.

This article, and hundreds more, can be found in the “Member Library” section on the NEA Member Benefits Web Site at www.neamb.com.