Yes, the pumpkin spice is in full swing and Thanksgiving is approching. As you enjoy the smell and warmth of pumpkin-flavored drinks and candles, pulling out the warmer clothing as the weather grows colder in Northern VA it's also important to prepare your home for the winter. Fall is the perfect time to take care of little fixes, repairs, and chores that will help keep your house in tip-top shape as the season changes.  Here are 10 Fall Maintenance Tasks To Prepare Your Northern VA Home

Below we've listed 10 fall maintenance tasks that you can do now, so you can rest easy and just spend all your time cozied up inside.

1. Clean the Gutters

Clogged gutters in Northern VA can cause water to overflow and damage your roof and siding. Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot problems, rust, and corrosion. This is why it's important to clean the gutters and downspouts regularly, especially in the fall, I use Gutterman to clean my Norther VA home . When winter comes, this can cause ice damns that will create even more damage and leaks in your roof. Don’t forget to replace any damaged gutters to keep your roof's drainage system flowing smoothly and avoid more repairs.

2. Furnace Check Up

If it has been many months since you ran the heat in your HVAC. It is recommended to get a service contract with a local HVAC company and have them check, clean, and repair if necessary your unit befor the real cold weather comes! Always check and change your filters.

3. Inspect The Roof

This is an important task you need to do to prevent leaks that can cause much larger and more expensive problems inside your home. Especially with the ever changing weather in Northern VA. Stand in your yard and use a pair of binoculars to inspect the roof, and see if there are any loose, curled, damaged, or missing shingles. Also scan the roof around vents and chimneys for any damage. Even better, have a roofer inspect the roof every few years!

4. Repair Rot or Gaps Around Windows and Doors.

Take some time and go around your house and inspect any missing or damaged caulk around the windows, doors, and any other entry points for pipes and wires. Then, make sure you seal any gaps with a suitable caulk to prevent moisture and bugs from getting inside your walls. Your budget will also thank you, as gaps and leaks can be accounted for higher energy bills.

5. Inspect Safety Features.

The start of fall is also a great time to check your home's carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. Put in fresh batteries and test them to make sure they were installed correctly and are working properly so they don’t chirp at 3am in the morning. If they are more than 10 years old, you are required to change out with new ones. While you’re at it, clean the fire extinguishers.

6. Close Exterior Hose Bibs and Winterize Sprinkler System

There are some very cold days in Northern VA winters which can cause pipes to burst if they freeze. Turn off the valves serving exterior faucets, then run the water until the pipes are empty. Draining and disconnecting all garden hoses and storing them in a shed or garage will prevent any water from freezing and damaging the pipes. If you have a sprinkler system, get it winterized if you cant do it yourself!

7. Fix Driveway Cracks.

When the weather turns icy, walkways and driveways can be damaged if they have cracks. When water gets into the cracks it freezes, expands, and can make the crack even bigger. Fixing these problems in the fall is critical to make sure the concrete won't crumble and leave you with a more costly expense—i.e. a bigger hole in your driveway.

8. Clean and Bring Outdoor Furniture Inside

Before you pack your outdoor furniture for winter storage, make sure you clean them first. Store the items in a garage or shed so they're all spruced up and ready for the next year’s spring and summer season.

9. Fertilize and Reseed Your Lawn.

The key to a great-looking Northern VA lawn come spring, is to prepare it during the fall. Because even if the grass stops growing around this time, the roots are actually growing deeper and remaining active. Fall is the best time to aerate your lawn so that moisture and nutrients can get into the roots. Then, spread fertilizer and grass seed. Pleas, please, for the health of our water ways and Chesapeake Bay, please use only natural fertilizer. Here are some ideas — https://savvygardening.com/natural-fertilizer/

10. Clean Garden Tools and Prep Winter Tools

This year's spring and summer seasons might have been filled with lots of gardening and yard work, especially since we’ve spent more time at home due to the pandemic. But don’t forget: all those gardening tools and equipment also need cleaning and maintenance before you get them stored for the winter. 

If you live in an area with cold and snowy winters, fall is also the best time to stock up on winter supplies. Check the condition of snow shovels and ice scrapers and replace them if necessary. If you’re using a snow blower, you might also want to check it now and have it serviced.