All the Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Do in October
As the seasons change, it’s time to think about what you can do to keep your home safe, cozy and dry. Since fall really begins in October, anticipating changes in weather and preparing your home for winter can help prevent problems before they arise. Here are the home maintenance tasks you should complete in October.
Folding Patio Furniture
While there may still be a few days left in the season for outdoor sitting, depending on where you live, if you have outdoor furniture that won’t be used during the winter months, October is the month to store it. If you don’t have a shed or garage to store your patio furniture, you can use a shed to store it instead. October is also a good time to put away sun umbrellas and other items that might blow away. As the weather becomes increasingly stormy and rainy, you’ll need to protect yourself from damage caused by flying beach chairs.
Close outdoor faucets and sprinklers.
If you live in an area where it is cold enough to freeze, you should turn off the outdoor connections and store the hose. You should close the internal valve leading to the external pipes, if you have one, and then open the faucet to drain the water in the pipe. When you’re done, be sure to turn the faucet to the “off” position to avoid accidental flooding in the spring when you turn the water back on. You should also drain any existing sprinkler system pipes you have, disconnect the hoses, and store them to prevent ice from damaging your sprinkler equipment in cold weather.
Insulate pipes near external walls
If you have pipes running near an outside wall, especially those inside closets or basements, make sure they are insulated. Look behind sinks and showers located near the exterior wall of your home and make sure any uninsulated pipes have foam insulation or fiberglass tape insulation to protect them from freezing. Pipes inside or behind cabinets are especially vulnerable because cabinets can block ambient heat from your HVAC system and make the area around the pipes even colder, especially during a power outage.
Check your sump pump and install leak detectors
Rain and snow storms bring with them a lot of extra moisture, and preparing for flooding before it happens can help minimize water damage in the event of a flood. Check your sump pump and make sure it is in good working order before a flood occurs. You can test your pump by either filling the sump with water until the float causes the system to turn on, or by disconnecting the power coming from both the pump and the float switch and then reconnecting only the power going to the pump. In both cases, if the pump won’t turn on, it’s time to call a professional.
You should also consider installing a leak detection system in your basement and attic in October. The smart leak detector kit comes with multiple sensors and connects to your phone via an app to alert you to leaks. Place leak detectors in the basement, attic, or any other areas that may be vulnerable to leaks to detect them early, before they have a chance to cause serious damage.
Check the porch and railings
Your porch can come in very useful in October if you’re a fan of the spooky season and welcome trick-or-treaters. Even if you don’t celebrate Halloween, it’s a good idea to have your porch inspected in October before the winter weather sets in. Check the railings, porch roof and deck boards for damage. If you need to replace a rail spindle or floorboard, it is easier to do this in October, before frost sets in. Additionally, repairing and sealing wood porches before freezing temperatures set in can minimize winter ice damage.