Kansas winters are notoriously unpredictable, with freezing temperatures, wind, snow, sleet, and even hail or tornadoes possible. While you can’t control the weather, there are a few tasks that can be done each year to prevent problems once cold weather sets in. This fall home exterior maintenance checklist will help ensure nothing gets missed.
1. Clean and Store Lawn Equipment
Clean your lawn mower, trimmer and other lawn & garden equipment, remove the battery and add fuel stabilizer. Store them inside a garage or shed to protect them from the elements. If you have a snow blower, this is also a good time to make sure it’s gassed and ready.
2. Winterize Gas Grill
If you don’t plan on grilling during the winter, clean the grill, turn off the propane tank but leave it connected, and then protect the whole thing with a grill cover. Wrap the burner in plastic to keep spiders and bugs out of the gas tubes. Turn off and disconnect the tank if you’ll be storing the grill indoors; keep the tank outside to avoid dangerous gas buildup. Cover the gas line opening with plastic to keep out insects and pests.
3. Drain and Disconnect Garden Hoses
Water left in hoses that are connected to outdoor faucets can freeze and cause broken pipes and cracked hoses. Turn off the exterior water supply, disconnect hoses, drain them and store them inside.
4. Winterize Your Sprinkler System
Just like with garden hoses, any water left in the sprinkler heads and pipes of your irrigation system is subject to freezing. Schedule a sprinkler blowout to have a professional clear this water out of the system and prevent damage from frozen pipes or sprinklers.
5. Seal Leaks Around Doors and Windows
Make sure the bottom of your exterior doors and the garage door have weatherstripping at the bottom to keep out drafts, moisture and insects. Caulk or seal any gaps or cracks around doors and windows where mice or other pests can get in, too. Once the temperature drops, they’ll be looking for a warm place to hide.
6. Clean the Gutters
Falling leaves can clog gutters, which will prevent melting snow from draining properly. Clean out the gutters and make sure the downspouts are clear with no debris stuck in the bend at the bottom. Tighten any loose joints and brackets. Add splash guards under the downspouts if needed to direct water away from your home’s foundation.
7. Check Exterior Walls
Walk around your house and look for foundation cracks, peeling paint or damaged siding that can let in moisture and lead to future issues. Schedule an estimate for siding repair or replacement if needed. 8.
8. Look for Roof Damage
As you’re walking around the outside of your home, look up at the roof and see if there are any missing, loose, cracked or buckled shingles. If there are, contact a roofing contractor to see if the roof can be repaired or if replacement is needed.
9. Install Storm Windows
If necessary, remove the screens from your windows and install storm windows. This is also a good time to get an estimate for new low-maintenance energy efficient windows that don’t require this annual step.
10. Find the Salt and Shovels
The Wichita area doesn’t always get big snowfalls, but we typically see a few icy days each winter. Make sure you have a snow shovel and a bag of salt or ice melt on hand in a place that will be easy to access on cold mornings.
Wichita Home Exterior Contractor
As you complete the fall home maintenance items on this list, you may discover areas that need repair or replacement. Dingers Roofing & Construction offers exterior services including siding installation, siding repair, gutter installation and replacement window installation. We also install entry doors, storm doors and patio doors. Our roofing services include repair, replacement and free roof inspections. Contact us at 316-202-2066 to request an estimate.