November Home Maintenance Checklist

November 1, 2020

While November brings time to enjoy falling leaves, bonfires, crisp weather and Thanksgiving, it’s also a good time to make sure your home is ready for the colder months ahead. Our checklist this month includes a few tips to help make your home a warm, safe and comfortable place to enjoy with family this winter.

Clean the kitchen. Get ready for turkey day by cleaning out the pantry and refrigerator. Throw away old food and expired products, clear clutter from countertops and clean all surfaces. Wipe range hood, remove the exhaust filter and run it through the dishwasher.

Replace chair floor protectors.  Prevent damage to your hardwood floors by adding or replacing floor protection pads to the legs of your chairs.  Hardware stores sell felt self-adhesive protectors that are easy to use.

Schedule a furnace tune-up. Stay toasty during the approaching cold weather and save money on energy bills by having your system checked now to avoid outages and potentially costly repairs during the holidays.

Stock up for winter. Buy shovels and ice melting products now so you’ll be ready when the first snow falls.

Check bathtub caulk. Use diluted bleach to clean caulk. Replace worn-out caulking to avoid framing damage to your home.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Press the “test” button on your alarms to verify they work. If they don’t work, replace the battery. If they still don’t work, replace the unit rather than waiting until it chirps in the middle of the night.

Once you check these items off your list, you’ll be ready to relax and enjoy time with your loved ones by a crackling fire.  Stay safe and healthy this Thanksgiving!