Pillar To Post, North America's largest home inspection service, recommends Ten Fall Maintenance Tips to better prepare a home for the winter. Because homes react to seasonal changes in temperature and moisture levels, it's important that maintenance is done in order to avoid higher energy bills, or worse, damage to the home.

"It's important for people to know that Fall maintenance will not only make their homes more energy efficient during the winter months, but will safeguard their homes against potential seasonal 'disasters' such as leaking roofs or home fires due to neglected chimneys," says Dan Steward, Pillar To Post president.

These 10 steps can help homeowners be prepared and safe this winter:

1. Check the heating system. Check the filter, pilot light and burners in a system fueled by gas or oil. Fireplaces, boilers, water heaters, space heaters and wood burning stoves should also be serviced every year.

2. Clean ducts in the heating system. Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold air returns. Dust build-up in ducts is a major cause of indoor pollutants. In a home that is shut tight for the winter, dust increases the possibility of illness. Ducts should be professionally cleaned about every three years.

3. Test fire and smoke alarms as well as carbon monoxide detectors. Often alarms and detectors go unattended. Batteries should be checked every six months to ensure that they're working.

4. Remove excess leaves and damaged branches surrounding the house. Now that leaves have fallen off of trees, it's a good time to remove any dead branches. Dead branches have the potential to break and fall, ruining roofs or decks.

5. Maintain gutters. Remove all debris that can slow or impede the ability of the water to drain effectively from the roof. Trapped water can freeze then thaw, an action which could be destructive not only to the gutters themselves but to the adjoining roof as well.

6. Inspect the roof. Look for damaged or loose shingles, gaps in the flashing at joints with siding, vents and flues, as well as damaged mortar around the chimney. Proactive maintenance can prevent emergencies and expensive repairs.

7. Inspect exterior walls and window sills. Check walls and window sills for damage such as cracks, gaps, loose or crumbling mortar, along with splitting and decaying wood. Wood trim and siding can suffer from deterioration or loose paint. Caulk exterior joints around windows and doors, which helps keep the home weather tight and helps to lower heating bills .

8. Maintain steps and handrails. Repair broken steps and secure loose banisters. Broken steps are easily hidden beneath snow, which could cause a dangerous fall. Similarly, a person slipping on ice will grab a handrail for support.

9. Prepare storm windows for installation. Check all weather stripping and all fasteners. Well-maintained and properly fitted storm windows will help to save on energy costs during the winter months.

10. Pools, sprinkler systems and outside faucets should be shut down. Homeowners can shut down outside faucets, while the other tasks are best performed by industry professionals to prevent cracked pipes and pool bottoms.

One extra bonus tip for those people who are planning to do some winter projects inside the house, such as painting or carpet renewing: Paint interior walls before it gets too cold to leave the windows open for ventilation from the smell or the fumes. The same goes for carpet cleaning or floor refinishing.

Planning ahead in order to complete these Ten Maintenance Tips is important for many reasons. If these maintenance tips are done over the next few weeks, people can then sit back and enjoy the winter, the holidays, lower energy bills and their own peace of mind.

Pillar To Post is the leading provider of home inspection services to home buyers and real estate professionals in North America. Operating more than 400 franchises in the U.S. and Canada, Pillar To Post offers the most consistently accurate and comprehensive inspection program available to residential buyers and sellers. Founded more than a decade ago, Pillar To Post is today ranked #1 in the Home Inspections category by Entrepreneur Magazine. The company's home inspections services ensure that Pillar To Post supports home buyers, sellers and real estate professionals to provide peace of mind and informed decisions. For more information visit pillartopost.com.

Published: November 17, 2005

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