No matter where you are in Southern California, from Downtown LA to Anaheim, from the Inland Empire to San Diego, SoCal Plumbers has licensed and insured plumbing technicians standing by, ready to help. Our service area includes multiple cities in the following Southern California Counties: Los Angeles, Orange. San Diego, Riverside, San Bernadino, Ventura, and Kern.
Fall Home TLC
Below is a list of ten “to-do items” that require your attention this fall.
Gutters – Fall is the prime season for clogged gutters. Build-up from leaves and roof residue can lead to a flooded interior or damaged exterior. A do-it-yourself cleaning or professional maintenance is a wise investment.
Outdoor Water – Drain and disconnect all garden hoses from outside spigots to prevent any water freezing. Not draining and disconnecting the outside water sources can result in pipes bursting.
Check Outdoor Drains & Sump Pumps – Pour a gallon of water into yard drains and the Sump Pump pit, to ensure they are cleaned out, open, and free of debris.
Outdoor Furniture – Store your outdoor furniture to preserve it for the following summer. If you don’t have a shed or garage, cover it with a waterproof furniture cover.
Check for Drafts – Heat loss through windows is responsible for up to 30 percent of heating energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Check your windows for drafts and add weatherstripping where necessary. It is simple to do and the most cost-effective way to keep heating costs down.
Change Your Heater Filters – Cleaning your heater filters should be a monthly task, not just before the fall. Disposable filters can be vacuumed one time before you replace them, and foam filters can just be vacuumed and not replaced.
Check Your Water Heater – Consider a water heater upgrade if your unit is more than 10 or 12 years old; the energy efficiency improvements will more than likely pay for the investment in just a few years.
Change Smoke Detector Batteries – Once a year you should be checking to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices are working. Keep a supply of batteries on hand for when they need replacing after your local hardware store is closed.
Repair Cracks in Your Driveway – When water and melting snow get into driveway cracks it freezes, expands, and can make the crack even bigger.
Fertilize Your Lawn – To keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Roots are still active even though the grass isn’t growing, so spreading fertilizer this Fall will prevent winter damage.
Don’t wait for a big problem to develop – stay on top of these ten Fall maintenance items to avoid large home repairs.
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