6 Ways to Save on Fall Maintenance

It's fall, which means it's time to prep for winter. While some of these can be expensive, it'll save ya in the long run!

Fix Leaky Windows

People with leaky windows or doors waste at least 10% of their heating bill on it! Take a stick of incense and go around the perimeters of doors and windows. If the smoke flickers, there's a leak. Purchase a $5 tube of acrylic caulk to fix many of these leaks. That's a lot less than your heating bill!

Gutters

If you don't address the leaves and debris in your gutters, your gutters will eventually clog. As water builds up, so will the weight in the gutters. This can not only cause roof damage, the weight can pull the gutters down. Professionally installed gutter guards can cost $30 per foot or more. This can total more than $5,000 on a 2,000-square-foot house. There are do it yourself gutter guards that cost as little as 50 cents per foot.

Found on investopedia.com
Leaf Removal

If you're the frugal type, you know that buying leaf blowers, tarps and rakes isn't cost effective if it is only used a few times a year. But how about making it a neighbourhood effort? Rent a few large blowers and borrow some tarps and do a few lawns over a weekend.

Furnace Inspection

It's cheaper now to get it inspected, then it would be in the dead of winter! Among the important mechanical inspections, they also check for carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that can build up in your house.

Insulate the Pipes

A broken pipe not only requires a plumber, but the water can damage floors, appliances, walls and other valuable items. The biggest cost involved in this repair is time. Foam pipe insulating kits are widely available in home improvement stores. To save money, don't just buy the kit.
Check plumbing supply stores to see if the individual parts cost less than the kits. Insulating pipes is a prime example of a miniscule investment to save a major repair cost later.

Clean the Chimney

Spending money to clean the inside of your chimney is worth it because a dirty chimney is a fire hazard. A professional cleaning will cost about $150 - well worth the peace of mind knowing that a fire hazard has been removed.