Adjust the sprinklers – Over watering during cooler weather can damage structures, yard walls and hard surfaces. Go to www.lvvwd.com to find your watering group. During the fall, water three times a week and when winter comes, only once a week will do.

Drain or flush the hot water heater – The high mineral content in our water can cut a hot water heater’s life expectancy in half. Attach a hose to the drain and open the spigot for a couple of minutes. Take this opportunity to install a drain pan if the heater is adjacent to an interior wall.

View the roof – Composition shingles should be repaired if they’re wind-blown. Three tab shingles are easily damaged. Tiled roofs should be evaluated for cracked tiles that are in danger of separating. Tiles can be repaired with silicone caulk or roofing tar. Clean the roof valleys to prevent a build-up of leaves or pine needles.

Check the plumbing under the sinks - You should run the water and insure there are no plumbing leaks. Drains can leak for months before you know you have a problem. Look for corrosion build-up on cheap brass water shut-off valves. Be proactive with replacing water supply lines to prevent flooding.

Replace smoke detectors or their batteries – Smoke detectors should be replaced at 5 years. As many as 30% of sensors may become defective after about 10 years.

Check door and window seals – If you were to add together all the small open spaces, it would likely be the equivalent of having an open window. So, search and seal any cracks or openings.

Check your garage for flammable liquids – You should remove old paints, bug sprays, oil, gasoline, etc. that you do not intend to use in the near future. Ensure that the wall vents are clear so that combustible gas can escape.

These are just a few of the simple things you can do to help protect your home.

For more on this or other home care subjects, contact Scott at www.scottsauer.com.