Summer is probably still here, but Fall is luring around the corner. Now is the time to do any off-season home maintenance projects, and to truly prepare your home for winter.

October Home Maintenance Projects

After weeks of playing in the sun, you may wish to do some home maintenance on a cloudy afternoon.
Here are some projects that are ideally undertaken in or around October:

1. Insulate outdoor pipes to avoid freeze damage. Use plastic to cover insulation that is exposed to water.

2. Inspect and clean the fireplace and flue before lighting the first fire. If using a wood-burning stove, remove the stovepipe between the stove and chimney and lean that section and the pipe exhausting outdoors. Hire a professional if needed.

3. Replace batteries of smoke, heat and gas detectors. Do this when you set the clock back to Standard time.

4. Compost the leaves.

5. Clean gutters. Leaves and other debris will hamper drainage and may promote rusting.