6 diy home maintenance tasks for fall​

Once you’ve replaced the batteries, test the smoke detector: It’s as simple as pushing the button to make sure the alarm goes off. Don’t ignore hardwired smoke detectors; many have battery

backups and those batteries need to be replaced, too. You should also replace any smoke detectors that are over 10 years old. "Alarms are constantly checking the air for smoke, and 

after 10 years, the effectiveness of the alarm may decrease,” Rea says.  3. HIRE A CHIMNEY SWEEP A chimney sweep isn’t just a character from _Mary Poppins._ These fireplace pros remove soot

and creosote that build up in the chimney and pose a fire risk. A professional chimney sweep, certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), will clean the chimney

and inspect the entire fuel venting system for warped metal on the damper, cracked or collapsed flue tiles, cracks in the exterior masonry and other signs of fire damage. The National Fire

Protection Association recommends an annual chimney inspection. Russ Dimmitt, CSIA's director of education, notes that a clean chimney makes it safer to build a cozy fire in the

winter; it’ll also make your fireplace more efficient. “A chimney that has been swept not only helps prevent chimney fires but will also aid your fireplace ... to operate more efficiently

as the smoke and other flue gases can exit the chimney more quickly,” Dimmitt explains. 4. PERFORM FURNACE MAINTENANCE Call in the pros before turning on the heat. Regular maintenance

ensures that your furnace runs at peak efficiency. Without semiannual maintenance (in the spring before running the air conditioner and in the fall before turning on the heat), airborne

allergens may get trapped in the filters, resulting in poor indoor air quality. Cunningham suggests having the furnace inspected to make sure it’s in good working order and changing the

filters before starting it up for the first time. Furnaces that are not cleaned at least once a year can wear out more quickly and can stop working altogether. And soaring energy costs make

it more important than ever to ensure the furnace is running efficiently. ​