3 must-do tasks for fall home maintenance

Now's the time to tackle a few simple maintenance chores before winter blows into town. Here are home-improvement expert Danny Lipford's top three must-dos for fall:

GUTTERS

Fall leaves may be beautiful to look at, but they fill gutters and clog downspouts, causing water to rot eave boards and eat away at a home's foundation.

Clean gutters by removing the debris with a plastic scoop, or with a special curved wand attached to a garden hose.

To check for leaks, grab an umbrella when it's raining and look closely at all gutter connections. Once the gutters are dry, use gutter repair caulk and a caulk gun to patch any leaks.

It's also a good time to ensure gutters are securely attached to the house. Check for any loose gutter spikes (8-inch-long nails that secure gutters to the eaves) and replace them with gutter screws, which hold better. Simply remove the loose spike and drill the gutter screw into the same hole.

SMOKE ALARMS

Smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are your best bet for protecting your family from a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. There are two types of smoke detectors available — ionization for detecting flames and photoelectric for smoky fires. Both types are important, so install one of each or use dual-sensor units. Alarms that combine smoke and CO detectors are also available; just be sure to install them on or near the ceiling. (Unlike CO, smoke rises, so smoke or combination alarms need to be placed on or near the ceiling.)

Test alarms every month, change the batteries at least once a year, and replace alarms that are more than 10 years old. Dust can affect alarm response time, so vacuum or blow out any dust with canned air.

LAWN EQUIPMENT

Prepare gas-powered lawn mowers for the winter by cleaning dirt and grass clippings from the exterior. To prevent fuel from gumming up the engine, drain the tank into a gas can and run the engine until it stops.

Another option is to add fuel stabilizer to the gas tank, which will keep the gas from oxidizing and causing corrosion. This is also a good time to change the oil, clean the air filter, and sharpen the blade so you're ready to go in the spring.

Danny Lipford, Better Homes and Gardens magazine's newest contributing editor, is the host of the nationally syndicated show, "Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford. Visit his Web site at dannylipford.com.