I am sure that a lot of you are just like me, in the respect that you have “honey- do” lists.

The only problem though, is that my list never seems to get any smaller. For example I will doing my “civic” duty sitting in my easy chair pulling for the Bulldogs and my wife will kindly and lovingly remind me that there are still numerous things to be done around the house. I sure hope the Bulldogs can pull it off without me. (We will not even talk about last week)

Fall is actually a great time for home maintenance. Keeping up with seasonal home maintenance can keep small tasks from becoming big and expensive repairs. An easy way to keep up with small maintenance tasks is to make a list (honey -do- list). Make a list of chores that need doing every year and those that may need your attention every few years. For example, once the threat of warm weather is over, it would be a good idea to remove or weatherproof window air conditioning units. Check all weather stripping and caulking and repair or replace as needed.

If you have storm windows, fall will be a good time to replace screens with windows to conserve heat once it starts to get cold. Most people never think about their heating systems until it turns cold, but now would be a good time to service your heating system and change filters.

Once it turns cold it may be necessary to cover outdoor spigots, there are commercially made covers available, but using an insulated drink holder (koozie) will work great.

Fall is a great time to check and clean gutters, and while you have the ladder out you may as well check the roof and flashing for leaks. Check the chimney and flue for loose mortar or obstructions.

My television sits right beside my fireplace, and if I am on the roof, I can at least hear the game resonating through my chimney.

These are just a few maintenance items you should check this time of year. Doing a few small tasks can sometimes save you from having BIG and expensive tasks, and by the way, I believe the recline function is messed up in my easy chair and I am pretty sure that the remote is not working properly.

I really should go and check those items out just to be sure they are working properly.

Bill Starr is Sumter County Extension agent/Agricultural and Natural Resource, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Contact him at 924-4476.