Summer never seems to last long enough and, before you know it, it's fall already. Ideally, you have been able to have some good experiences under the shining summer sun, but fall is here now, and winter is not far behind. You can take advantage of the fall season to make sure Old Man Winter doesn't catch you off guard.
One of the obvious things that should be done before things start freezing is to make sure that any outdoor structure with water is taken care of. This includes things like bird baths and, of course, swimming pools. If possible, clean and empty them and then put a protective cover on top. You can also check the level of insulation on the pipes. If the pipes that carry warm water are warm to the touch, they could stand to be insulated more. You can buy pipe insulation at most hardware stores. Not only will this preserve the water's heat on its way to the faucet or shower, it will make them less vulnerable to freezing.
In many states, winter means lots of snow. This makes it hugely important to make sure the gutters are unobstructed. If water from rain or melted snow is unable to run off, it can lead to many problems for your roof. After the leaves fall, it's a good idea to grab a ladder and make sure that they are not clogging up your gutter.
If you use a window-mounted air-conditioning unit during the summer, it should be taken out and stowed for the winter. If you have a central air system, be sure to change out the filters. While you're at it, you might even consider replacing the dryer filter. The more dry air of fall and winter can slightly increase the chance of dryer-related fires.
Drafty homes can be an enormous drain on home energy use. If heat keeps escaping, the furnace has to work harder to keep the temperature up. You can check the seals on your doors and window to make sure they aren't letting in a cold draft. You can use the time-tested "draft snake" to plug up the bottoms of drafty doors. Just roll up a blanket or towel and stuff the gap with it.
Your lawn will enter a state where it stops growing during the colder months, so you won't need to worry too much about lawn maintenance during this time, save for the final chore of raking up and removing the leaves once they have all fallen. Before you put your mower and other tools away in a protected area, clean and look over them for maintenance issues, making sure they'll be good to go when spring comes.
Yard furniture should be cleaned and protected for the winter. Depending on the brand and materials, this might mean putting them in the garage or simply covering them. The water heater and fireplace will be seeing more use now as well, so be sure that they are in good working condition.
Fall can be a perfect time to take care of what needs to be done before winter.. You never want to wait until the last minute to make sure you're ready for winter. If the snow comes early, you could be caught off guard, and be forced to deal with bigger problems in a cold and wet environment. How much better it is to get things done when the weather is mild.
One of the obvious things that should be done before things start freezing is to make sure that any outdoor structure with water is taken care of. This includes things like bird baths and, of course, swimming pools. If possible, clean and empty them and then put a protective cover on top. You can also check the level of insulation on the pipes. If the pipes that carry warm water are warm to the touch, they could stand to be insulated more. You can buy pipe insulation at most hardware stores. Not only will this preserve the water's heat on its way to the faucet or shower, it will make them less vulnerable to freezing.
In many states, winter means lots of snow. This makes it hugely important to make sure the gutters are unobstructed. If water from rain or melted snow is unable to run off, it can lead to many problems for your roof. After the leaves fall, it's a good idea to grab a ladder and make sure that they are not clogging up your gutter.
If you use a window-mounted air-conditioning unit during the summer, it should be taken out and stowed for the winter. If you have a central air system, be sure to change out the filters. While you're at it, you might even consider replacing the dryer filter. The more dry air of fall and winter can slightly increase the chance of dryer-related fires.
Drafty homes can be an enormous drain on home energy use. If heat keeps escaping, the furnace has to work harder to keep the temperature up. You can check the seals on your doors and window to make sure they aren't letting in a cold draft. You can use the time-tested "draft snake" to plug up the bottoms of drafty doors. Just roll up a blanket or towel and stuff the gap with it.
Your lawn will enter a state where it stops growing during the colder months, so you won't need to worry too much about lawn maintenance during this time, save for the final chore of raking up and removing the leaves once they have all fallen. Before you put your mower and other tools away in a protected area, clean and look over them for maintenance issues, making sure they'll be good to go when spring comes.
Yard furniture should be cleaned and protected for the winter. Depending on the brand and materials, this might mean putting them in the garage or simply covering them. The water heater and fireplace will be seeing more use now as well, so be sure that they are in good working condition.
Fall can be a perfect time to take care of what needs to be done before winter.. You never want to wait until the last minute to make sure you're ready for winter. If the snow comes early, you could be caught off guard, and be forced to deal with bigger problems in a cold and wet environment. How much better it is to get things done when the weather is mild.
About the Author:
People who love their homes expend a lot of time and effort to keep them well-maintained. And it can be a big motivating factor if you live in the home of your dreams. SeaPac Homes builds new homes in Washington. search no further for your dream home!
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