Precautionary Tips for this Fall Season
From the hot summer heat to the drastic cold winter winds. Your home needs protection from these changes. You can prepare and protect your home by:
1. Clean and Flush Gutters:
- Flush the residue from the gutters and drains to ensure complete flow.
- Remove the debris from the gutters. Be sure to just toss the stuff on the ground and clean it up later for safety reasons.
- Make sure to recheck later in the season after all of the leaves have fallen.
- Look for new cracks on concrete surfaces. Repair with Crack n Seal before the rains and snow begins.
- Hot heated days could have caused cracking of caulk around windows and doors. Replace with new caulking to help prevent heat loss in the winter months.
- Be sure to remove the screens for the fall season and place safely in garage or basement. Will have save the wear and tear each season, which will save MONEY!
- To check doors and windows for air leaks, light an incense stick and hold it near the interior door and window frames. If a leak exists, the smoke will be pulled toward the leak or blown away from the leak. Don't use a candle or other sources of open flames as they may catch fire to curtains and etc.
- Leaks can be easily filled with Silicon or weather stripping.
You can make your windows look lovelier while being energy efficient too!
- Seal drapes edges to the sides of windows using Velcro or magnetic tape. Will help minimize potential drafts.
- Buy or make curtain liners to place between window and drapes.
- Make a creative "draft dodger", using a sand filled tube - place along bottom of drapes for a new look and for warmth.
- Open your drapes on the sunny days, and be sure you close in the evening when the sun goes down!
- Schedule the furnace maintenance before peak season.
- Have your air conditioner winterized at the same time - this adds years to its life and saves you money in the long run!
- You can replace the filers in your furnace and humidifier to help increase efficiency and lower energy bills.
Get that last cutting in--Mulch all leaves and leave them on the lawn. Nutrients and organic matter will be absorbed into your soil, resulting in a healthier lawn in the spring. Then go ahead and get it into the shop to beat the spring rush - if not you can:
- Change the air filter.
- Change Oil.
- Put in a new spark plug.
- Sharpen the blade - Make sure this is balanced.
- Last but not least, turn the engine on and burn out the leftover gas for the winter hibernation period!
7. Turn Off Outside Water Facets and Remove Hoses
- Take hoses into the garage, leaving them attached can cause damage to your home's plumbing.
- Turn the shut off valves in the home if you can reach or attach freeze cones to protect all hose bibs from freezing.
- If your lawn is nice, then just apply some fertilizer. Best time is late fall, studies show these times will benefit lawns more than any other practice.
- If your lawn needs work, now is the time to thatch and get rid of crabgrass.
- Fall is the best time to seed, when nighttime temperatures are in the mid to upper 50's.
- Plant some flowers for fall colors: Pansies, mums or asters.
- Buy a few pumpkins, corn stalks - visit a farmers market to pick up a few gourds too!
- Buy some cozy and warm flannel sheets for those cool nights.
Hope you enjoy your Autumn season, take some walks and breathe in the cool brisk air. Take a breather because the holidays are right around the corner!
