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 most of the inland states, winter equals lots and lots of snow. To prevent complications with your roof and gutter, make sure that the gutter system remains unobstructed. When the leaves start falling, they can blow around and start to build up in the water runoff. Once all the leaves have fallen, it's time to grab a ladder and make sure nothing will get clogged during the rain and snow.
If you rely on a window-mounted air-conditioner to keep cool during summer, you won't have much use for that during fall and winter. It should maintained and stowed away. If you have a central air system, now would probably be a good time to change the filter. Even the dryer may be in need of a new filter, and more dry air increases the risk of 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.
The grass will enter a dormant state, so you won't be needing the lawnmower and trimmer until spring. They should have a maintenance check done on them, and then be stowed away in an area where they'll be protected from the cold and moisture. And once all the leaves have fallen, it's a good idea to get them raked up and removed before the snow starts coming.
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.
You can really take advantage of the mild weather patterns that come with fall to get ready for winter. The last thing you want to do is procrastinate until the last minute. When the snow comes, small maintenance items could turn into big problems, and you'll have to deal with them in the cold, no less. Dealing with it in fall is easier and more convenient.
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 most of the inland states, winter equals lots and lots of snow. To prevent complications with your roof and gutter, make sure that the gutter system remains unobstructed. When the leaves start falling, they can blow around and start to build up in the water runoff. Once all the leaves have fallen, it's time to grab a ladder and make sure nothing will get clogged during the rain and snow.
If you rely on a window-mounted air-conditioner to keep cool during summer, you won't have much use for that during fall and winter. It should maintained and stowed away. If you have a central air system, now would probably be a good time to change the filter. Even the dryer may be in need of a new filter, and more dry air increases the risk of 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.
The grass will enter a dormant state, so you won't be needing the lawnmower and trimmer until spring. They should have a maintenance check done on them, and then be stowed away in an area where they'll be protected from the cold and moisture. And once all the leaves have fallen, it's a good idea to get them raked up and removed before the snow starts coming.
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.
You can really take advantage of the mild weather patterns that come with fall to get ready for winter. The last thing you want to do is procrastinate until the last minute. When the snow comes, small maintenance items could turn into big problems, and you'll have to deal with them in the cold, no less. Dealing with it in fall is easier and more convenient.
About the Author:
People who love their houses expend much of time and effort to keep them well-maintained. And it can be a big motivating factor if you own the home of your dreams. SeaPac Homes builds new homes in Washington. Look no further for your dream home!
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