Most people "winterize"their homes in the fall and early winter. Since leaves are dying, it is possible to see if any shrubs are too close to your house. Brick and siding lasts longer without clinging vines or roots.
You can also drain and wound up your hosepipe. Since you will not be watering your grass any time soon, you can probably store the hose. The water should be turned off at the exterior faucet and then just run off until it drains dry. Clean out the furniture and store it away.
If you have planted any young trees and this will be their first winter, you may wish to protect the roots with mulch.
All drainage ditches should be cleaned out in preparation for heavy rainfall.
You can also drain and wound up your hosepipe. Since you will not be watering your grass any time soon, you can probably store the hose. The water should be turned off at the exterior faucet and then just run off until it drains dry. Clean out the furniture and store it away.
If you have planted any young trees and this will be their first winter, you may wish to protect the roots with mulch.
All drainage ditches should be cleaned out in preparation for heavy rainfall.
Several other jobs come to mind in the fall, as it gets colder and we think of our fireplaces. You'd be better off calling a chimney sweep early on to avoid delays when it starts getting cold. Chords of wood have been scarce in some places this year, and hard to find even online. It is worth taking a drive to see if you can locate a local farmer selling wood without much advertisement.
Since you will have more fires lit in your home, it is always a good idea to check the batteries of your smoke alarms.
If you leave your Christmas lights up all year, check the cords are still flexible and that the plugs do not warm up when they are switched on.
If you usually replace fly screens with storm windows, this is the right time to do it. The weather stripping may need replacing around the doors after drying out all summer. Since we don't open windows often in the winter, you might want to make sure your range hood filters are working properly.
In the event that your house has settled, you need to make sure the ground around it is still sloped away from it. You certainly don't want water to get into your basement or foundations. Wet rot would lead, over time, to dry rot, a home's natural enemy.
Check your home for water seeping anywhere, or for unwanted moisture. Common leaks are found in the roof, the down pipes from the gutter, and plumbing works inside your home.
Outdoor AC units can be covered to prevent drafts, and older outdoor pipes should be covered to prevent freezi
Since you will have more fires lit in your home, it is always a good idea to check the batteries of your smoke alarms.
If you leave your Christmas lights up all year, check the cords are still flexible and that the plugs do not warm up when they are switched on.
If you usually replace fly screens with storm windows, this is the right time to do it. The weather stripping may need replacing around the doors after drying out all summer. Since we don't open windows often in the winter, you might want to make sure your range hood filters are working properly.
In the event that your house has settled, you need to make sure the ground around it is still sloped away from it. You certainly don't want water to get into your basement or foundations. Wet rot would lead, over time, to dry rot, a home's natural enemy.
Check your home for water seeping anywhere, or for unwanted moisture. Common leaks are found in the roof, the down pipes from the gutter, and plumbing works inside your home.
Outdoor AC units can be covered to prevent drafts, and older outdoor pipes should be covered to prevent freezi
If you usually replace fly screens with storm windows, this is the right time to do it. The weather stripping may need replacing around the doors after drying out all summer. Since we don't open windows often in the winter, you might want to make sure your range hood filters are working properly.
In the event that your house has settled, you need to make sure the ground around it is still sloped away from it. You certainly don't want water to get into your basement or foundations. Wet rot would lead, over time, to dry rot, a home's natural enemy.
Check your home for water seeping anywhere, or for unwanted moisture. Common leaks are found in the roof, the down pipes from the gutter, and plumbing works inside your home.
Outdoor AC units can be covered to prevent drafts, and older outdoor pipes should be covered to prevent freezing.
If the carpets missed a spring shampoo, make sure they get a fall one. Since the time we spend inside the house in the winter is maximized, we are exposed to dust more.
And while you can still open your windows, it is a wonderful opportunity to get them clean.
In the event that your house has settled, you need to make sure the ground around it is still sloped away from it. You certainly don't want water to get into your basement or foundations. Wet rot would lead, over time, to dry rot, a home's natural enemy.
Check your home for water seeping anywhere, or for unwanted moisture. Common leaks are found in the roof, the down pipes from the gutter, and plumbing works inside your home.
Outdoor AC units can be covered to prevent drafts, and older outdoor pipes should be covered to prevent freezing.
If the carpets missed a spring shampoo, make sure they get a fall one. Since the time we spend inside the house in the winter is maximized, we are exposed to dust more.
And while you can still open your windows, it is a wonderful opportunity to get them clean.