With summer winding down, now is the time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the winter. As a transitional season, fall provides great weather to allow you to get plenty of projects done, while being close enough to winter that your efforts aren’t wasted by the time this more extreme-weather season arrives. If you complete these maintenance tasks, you’ll be well on your way to hunkering down for the winter.
Have Your Furnace Checked
Though it hasn’t been used for several months, your furnace will soon be the center of attention. Before it takes its starring role, it’s important to have it inspected to ensure it’s ready to play its part. An inspection involves testing the burner, checking for any potential gas leaks, lubricating all moving parts, and thoroughly cleaning your unit so that there’s no risk of fire.
Have Your Pipes Cleaned
The cold winter weather can be harsh on your home’s pipes. They will be even more vulnerable, though, if they can’t drain properly due to a build-up of debris in the pipes. Therefore, before fall is over, it’s a good idea to have a plumber stop by your home and inspect your pipes to see if any of them are blocked. If they are, the plumber can clean them effectively without causing any damage to your pipes.
Prepare Your Lawn
Though your lawn goes dormant when the weather turns cold, that doesn’t mean it’s dead. You need to provide your lawn with the proper nutrients to help it come alive quickly when spring rolls around again. These nutrients help fortify your lawn so that it doesn’t suffer during extreme winter conditions. This will help make your lawn hardier and more beautiful year-round.
Clean Your Gutters
With the fall season comes plenty of falling debris. Leaves, sticks, acorns, and other debris will be bombarding your roof and clogging your gutters all season long. Therefore, it’s important to clean your gutters to keep your gutters flowing to help protect your home from fall rains and winter snowstorms. Even if you live in a neighborhood that doesn’t have many trees, it’s still good to check your gutters to make sure that leaves haven’t flown in from other neighborhoods just to clog your gutters.
Take Time to Enjoy It
With all of the fun outdoor activities and beautiful weather, fall is a wonderful season to enjoy spending time with family and friends. Therefore, in the midst of your fall maintenance efforts, it’s a great idea to take some time to enjoy all that fall has to offer. This will help fill you up on autumnal pleasure before winter hits and you’re forced to be inside more often.
