1. Leaves...leaves and more leaves: The temperature change brought beautiful fall landscapes but now that they are on the ground it time to get them bagged and off your lawn. Beyond the overall appearance and the fact they become a walking hazard; these piles of leaves can harbor critters and destroy your precious lawn if not attended too. One of the easiest methods is to adjust your lawn mower to a mulch setting and tackle them during your regular mowing. If you don’t have a mulch setting, you can also purchase refuse/leaf bags at the grocery store, tackle the lawn with a rake and check with your local jurisdiction to see if or when they do leaf pickup.
2. Guard your gutters: Clogged gutters can be a huge nuisance and cause a wide range of problems in the winter months. One of the biggest culprits is the pesky, aforementioned leaves. If you are ok with regular cleanings and you're not afraid of the ladder this can be accomplished on your own, with some gloves and a hose but if you are dealing with high roof lines it might be best to call in a professional. To help eliminate the regular cleanings that are needed, a good investment would be gutter guards which block debris and save the time and hassle of cleaning. There are number of different brands and styles and it is best to contact roofing or siding company to see what is ideal for your home.
3. How’s the roof?: While you’re up cleaning the gutters or swiping back and forth on the lawn mulching leaves, take a look at your roof. For a closer look view through binoculars and check is there are there shingles that are lifted or broke? Check the rows around the roof line and the area around the chimney. If you see something out of the ordinary give a roofing company a call and have it inspected as the winter months can be cruel to roofs with freezing temperatures and heavy snow.
4. Close the hose: When temperature start to dip below freezing it is best to turn off the outdoor hoses and clear the lines of excess water. Locate the interior shut off valve for your exterior faucet (if applicable) and turn off the water to the line. Once you do complete this, go outside and turn the faucet on and clear all of the water from the line. This is one of the best ways to keep that line from freezing and bursting.
5. Check for breezes: As your parents have always said, they aren’t paying to heat the outdoors so check for air leaks in your windows and doors. First step is to clean the lining around the door and window and remove all of the dirt, dust and debris - this will allow for a clean, tight seal when closed. Next, close all of the windows and doors, turn on a fan and place an incense stick near the window and doors. Watch where the smoke goes and if it escapes replace the seal, which can be found out any major hardware store.
6. Out with old - in with the new filter: One of the easiest ways to help improve your HVAC system is by replacing your filter. Set a schedule based on the type of filter used and this will keep your system clean and should improve its efficiency.
7: Chim, Chim, Chimney: Not really a DIY job, but if you have a chimney, have it inspected by a CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certified contractor. They will check for cracks or any build-up of creosote within the structure and make sure it is functioning properly. To find a CSIA certified contractor see csia.org.
As always never hesitate to give us a call or email if you have any questions about your home and please visit www.piersonrealestate.com/referral for a complete list of contractors and companies that we have worked with over the years. If you do use of any of the people on our list please be sure to let us know how they did as we are big on accountability and want to make sure we are sending the best to you in in all situations!
1 comment:
Autumn is often a prelude to decreasing winter weather conditions, regardless of where you live.
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