Here are some fall home maintenance tips to help you prepare your home for the winter season.
- Check your heating system. Before the cold weather hits, you should have your furnace inspected and serviced by a professional. They will change the filter, clean the ducts, and make sure everything is running smoothly. This will prevent any breakdowns or malfunctions during the winter and save you money on energy bills. If you have other heating sources in your home, such as gas fireplaces, you should also have them checked and cleaned.
- Adjust your ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are not only useful in the summer, but also in the winter. By changing the direction of the blades, you can improve the circulation of warm air in your home. In the summer, you want the fans to spin counterclockwise, which pushes cool air down into the room. In the winter, you want them to spin clockwise, which draws warm air from the ceiling and distributes it around the room. This will help you feel warmer and reduce your heating costs.
- Clean your chimney. If you have a wood-burning fireplace in your new home, you should have it cleaned at least once a year by a professional chimney sweep. This will remove any creosote buildup, which can cause fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. A clean chimney will also improve the efficiency and safety of your fireplace, making it more enjoyable to use.
- Seal any air leaks. Even though new homes are usually well-insulated and sealed, there might be some gaps or cracks where cold air can enter, and warm air can escape. This can make your home less comfortable and more expensive to heat. You should inspect your doors, windows, vents, pipes, and outlets for any signs of air leakage and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping. This will improve your home's energy efficiency and comfort level.
Fall Maintenance Tips: How to Keep Your Home and Yard in Good Shape
Fall is a beautiful season, but it also brings some challenges for homeowners. One of the most common tasks is to clear the fallen leaves from your lawn and gutters. Here are some reasons why you should do it and how to do it effectively.
Leaves can smother your grass and prevent it from getting enough sunlight and air. This can weaken your lawn and make it more susceptible to diseases and pests. To avoid this, you should rake up the leaves regularly, especially if you have large trees nearby. You can use a leaf blower, a rake, or a lawnmower with a bag attachment to collect the leaves. Then, you can either compost them, use them as mulch, or dispose of them according to your local regulations.
Leaves can also clog your gutters and downspouts, which can lead to water damage and ice dams. Ice dams are formed when snow melts on your roof and refreezes in your gutters, creating a barrier that prevents water from draining properly. This can cause leaks, mold, and structural damage to your roof and walls. To prevent this, you should clean your gutters at least once in the fall, using a ladder, gloves, a hose, and a gutter scoop or brush. You should also check for any cracks, holes, or loose parts in your gutters and fix them as soon as possible.
By following these simple tips, you can keep your home and yard in good shape during the fall season. You will also save yourself from potential headaches and expenses in the future.
How to Prepare Your Garden and Yard for Winter
Winter is coming, and that means you need to get your garden and yard ready for the cold season. Here are some tips on how to do that.
- For your annual flowers, pull them out and enrich the soil with some compost. This will make the soil more fertile for next spring.
- For your perennials, trim them according to their specific needs. Some may need more pruning than others, so do your research before you cut.
- For your spring bulbs, plant them now if you want to enjoy their blooms in the spring. They need the cold period to germinate and grow.
- For your lawn, aerate it with a tool or a pair of shoes that have spikes on them. This will help the soil breathe and absorb nutrients better.
- For your weeds, get rid of them one last time to give your lawn a chance to grow thicker and healthier in the spring. Weeds can compete with your grass for water and space, so don't let them win.
- For your grass seed, sprinkle some on the bare spots of your lawn. This will help fill in the gaps and prevent crabgrass from taking over in the next season.
- For your mower, lower the blade a bit and cut your grass shorter than usual. This will prepare your lawn for the winter dormancy and reduce the risk of snow mould in the spring.
- For your hoses, disconnect them from the outdoor faucets and store them somewhere warm. This will prevent them from freezing and cracking.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your garden and yard will survive the winter and come back stronger and more beautiful in the spring.
Prep-n-Reno, offer Home and landscaping maintenance, contact us to see if we can assist in anyway. Decluttering, fence and decking repairs.
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