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 most obvious preparations to make is to take care of any water-based items you don't want freezing. If you have a birdbath, it should be emptied and cleaned. If you have a pool, it should be cleaned, winterized based on the type, and covered with a tarp. You can also add insulation to your pipes. You can test their insulation levels by feeling them. If they are warm to the touch, heat is being transferred through the metal. You can make them more effective by finding pipe insulation material at a hardware store. This not only helps keep them from freezing, but reduces the amount of heat lost on the water's journey from the heater to the faucet.
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 use a window-mounted air-conditioning unit during the summer, it should be taken out and stowed for the winter. If you have a central air system, be sure to change out the filters. While you're at it, you might even consider replacing the dryer filter. The more dry air of fall and winter can slightly increase the chance of dryer-related fires.
If your doors and windows have poor seals, winter is when you will really start to notice it. Draftiness can make your home uncomfortable and inefficient to heat. For doors with drafty bottoms, you can use a technique that many people in the great depression used: roll up a blanket or towel into a draft snake and use it to block the gap.
During the colder seasons, your grass will become dormant, which means you can put away most of the yard tools. Your mower and trimmer should be cleaned before being put away, so that they'll be ready for action once spring has sprung. Once all the leaves are on the ground, it's best to rake them up before the snow comes. Raking flattened, rotting, moist leaves is not appealing. It's best to get it done as soon as the last leaf falls.
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 most obvious preparations to make is to take care of any water-based items you don't want freezing. If you have a birdbath, it should be emptied and cleaned. If you have a pool, it should be cleaned, winterized based on the type, and covered with a tarp. You can also add insulation to your pipes. You can test their insulation levels by feeling them. If they are warm to the touch, heat is being transferred through the metal. You can make them more effective by finding pipe insulation material at a hardware store. This not only helps keep them from freezing, but reduces the amount of heat lost on the water's journey from the heater to the faucet.
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 use a window-mounted air-conditioning unit during the summer, it should be taken out and stowed for the winter. If you have a central air system, be sure to change out the filters. While you're at it, you might even consider replacing the dryer filter. The more dry air of fall and winter can slightly increase the chance of dryer-related fires.
If your doors and windows have poor seals, winter is when you will really start to notice it. Draftiness can make your home uncomfortable and inefficient to heat. For doors with drafty bottoms, you can use a technique that many people in the great depression used: roll up a blanket or towel into a draft snake and use it to block the gap.
During the colder seasons, your grass will become dormant, which means you can put away most of the yard tools. Your mower and trimmer should be cleaned before being put away, so that they'll be ready for action once spring has sprung. Once all the leaves are on the ground, it's best to rake them up before the snow comes. Raking flattened, rotting, moist leaves is not appealing. It's best to get it done as soon as the last leaf falls.
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 put forth a lot of time and energy to keep them well-maintained. And it can be a big motivating factor if you own the home of your dreams. SeaPac Homes constructs new homes in Washington. search no further for your dream home!
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