With the changing seasons, homeowners start to get their homes ready for cooler temperatures,there are several things that can be done to protect your home from harsh weather conditions.
Plant New Grass
Fall is actually one of the best times to
plant new grass or sod! Aside from the Spring season, cooler
temperatures in the Fall make it an ideal time for new grass to grow up
strong and healthy. The sometimes hotter temperatures and dry conditions
of the Summer months can make growing new grass very difficult. The
other nice thing about planting in the early Fall, before the snow
flies, is that once there is a bed of snow down that will protect and
nurture the younger grass all winter long. Then, next Spring your lawn
will look great!
I have provided a link below about the benefits of planting grass in the fall and what you should know. Very helpful information http://www.greenviewfertilizer.com/articles/5-steps-for-planting-grass-seed-in-fall/
Yearly furnace inspection
It
sneaks up on us every year here in the midwest, so make sure to have
your furnace inspected and “tuned-up”, if needed, before Winter arrives!
There’s nothing worse than your furnace going out on you when it’s 15
degrees outside so be proactive and take care of any potential issues in
August or September and you’ll be ready for Old Man Winter this year.
Follow this link for local heating and air businesses that provide a furnace inspection service.
Seal the outside to stay warm this winter!
It’s important to keep the warm air in your
house from leaking out in the Winter, so use some exterior caulk that’s
color matched to your home and seal up any cracks you find between trim
and siding or around window and door frames. You can take a sample of
your house paint or paint number to your local hardware store and
they’ll match the color to the caulk you’re using to seal those cracks
and gaps.
Follow the link for a how to video on sealing your exterior! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orRib-bddCs
Winterize Outside Plumbing
Pipes that freeze during cold midwest
winters tend to be more prone to bursting, so make sure you winterize
all outside plumbing systems! Start by disconnecting all outside water
attachments. Then, make sure to drain all the water from any outside
plumbing and turn off the supply valve that supplies water to any
exterior plumbing. Lastly, you’ll want to cover any outside spigots with
an insulating material or cover that can be found at your local
hardware store.
Follow the link for a how to video on winterizing your exterior plumbing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrKkTv0JqKg
Ceiling fans
Many people forget about this one, but
ceiling fans actually help regulate indoor air temperature very
effectively in the Winter months. Make sure you switch all ceiling fans
to a counterclockwise direction in the Winter. That direction creates
what is called an updraft and helps to disperse warm air, back down from
the ceiling, into the rest of the house.
Gutters
This is one that you should save for last,
as you’ll want to make sure all or most of the leaves have fallen.
Clogged gutters are one of the number one causes of ice dams and can
cause very expensive damages! If you clean your gutters too early, then
they’ll just fill back up with leaves and debris so wait as long as
possible before cleaning them of all leaves and debris. I’ve found that a
leaf blower works really well; when the leaves/debris are still dry.
Follow the link to see a video on cleaning your gutters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMRN6wNo68A
Clean The Carpets
It’s a good idea to clean the carpets in
your home at least once a year. Fall is a great time to tackle that
project because the kids a likely back in school, now, which will make
moving furniture around much easier. (Extra tip:
Now is an ideal time to try rearranging the furniture in your home for a
fresh look!) It’s important to give your carpets an adequate amount of
drying time before you start using them. The other reason I like doing
this in the Fall is because you’ll be spending a lot more time in the
house during the Winter months breathing in all the dirt, pet dander,
dust etc. that gets trapped in your carpet throughout the year.
Sealing your driveway!
As we all know, Winter here in the midwest can
be brutal! Under all the snow and salt and ice melt, asphalt
and concrete driveways that are not properly sealed can really suffer
the wrath of old man winter. Small cracks can quickly become large ones
if not properly sealed every few years. Fall is a great time to paint or
seal your driveway with a commercial sealer. Do this every few years
and your driveway will thank you!
As we all know, Winter here in the midwest can
be brutal! Under all the snow and salt and ice melt, asphalt
and concrete driveways that are not properly sealed can really suffer
the wrath of old man winter. Small cracks can quickly become large ones
if not properly sealed every few years. Fall is a great time to paint or
seal your driveway with a commercial sealer. Do this every few years
and your driveway will thank you!
Link to a how to video on sealing your driveway.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2LwWDuHnYw
Freshen Up The Interior
Many of us struggle with the “winter blues”
as we transition from Fall into Winter and the shorter, colder days.
Beat those blues by picking a room or two in your home and painting them
a nice uplifting color! Besides making you feel better all around,
you’ll also boost your home value while you’re at it. (Just don’t make the color/s too crazy!) Rearranging
the furniture in your living room works in tandem with painting too,
and will help get you through those cold winter days.
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