Prepare Your Home for Fall

Are you ready for fall?  It’s late September…It’stime to winterize. Up North, it’s time to get it in gear and prepare to batten down your house for the cooler months ahead.  Here in Florida, we anxiously anticipate the break from summer’s stifling heat so we can venture outside, enjoy the breezes, lounge on our decks or patios and fire up the barbecue.  No matter what part of the country you call home, cooler weather is approaching and the holidays are just around the corner.  Here are some suggestions to get your home ready for the months ahead:

Outdoor Fall Maintenance/Preparation Checklist

Performing some basic home maintenance checks each season will help keep your home in tip-top shape and looking great throughout the year.  Follow these preparation tips, and you can keep your home warm this winter, fix minor issues to avoid major repairs later, and preserve your home and its value.

• Inspect the deck or patio - clean the deck with some soapy water and a pole brush.  To remove stains or to clean a neglected deck, use deck wash.  Let the deck dry about four hours, then roll on a water sealer/protectant and let it dry.  To clean a concrete patio, use TSP or a concrete cleaner, scrub with a brush and rinse well.  Be sure to cover and protect any shrubs before you get started. 

• Clean up and/or repair your outdoor furniture- just a little mild dish detergent in a bucket of water, a sponge or brush and a good rinse should do the trick.  If the chairs have seen better days, get the seats restrapped, replace mildewed cushions or shop the summer sales for a new outdoor furniture set.  Down South, put the furniture out on your clean deck and breathe in the fresh, cool air.  Up North, as long as it’s comfortable to sit outdoors, light up the outdoor fire pit and cook up some s’mores - just have that spot ready in the garage to stash them away when the time comes. 

• Fire up the grill - to burn off any cooked-on food, crank the grill to high until you stop seeing smoke.  Then clean off the grates and racks with a wire grill brush.  BBQ aficionados down South…fill up the tank with gas and get ready for your next tail-gate football party.  BBQ masters up North, before harsh winter temperatures set in, get ready to pack the grill away until spring.  Note any parts that are rusted or in need of replacement; chances are you may not find the parts in the off season but you’ll be ready with your list when stores bring out next year’s grills and accessories.  Check to insure all gas connections are leak free.  Rub the metal parts with a bit of cooking oil to help repel moisture. Cover the grill and park it where it is protected from the elements.  If you intend to wheel it into a corner of the garage, be sure to remove the gas tank first.  Do not store the propane tank in an enclosed area - one small leak could have explosive results.  It’s best to keep the tank sheltered from the weather in an area with good ventilation.

• Check for loose or peeling paint on exterior walls - do any touch-ups needed.  If the house needs repainted, get busy or book the painter while the weather still allows.  If temperatures in your area have already dipped below 50 degrees (day or night), best put off major painting outside until spring.

• Phone your heating and air conditioning company - don’t put off having your heating unit checked out.  If you wait until the temperatures dip to call in the experts, you may be left in the cold.  Get them out now before they get booked up. 

• Phone the chimney sweep - if you have a fireplace, have your chimney cleaned to remove buildup of creosote, debris or nesting critters.  Is your fireplace wood-burning?  Have some wood on hand so you’re ready for that first cool night.

• Check your weather-proofing - look for gaps or worn spots in weather-stripping around exterior doors and windows and replace as needed.  Inspect caulking around exterior windows and doors, where masonry and siding meet, at siding corner joints and where any pipes or wires enter the house.  Caulk keeps out the cold, moisture and dirt, so be sure to recaulk any gaps or problem areas as needed.

• Inspect the roof for any missing, loose or damaged shingles or tiles.  Replace them or arrange for repairs.  While you’re up there, inspect the caulk or seals around plumbing stacks, solar tubes, vents, etc.

• Clean and inspect gutters and downspouts - after most of the leaves have fallen, clean debris from your gutters and downspouts.  Turn on the hose to check for damaged, leaking or misaligned gutters.  Make sure they drain away from the house.   

• Remove debris from around the heat pump or air conditioning unit.  Spray it off with the hose.

• Remove window air conditioners - if you live south of the Mason-Dixon Line, you may want to hold off on this a bit longer! 

• Clean your windows and screens - inspect the screens and repair any holes or tears.  If you live in Cold Country, swap them out for your storm doors and windows and store them until spring.

• Pressure wash siding - removing the dirt, debris and tree sap a couple times a year will extend the life of your investment.

• Inspect driveways, sidewalks and paths for damage or cracks.  Repair or seal as needed before extreme temperatures make matters worse.

• Trim trees - tree branches hanging over the roof can damage shingles or roof tiles should they break under the weight of snow or ice. 

• Winterize the lawn - rake up the leaves, give the grass a good cut and trim, remove any cool-weather weeds, then fertilize the lawn to keep it green and protect it from pests and cold.  In the deep South, the grass still grows for at least another month or two, so you’ll want to fertilize it once now and again in late October to keep it green and healthy.  Depending on the variety, your lawn may benefit from a good aeration treatment to loosen any thatch buildup.  Check with your local extension service for advice on how to best prepare your type of lawn for winter. 

• Prepare your garden and planting beds.  Mulch around your bulbs, roses, trees, and shrubs to prevent sudden changes in soil temperature from destroying the root systems of tender plants.  

• Take care of the lawn mower and garden tools - run the gas out of the mower for storage or add a stabilizer agent.  Change the oil, pull and inspect the spark plug and oil the engine.  Clean up the garden tools and give them a light coat of oil to protect them from rust.

• Drain the water.  If you live in the Land of the Hard Freeze, drain the hose, coil it up and hang it where it won’t freeze and crack. If you have a sprinkler system, drain it too, and shut off the water to prevent pipes from freezing.  Protect your plumbing by wrapping lines with pipe jackets, fiberglass insulation or electric heating tape.

If you’ve made it to the bottom of this home maintenance checklist, pat yourself on the back.  Now it’s time to move indoors to get ready for fall and holiday entertaining!

[tag]Home Maintenance Tips for Fall, Home Maintenance Checklist, Preparing Your Home for the Fall Season, Winterize Your Home [/tag]

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