Fall is the perfect time to boost energy efficiency in your home, prevent damage from winter storms with proper tree care, and give the place a thorough tidy up. Tick off the following on your fall maintenance list and know your house and yard are secure for the winter.
If you have trees and shrubs, prune to avoid falling limbs in winter storms. If your ash tree is spotting yellow, this is a sign of disease as ash trees are one of the latest to turn. The emerald ash borer is decimating ash trees across the country. If your ash tree has been affected, you might want to consider having it removed in case of a bad storm.
Clean your gutters and downspouts as clogged gutters during rainstorms can cause water to pool and damage your roof or siding.
Does your home require any exterior repairs? Fill small holes and cover any larger gaps securely to keep the wildlife outdoors.
Stock up on winter supplies. Do you have snow shovels and ice scrapers? Do you have plenty of pet and plant safe ice melt? If you own a snowblower, does it need a service?
Protect your pipes from freezing by shutting off water to exterior faucets. Remove, drain, and store hoses indoors.
Take the time to test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed.
If your dryer is working less efficiently than when you first purchased it, this may be due to lint buildup in your vents. Cool, dry, fall weather increases static electricity, which can ignite lint, so now is the time to clean that out.
Cooler days mean home-cooked meals and family around the dinner table. Now is the time to give the house a deep clean, especially the kitchen. Chores might include degreasing the range hood and filter, cleaning the oven, cleaning light fixtures, scrubbing tile grout, washing the garbage can and recycling bins, and cleaning small appliances.
Last but by no means least, schedule your annual chimney cleaning and heating system maintenance. An important safety measure, before you turn on the heat, is to ensure your furnace and boiler are cleaned and in good working order.
At Warren Boynton, we offer a range of loans, including home improvement. If you’re hoping to complete a large project at home before winter sets in, we can help. You can speak with one of our team by stopping in at your local branch in New Berlin, Springfield, Modesto, or Palmyra.