I know it is hard to believe that it is the first day of fall when the temperature is 80 plus degrees outside. But the calendar, and the crazy snow storm we have already had, let us know that we need to get ready. Here are 10 autumn maintenance tips.
First
- Disconnect hoses from your home. I know because it is still warm you may be watering plants, but remember when done to disconnect the house from the house.
- Bring your outdoor furniture inside or purchase the water proof covers that are sold at Lowes, Home depot and online. You may feel like the covers are too expensive, but having to replace furniture that gets damaged is expensive also.
- Clean out the gutters on your home. This is the time of year when gutters get filled with leaves. Clean them and they will last longer.
- Change your furnace filter. If your furnace is more than 3 years old it is a good idea to get in the habit of an annual service.
- Fertilize your lawn. Doing that now will give the lawn a boost so it will be green sooner in the spring.
Additionally
- Trim trees and bushes. An early snow, like we have already had, can really be hard on limbs. Giving them a good trim can remove limbs that might break in a storm.
- Change batteries in smoke detectors and CO detectors.
- Time to start thinking about scheduling to get the lawn sprinklers blown out. The City of Fort Collins is asking home owners to stop outdoor watering 10/1 this year because the Cameron Peak fire has the City not using water from the Poudre River. Horsetooth reservoir dam is requiring maintenance, so water level is being lowered. All of this means that water is scarcer.
- Switch the direction of your ceiling fan. You want the warm air to come down off the ceiling in the winter. It can make such a difference and help you save on your heating bill.
- Check weatherstripping around doors and windows. Having a weather tight house can also save you money on those winter utility bills. Chalk and weatherstripping can be purchased at the hardware store and fill gaps around windows.
There are a few autumn maintenance tips. Maintenance is the un-fun part of home ownership. But taking a bit of time and doing these things can certainly improve your enjoyment of your home. Contact us if you need a recommendation for an excellent contractor to help with your home maintenance.