It is easy to get caught up in the beauty of Fall- the changing leaves and the cooler weather are a welcome treat for everyone. But before you know it, winter’s cold winds, snow and ice will be here. Before you venture inside for the Winter months, make sure your home is ready for the season.
Winter can be hard on your home, so make sure you are up to date on maintenance to keep your home safe and warm.
Leaf Season
Chances are, the leaves in your neighborhood have started to fall. That means it’s time to start raking them up. If you don’t rake your leaves and leave them to decay through Winter, you will almost certainly kill your grass. Not only will you have a yard full of dead grass come spring, but all that bad bacteria created from the dead leaves could stop your grass from coming back. No one wants to have a brown lawn all spring and summer, take the time now to get rid of those leaves.
Don’t Get Gutted
It’s easy to forget about the gutters of your home, but they are crucial! Before the snow starts to fall, make sure your gutters are nice and clean. All those fall leaves can clog your gutters and cause them to overflow. This water overflow can run down the sides of your home and cause water damage. Not to mention, if you have leaves and water just sitting in your gutter all winter- chances are it’s going to freeze and then can cause further damage to your gutters. Just make sure they are clean and something you don’t have to worry about.
Raise the Roof
Winter is tough on your roof. Snow, melting snow that refreezes, and wind can all damage your roof throughout the season. Make sure your roof is in good condition before temperatures really start to drop. Check for broken or missing shingles and make sure they get replaced. Look for any holes that could cause leaks or weak spots that could turn into holes. Snow might be beautiful, but enough of it can be disastrous for a roof in disrepair. It’s better to spend an hour on the roof looking for damage then spend a month without a roof in the winter. If your roof is hard to get to or you aren’t comfortable getting up there you can hire someone to come inspect your roof, it should be pretty inexpensive and is definitely the safest option.
Where is that breeze coming from?
Inspect your doors and windows to make sure there aren’t any gaps or holes around them. If you find some, make sure you seal them up! They aren’t an issue now but come winter, you might find a real nasty draft coming from them. These gaps can also cost you money on your heating costs! You want to make sure all that heat your system is generating is staying in your house and not leaking out! There is only so much a blanket can protect you against!
Turn it off
Make sure outside hoses are unhooked and put away. The water supply to outside faucets should be cut off so it doesn’t freeze over throughout the winter months. Turn off your sprinkler system and prepare it for winter. You won’t need any of this stuff until the spring, so make sure it is put away safely.
Once you are done, sit back and enjoy the rest of Fall!