Fall Maintenance!

Fall Maintenance:

Now is the time to get your house ready for winter! Use this checklist to ensure your home is “winter ready”

Stow the Mower:

Use fuel stabilizer to keep your fuel from degrading over the winter. Top off your mower tank with stabilized gas and let it run for about 5 minutes before stowing away for the winter.  Another method is to let your mower run dry before stowing.

Dry the Drip:

Remove garden hoses from outdoor spigots and store once dry. Also, turn off the water shutoff valve to any outdoor faucets. Make sure to do this early, so that you won’t be caught by surprise if temperatures take an unexpected drop. Also, make sure that sprinkler systems are shut off and drained.

Caulk the Crack:

Check the exterior of your home and seal up any cracks around trim and siding, door frames, windows, and pipes with matching exterior caulk to prevent moisture from your house and to prevent air leaks that waste energy.

De-Gunk the Gutters:

Keep your gutters clean and make sure they are tightened. Replace worn guttering and downspouts.

Fire up the Furnace:

Schedule an appointment to get your heating system checked and tuned up prior to the temperatures dropping to freezing. Also, change your filters. (Which you should do at least every 2 months!)

Pretty the Plants:

Prune your plants and trees. Keep branches and limbs at least 3 feet from your house. This will help prevent moisture from dripping onto your house and help protect from high winds.

Free the Fireplace:

Grab a flashlight and look up the flue to make sure the damper opens and closes properly. Also, check for animal nests, branches, and leaves. Check during the day to ensure that you can see daylight at the top of the chimney. Also, every other year clean your fireplace for creosote buildup.