Winter is coming — Tips to prepare your home this autumn before winter arrives
To-do lists make every task seem that much more manageable, and that includes looking after both the inside and outside of your home. Now that sweater weather has arrived, here’s a checklist to cover the essentials of fall home maintenance. Now is the best time to prepare your home and yard for the coming cold.
Clean out the gutters & clear the downspouts
- Break out your ladder and garden gloves and dig into any debris that’s built up in your gutters and downspouts. Doing so will help the gutters drain properly and prevent overflow, which can cause damage to your home and wallet.
- A saggy gutter just looks sad, so take the time to look them over and check for missing brackets.
- Ensure you’re being safe when using a ladder: keep your body near the step, always maintain a 3-point contact on the ladder (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) and face the ladder when climbing.
Check the roof
- Take a peek at your roof to see if you can spot any damage like dings, missing shingles or buckled roofing.
- If you find any loose or missing shingles, make sure you replace and repair them sooner rather than later. Serious problems, like leaks, can develop when the snow builds up and then begins to freeze and thaw.
- If you’re not up for the job of checking things out, we can help.
Get your furnace ready
- Temperatures are going to start dropping soon, and you don’t want to be caught without a working furnace. One of the easiest things you can do to prevent furnace malfunction is to replace the furnace filter before the cold months arrive.
- If you’re feeling extra ambitious, clean your ducts to increase the heating system’s efficiency and (bonus points!) reduce the amount of household dust in the air. Rümi’s pros can help you do it.
- Your furnace needs to be serviced every year, so hire a professional to perform a proper tune-up.
Attic insulation
- Did you know even a small section of missing insulation can cost you a pretty penny and create a lot of wasted household energy? Make sure every part of your attic is well-insulated, and you’ll save a lot this season.
- While you’re at it, check the attic’s door for any gaps—inconsistent air circulation is one of the culprits of ice damming.
- One last thing while we’re in the attic: check the vents and make sure there isn’t any debris clogging them. Again, proper ventilation prevents ice damming as well as improves overall household heating efficiency.
Prepare your air conditioner
- Hot tip for the cold months: disconnect your A/C unit so that it doesn’t turn on during winter and get damaged.
- Clean out all of the A/C debris now to save on clean-up time in the spring, and install an A/C cover to protect from snow and ice.
- If you’re more of a window A/C unit kind of household, you should remove them or cover them well so they don’t cause a draft.
- If you have more questions about how to care for your A/C unit or get one installed before summer, Rümi can help!
Weather-proof the windows & doors
- Heating bills are part of the territory this time of year, but won’t you feel better knowing you lowered them up to 30% by taking care of drafty windows and doors? Replace that worn weather stripping and use caulk to fill any gaps near windows, doors, pipes and faucets.
- Outdoor critters are cutest when they stay where they belong—outdoors, so make sure you seal up any exterior gaps they could climb through. Larger gaps need spray foam to get the job done.
Chimney & fireplace safety
- For some, winter just isn’t the same without a working fireplace to cozy up to. Before you start splitting the firewood and dreaming of roasted marshmallows, make sure every smoke and fire detector in the house is in working order and have fresh batteries.
- Hire a professional to inspect your chimney in order to prevent chimney fires and the buildup of dangerous gasses. These professionals know how to properly clear out soot, leaves and the even the occasional bird nest.
- There’s no time like the present to stock up on firewood. Make sure you store it somewhere safe and dry.
Show your lawn some love
- Not to sound like an overused Game of Thrones meme, but Winter is coming. Fertilize your lawn one-to-two times in the fall and you’ll see things come back to life much quicker come spring.
- Rake up all the fall leaves to prevent the spread of diseases that can kill your lawn.
- Finally, make sure you aerate, seed and mow your lawn one last time before the snow arrives.
Inspect your deck
- Let’s face it—your deck is going to be snowbound and icy for a few months. It’s okay to shed a few tears. We did. Fall is an ideal time to give it a good cleaning and a little repair. Fix up the rotted boards and re-stain and seal your deck to make sure it’s primed for when warm weather returns.
If you’ve got more questions or want to learn more about Rümi’s home services, give us a shout today!
