As the days get cooler, it is important to prepare for what’s to come from the changing of the seasons. Here is a checklist to prepare for the new season.
Lawn maintenance
Rake
Get the rake ready. It is important to continuously rake your lawn throughout the fall to ensure proper grass growth in the spring.
Cut Grass
Keep the grass low. Doing this will promote growth in the spring and, in combination with raking, lowers the chance of mold forming on the lawn
Fertilize Lawn
The best time to fertilize your lawn for optimal grass growth in the spring is during the fall. Doing this protects the grass roots during the colder months and helps promote a quick growth in the spring.
Exterior home maintenance
Winterize pool
Clean the pool. Remove any leaves or debris. Drain the water from all the mechanisms to avoid damage from freezing water. Make sure to cover your pool for safety purposes and to make the opening process easier.
Check roof
Check your roof for any damage such as leaks or missing shingles. This is important to do now so that when winter comes, ice and snow will not make the issues worse than they are.
Check exterior walls
Check for damage to your siding. Repaint anything if necessary. If there are any holes on the outside of your house, fix them to avoid unwanted guests like mice or squirrels from entering your home.
Check foundation
The summer can cause some extreme weather. Check around the outside of your house to see if your foundation is damaged. Look for diagonal cracks or cracks in the driveway or other concrete surfaces around the house.
Clean dryer vents
Clean the exterior dryer vents to avoid a fire from the backed-up lint. Clean the inside of the dryer’s lint trap as well.
Get ready for snow
Find and prepare all of your snow gear so it is ready for when you need it. Service your snow blower and make sure it is in working order. Stock up on goods like salt and sand if you are running low.
Clean gutters
Since leaves are going to be falling soon, it’s important that your drainage system is ready for the extra debris. Clean your gutters to ensure proper drainage and to avoid damage to your roof and siding.
Interior maintenance
Wash Carpets
This is the perfect time to wash your carpets as it is cool enough to have the windows open but not too cold. When you wash your carpets, you want there to be plenty of ventilation, so they can dry properly.
Furnace
Replace your furnace air filters every month. Get your annual furnace service to make sure that everything is in working order before it gets too cold.
Fireplace and chimney
Before you use the fireplace for the first time in the season, it is important that the chimney and fireplace are clean. Inspect the fireplace for cracks and corrosion. Make sure that all fireplace safety protocols are met.
Fire safety
You should be testing your fire and carbon monoxide at least once a month. Make sure that the detector is dusted regularly to assure that it will detect fumes and smoke. Batteries should be replaced once or twice a year, so this is a good time to do that. Make sure fire extinguishers are functioning.
Humidifier
Get your humidifier ready. As the air gets colder and drier, you may begin to notice physical effects from the dry air. It is also important that the air is at the right humidity, as it can cause damage to some of your belongings.
We hope that this list of fall cleaning tips can help you maintain your home this season.