Fall Household Tips
Did you realize that your home will undergo seasonal changes as the temperatures begin to drop, weather conditions worsen, your home ages, and of course as we human beings add our wear and tear? In order to keep all of your home's systems running smoothly, and to avoid potential costly repairs, it's helpful to conduct regular seasonal maintenance around the house now before it gets cold. Let's start on these tasks now to help save you money, avert costly repairs by waiting, and get a jump on the season.
- Check Your Roof Gutters & Downspouts For Debris: Remember to check on and all around the roof. Because its not at eye level, little piles of leaves in gutters or branch pieces stuck in corners and by chimneys may be giving you little reminders as you walk by. Leaves, dirt, pine needles and other loose debris can clog up your gutters and downspouts too. Examine and remove the debris. Be sure to check the flashing around any opening, vent pipes, skylights and your chimney for potential leaks.
- Change All Home Filters: If you have central heat and air conditioning, change your air filters monthly. Also change the filters in stove vents, clothes dryers and room fans if applicable. Clean air filters will help keep your family healthy this fall, eliminate pollen and dust, and keep your heating/ac units running at full air flow.
- Check Your Windows Doors & Wood Trim: Probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks with a screwdriver lightly to see if the wood is dry rotted. Use caulk to fill any holes or completely replace the wood where necessary. Check around your windows and doors, both inside and out, for leaks and drafts. Caulk any cracks or install weather stripping around windows and doors, including the garage door. Replace screens with storm windows and clean them if needed.
- Schedule Pest Control: Here at Lake Kiowa, bugs, spiders, insects, and all manner of flying things nestle in every nook and cranny both inside and out. Make sure to schedule interior pest control every month to avoid infestations. For exterior peace of mind, have your pest control company spray all the trees for spiders and mites, around all the screens, and most especially around the slab. Insure that no bugs can get in when it starts getting cold.
- Fix All Leaky Faucets & Cover Exterior Faucets: Before the temperatures really drop here in the Lake Kiowa community, examine the faucets in your kitchen, bathrooms and utility room locations. Correcting any issues now can save you time and effort in the future. It will absolutely save dollars by not wasting water.
- Check & Drain Your Water Heaters: Most areas have some minerals in the water, and the sediments and rust could be building up in your tank. Extra buildup in your water heater tank can cause it to work harder than necessary. If your water heater is over 10 years old, you may want to consider an new, energy efficient, water heater.
If you have any questions about a handyman out here at the Lake who can help you prepare for the winter, please give us a call. Enjoy the fall season. The cold days of winter will be here soon enough and we will decorating for the holidays before your know it.
The agents of Lake Kiowa Realty are always available to help you with any questions or concerns.
