It’s September: the kids are back in school, the long hot lazy days of summer are gone, and the comforts of home drawing you in. From putting the BBQ away, to prepping your yard for the colder weather, see if any of these fall to-dos make your list.
- Inspect the roof. Now is a good time to take a look at your roof and see if any repairs need to be made before the snow starts to fall. Either grab a partner and climb a ladder or hire someone to do this for you. Keep an eye out for shingles that are buckled, cracked or missing—these should be replaced immediately.
- Cover patio furniture and BBQ. Store cushions and outdoor pillows in dry place, stack chairs close to the house, or even put them in the garage if you have the room. Clean out the BBQ and cover it to protect it from the winter weather.
- Drain and winterize outdoor faucets, hoses, and sprinkler systems. Hire an irrigation pro to blow out your sprinkler system with compressed air, this way you won’t have busted pipes come spring. Roll up all outdoor hoses and store them in your shed or garage for the winter, and it you can turn off the water supply lines that lead to the exterior faucets.
- Seal cracks around windows and doors. This is one of the cheapest ways to ensure that your house will stay warm this winter. Grab a couple of tubes of exterior caulk and seal cracks between trim and siding and around windows and door frames.
- Remove A/C Units. If you used a window A/C unit this summer, now is the time to remove them or cover them up with protective insulation.
- Order Firewood. If you use a woodstove for warmth in the winter, or enjoy using your fireplace a lot, now is a good time to order a delivery of firewood.
- Clean Chimney. Speaking of woodstoves, it’s probably not a good idea to use your fireplace until you’ve had it cleaned. Build-up creosote can cause house fires and there’s a good chance that an animal has taken up residence inside if your chimney doesn’t have a cap. Call the pros to help you with this one.
- Tidy up indoor spaces. Clean up the family room, and other communal spaces, now that your family will be spending more time indoors. Set out some extra pillows and cozy throws to make the space more comfy and welcoming.
- Flip your closet. Not all of us have enough room to store all of our clothing in one closet. Gather up your summer clothes and pack them away, making room for all of your sweaters, boots and jackets.
- Switch out bedding. Time to dig out the flannel sheets and down comforters, have them laundered now if they smell musty from storage.
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