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Fall Home Improvement // October 8, 2015
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Welcome Home...................................... 2 Tuning Up Your Furnace......................... 3 Fall Home Maintenance Tips.................. 4 Get Your Home Energy Ready................ 5 Emergency Prevention........................... 6 Make Your Home Smell Great this Fall.... 8 Pet Safe Garden..................................... 9 Fall Planting......................................... 10
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Welcome Home By Stevie Croisant Leaves are done changing colors and are quickly falling off trees. Soon snow will be falling. In order to enjoy warm nights inside, it’s important to check our homes before we settle in. It would be a nightmare to find out before the Christmas dinner that your fireplace damper is broken or that a simple run to the hardware store could have saved your pipes from
bursting. Don’t put off winterizing your home and garden. A seasonal maintenance check on your home can save you the hassle of fixing things when they break in the middle of winter. In this guide, you’ll find advice from local experts on how to utilize your time to efficiently prepare your greatest asset for the harshest and longest season Montana faces.
vents in unused rooms may seem like a smart way to save money but closing too many at once causes pressure to build up allowing for potential damage to the furnace. ● “Always check for snow, ice and other debris around vent pipes,” instructed Gertiser. Snow and ice can block the vent pipes. This blockage is not only harmful to the furnace but also dangerous to the occupants of the building. Yearly maintenance and tune ups can extend the life of a furnace, and fall is an ideal time to perform this maintenance. “Today is the day you need to get it done,” Gertiser
warned. Do not wait until it is very cold outside to check the condition of your furnace. If a professional repair is required, the wait time may be long due to the high demand for repairs during the first cold spell of the season. Along with extending the life of a furnace, annual maintenance has other benefits as well. “Maintenance reduces operating costs, break downs and dirt and dust in the home,” according to Gertiser. However, the most important benefit of regular furnace maintenance is safety. Furnaces that are clean and well maintained are safer to operate.
As Montanans know, winters here can be long, harsh and cold. Keeping your furnace in good, working condition is one way to make the bitter winter months more tolerable. Brian Gertiser, of Bridger Heating and Cooling, offers these tips to tune up and extend the life of your furnace, ensuring your house will remain warm and comfortable during the long winter months. ● Keeping your furnace clean and well maintained is one of the most important tips Gertiser has to offer. “The cleaner it is, the longer it lasts,” he explained. A cleaner furnace is safer to operate. Proper maintenance of your furnace will also lead to a longer
equipment life and lower operating and repair costs. ● Make sure to check your furnace filters every two months and replace if needed. The filter helps protect the furnace, keeping it clean and free of debris. This leads to more efficient operation, cleaner equipment and lower operating costs. ● Keep furnace vents clear of any debris. Dirt and dust in the furnace vents and ducts can be unhealthy to your friends and family. Debris can also damage the furnace. Keeping vents clear can extend its life and reduce the price of operating the equipment. ● “Don’t close too many registers at once,” warned Gertiser. Closing
Fall Home Improvement // October 8, 2015
Tuning Up Your Furnace By Katie Peterson
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Fall Home Maintenance By Stevie Croisant You won’t be doing any spring cleaning anytime soon, but your home still needs some tender loving care. Steve Hedman from Owenhouse Ace Hardware gives his tips to keep your house in shape before the cold Montana winter hits.
Fall Home Improvement // October 8, 2015
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1. Fertilize lawns with a fall fertilizer By taking the time to do this in the fall, plants' roots will have a chance to grow stronger. 2. Blow out sprinklers and drain all garden houses. Do this before the first frost. Even if you drain your irrigation system, some water will remain and will freeze, causing the pipes to expand and crack. The blowout method is the best type of water removal.
3. Till in mulch to flower and garden beds for easy spring planting. Turn fall leaves into fuel for next year's garden. Leaves and mulches will feed earthworms and beneficial microbes. They lighten heavy soils and help soil retain moisture. 4. Protect sensitive plant and trees from winter freeze thaw cycles. The easiest way to do this is by purchasing a frost protection cloth. Experts at Owenhouse Ace Hardware can help you determine the right move based on what plants you own. 5. Clean gutters and inspect roof deicing cables. Clean gutters and downspouts by
flushing them with water. Clogged gutters are one of the major causes of ice dams. 6. Remove leaves from lawns and shrub beds so unwanted rodents have fewer places to hide. Voles can cause damage to your yard or garden. 7. Spray or remove any weeds to get a jump on spring weeding. Doing this ensures a lush lawn for the spring. In the fall, perennial plants are translocating the products of photosynthesis to their roots for storage over the winter and will absorb any leftover herbicides.
8. Install hose bib and foundation vent insulation covers. Keep your home from freezing and save on your heating bill. 9. Consider plastic window insulation kits and check all door seals. These can help you save energy. 10. Drain or stabilize the fuel in all your power equipment. This is also a good time to change oil and sharpen blades to be ready for an early spring. 11. Change the furnace filter. This helps keep your home clean and gives more efficient heating. 12. Get the humidifier ready. Combat the dry winter air.
Get Your Home Energy Ready
As part of NorthWestern Energy’s E+ program, a team of energy experts will be working throughout Montana the month of December. The team has a number of openings for the audits, which provide a detailed report on a home’s energy use, weatherization tips and information on energy-efficient practices. In some cases, the experts may, at no charge, install water-heater wraps, low-flow shower heads, lowflow faucet aerators and insulation of hot-water pipes. The auditors will also inspect natural-gas fueled appliances and per-
form blower tests to spot areas of air leakage in homes. The free audits can be scheduled by calling (800) 823-5995 or customers can fill out a form at NorthWesternEnergy.com/audit and a representative will call the customer at their convenience for scheduling. Residential customers whose space or hot-water heating fuels are delivered by NorthWestern Energy, have not had an E+ audit in the past and whose home is more than five years old are eligible for an on-site energy audit. Other restrictions may apply and funding for the audit program, provided by the Universal System Benefits program, is limited.
Fall Home Improvement // October 8, 2015
As winter settles in, NorthWestern Energy is offering free home energy audits that can help customers save money on their utility bills.
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Emergency Prevention By Katie Peterson
Fall FallHome HomeImprovement Improvement// October // October8, 8,2015 2015
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With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, homes are being prepared to host friends and family for the holiday season. Along with the normal holiday cooking and cleaning preparations, now is the time to take steps to prevent a disaster in your home. Marketing Director, Ellen Beck, from Buffalo Restoration in Bozeman, explained ways to prevent an emergency from happening in your house. These tips can help
provide the people you love with a safe and comfortable place to celebrate the holiday season. ● Make sure to disconnect your garden hose from the hose bib warned Beck. If left connected, approximately a foot of water remains in the pipe.The water can freeze during the winter causing the pipes to burst when the hose is used again in the spring. ● Move items such as grills, turkey fryers and outdoor heaters
away from the side of the house in order to protect from fires. ● Check gutters and downspouts for clogging from dead leaves and other debris. ● Clean and remove debris from window wells. Moisture can accumulate in these areas, then leak into your home causing water damage. ● Sweep around exterior doors, Beck explained, to keep the side of your home clear of all
objects and debris. This can help prevent a fire or flood. ● Check your smoke detectors and change batteries if necessary. ● Have your ducts cleaned every six to seven years.“Fall is a great time to have it done,” said Beck. ● Display your house numbers prominently in case of emergency. This will help emergency response teams easily find your location.
1. Your own safety is a top priority, Beck warned. If the situation is dangerous, leave and wait for help. 2. If the emergency is severe, call emergency responders right away. 3. If the emergency is not dangerous, start taking immediate steps to protect your home and belongings from further damage. “As a homeowner, you do have the responsibility, in most cases, to do immediate mitigation,� Beck explains. Many people are scared to take immediate steps after a di-
saster without calling their insurance agent. However, in many insurance policies you are responsible for taking these steps. 4. Call a professional for help restoring your home, then contact your insurance agent. Often times, your agent will work with the restoration company to get your house back in order said Beck. Even with the help of your agent, it is helpful to make sure you understand your coverage before a disaster strikes. 5. Create an inventory of your belongings and valuables prior to an emergency, Beck instructed. Take pictures or videos of your belongings in case they are damaged in a flood or fire. It is also important to keep in mind that many damaged valuables can be restored.
Fall FallHome HomeImprovement Improvement////October October8,8,2015 2015
No matter how prepared a household may be, sometimes the unexpected happens and disaster strikes. Beck offered these steps in order to restore your house after an emergency.
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Make Your Home Smell Great this Fall
When updating your home each season, most of the emphasis is placed on delighting your sense of sight Why not spend some time on your home’s fragrance? To refresh your home this fall, consider these tips.
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Start Fresh With the cooling weather and new beginnings, autumn is an excellent time of year to do a deep clean, just as many do in spring. Clean your refrigerator, pantries and any other areas that contain food, discarding expired items and wiping down surfaces. Reduce your mold in humid areas of your home with ventilation and dehumidifiers. Shampoo rugs and take this opportunity to launder seldom-washed linens, like window treatments, dust ruffles and bedspreads. Dust surfaces, such as your bookshelf, coffee table and knick-knacks. Add Scents Add inviting, festive fall fragrances to your home with classic jar and tumbler candles that evoke the fall
experience from the comfort of home--whether it’s a walk among falling leaves, an afternoon picking berries or a sip of warm cider. For each room, pick a scent and add candles in a variety of sizes to add a festive feel to the room with both sight and scent. Set to Bake You can use fragrance to entice your family’s taste buds too. In fall, it’s time to reunite with your oven and slow cooker. Use in-season ingredients and traditional fall herbs and spices to fill your home with delicious and delightful flavors and aromas. Apple cinnamon crisp and pumpkin pie make for wonderful desserts when the weather cools, and warm, inviting stews, soups and chili using autumn’s hearty harvest should include vegetables like squash, fennel and beets and spices like cumin and cardamon. Out with the cold, in with the new: when it comes to scents and flavors, take time to refresh your home in fall with all the best that the season has to offer.
Houseplants
Pet Safe Garden By Stevie Croisant
Outdoor Plants Lilies These are highly toxic to cats. While doctors have not yet identified the poisonous component, cats have been known to develop kidney failure after ingesting the plant. Azaleas This plant contains toxins that can cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse. Pets can be treated if sent to a vet in a timely manner after consuming any part of the plant.
Tulips Tulips often have the same serious effects that azaleas produce. Keep your pets away from the bulbs, specifically. Deer, however, enjoy eating this plant, which is not harmful to them.
Kalanchoe This house plant can produce toxins that can affect your pet’s cardiac rhythm.
Pothos If your pet even chews on this plant, swelling of the oral tissues may occur.
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Yew The berries, according to Cashman, contain the poison. The toxic component is known as taxine, which causes central nervous system and gastrointestinal effects and irritations. Autumn Crocus The ingestion of this plant can cause bone marrow suppression and multi-organ damage. Chrysanthemums If enough of this popular bloom is ingested, your pet may experience severe depression or loss of coordination. Hostas Found in many backyards due to its ease of growth in shady areas, this plant is highly toxic to pets. Hostas are also known as plantation lilies or funkia and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression in dogs.
Fall Home Improvement // October 8, 2015
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) lists some of the most dangerous indoor and outdoor plants for your pets to ingest. After talking with Jan Cashman of Cashman’s Nursery and Landscaping, she narrowed down their national list to plants that are specific to our area. Keep your furry friends safe this fall by avoiding these plants.
Cyclamen The toxins in this plant are usually in the roots. Fatalities have been reported in animals that eat this plant’s roots.
Peace Lilies This plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause difficulty swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue in pets that come in contact.
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Fall Planting By Katy Peterson
Fall FallHome HomeImprovement Improvement// //October October8,8,2015 2015
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● Spreading wildflower seeds in the fall is a great way to imitate nature’s way of planting. Cashman calls this “dormant seeding.” In nature, a flower sprouts and grows in the spring, then drops and spreads seeds in the fall. The seeds grow in the winter, then sprout again in the spring continuing the process. Cashman recommends spreading wildflower seeds early in the fall but warns against planting too early, stating that early germination could then become a problem. ● Trees and shrubs can be planted in the fall, but Cashman says earlier is better for these plants. A tree’s chance of survival decreases when planted in the later days of fall. Roots will start to establish when planted, and they should be given time to grow and develop before the cold winter sets in. Cashman warns that nursery selection might be limited during this time of year. Many trees and shrubs may be on sale, leaving fall a perfect time to shop for and plant shrubbery. ● Fall is an ideal time to plant grass and start lawns. Cashman says grass and lawns must be seeded either early or late fall, stating that seeding between September 15 to November 1 is not recommended. Seeding before September 15 gives the lawn an opportunity to grow and gain strength for the winter, while seeding after November 1 protects the plant from being too young and underdeveloped for the cold.
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Fall Home Improvement // October 8, 2015
The cool, crisp weather of fall brings a time of harvest and gathering, but autumn is also the time for planting many beautiful flowers and plants. Jan Cashman, of Cashman’s Nursery in Bozeman, identifies these plants as perfect for fall planting and gives tips to make sure any lawn or garden will be ready for spring blossoms. ● All bulbs must be planted in the fall. This is the “only time to plant bulbs,” according to Cashman. The bulbs contain all of the food that plants needs to grow, produce leaves and flower, but they must have time over the winter to grow their roots. Flowers such as irises, tulips, daffodils and alliums do well in the Bozeman climate. Cashman strongly recommends planting in good soil before the ground freezes and making sure the bulb is planted down three times its height. These flowers will continue to grow and flower year after year with the proper planting and care. ● Perennial flowers, while different from bulbs, can also be planted in the fall. According to Cashman, daisies, peonies and hundreds of other perennials do very well in the Bozeman climate when planted in the fall. Cashman says that not much water is needed for fall planting. Snow is a good insulator and provides moisture throughout the winter. However, if the winter is dry, perennials must be watered throughout the winter season.
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