7 Last Minute Summer Maintenance Items As summer comes to a close, it’s time to start preparing for the cold winter ahead. Many families use the coming months to enjoy the last bit of warmth and to prepare for hibernation in relative isolation. Before you settle in for the winter, don’t forget to get to a bit of home maintenance to avoid running into inconvenient problems throughout the winter months. What should you be worried about?
Your Heater Unlike bears, you cannot survive in this cold in your own skin. You’ll need the heater to work throughout the coming months to keep you warm. Clean out the area of the house it’s in and have a maintenance man come check it out for any problems. Do this sooner than later as the maintenance guy may need some time to fix any problems he finds.
Snow Brackets Second is to check on your snow brackets. Snow brackets keep the snow from sliding off in massive quantities to injure the people and property below. If they’ve gotten loose or rusty, it may be time to tighten or replace them. Check that they’re firmly in place and otherwise unimpeded.
Clean Your Roof and Gutters Dirt and debris in your gutters keep the melted snow run-off from making it down to the ground, causing all kinds of problems throughout the winter. Clean off the roof in preparation for the winter.
Clean the Chimney When you use your fireplace a lot, soot and smoke create fire hazards in your chimney. Bring someone out to clean out the chimneys to protect against fire damage in the coming months. Make your home safe with proper cleaning.
Winterizing Are there any cold breezes coming through when all doors and windows are shut? Is one part of your house unnaturally cooler than the other parts? Drafts and incomplete insulation are usually the causes of these problems. Inspect your outer defenses and fix any drafts or insulation problems you find. These will go a long way in (1) warming up your home, and (2) decreasing your heating bill at the end of every month.
Finish Any Landscaping Projects Many gardens can continue to grow throughout the fall, but your landscaping will soon be limited by snow and cold. Finish any landscaping projects you may be undergoing. That way an early winter won’t catch you off guard.
Clean up The Foundations Rake away the debris and edible vegetation. Seal up the foundations to keep animals from burrowing under your home. Also look for dry rot or pests while you’re there. Spray or clean appropriately. Your foundations are the most important areas keeping the house up and should be taken care of appropriately. When you prep your home for winter, you experience a more comfortable season. Create a winter experience free of the normal problems or issues that would normally plague your hibernation months. Photo Credit: B Tal, JanGlass, Paul W