All good things must come to an end – even summer. With fall now on the doorstep, it’s time to start looking to that time of year when temperatures are colder, the sun shines less, and most of us end up spending more time indoors. It is time to start getting the house ready for fall.
My Divine Concierge can help you with your fall preparations. We offer a full range of personal services for the home, including cleaning and organizing. And if we cannot help you with one or two of your projects, there are other contractors out there who can.
Things to Do
1. Clean and prepare your windows. Late summer is a great time to inspect your windows, clean them, and prepare them for colder weather. Be sure to check storm windows to make sure they are functioning properly. If you use weather stripping on your windows, now is the time to get to the hardware store to stock up. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to find the weather stripping you need.
2. Clean out the garage. Having a garage that is too cluttered to accommodate your car is a real hassle once the snow starts flying. Do not wait until that first snowfall to clean out the garage. Instead, do it while the weather is still fairly nice. Get rid of the clutter; get things up off the floor; clear enough space to accommodate your car and still move around safely.
3. Inventory your equipment. As long as you are cleaning out the garage, take an inventory of all your exterior maintenance equipment. You will want to know what you are storing for the winter as well as what you have available for winter snow and ice removal. Do not wait until the first snowfall to realize you forgot to replace the shovel you broke last winter. If you use a snow blower, now is a good time to get it into the shop for a tune-up.
4. Chimney and furnace inspections. A fair number of chimney and furnace problems can be avoided through simple inspections. Having yours inspected on an annual basis should not even be a question. Chimneys should be checked to make sure they are free of blockages; furnaces should be checked to make sure they are functioning properly and not leaking carbon monoxide.
5. Roof vent inspections. It is a good idea to have roof vents inspected to make sure they are not blocked. If your roof is not vented, late summer or early fall is an appropriate time to get that taken care of. Proper ventilation and insulation can prevent those ice dams damage roofs.
6. Prepare the driveway. If your driveway has noticeable cracks or small holes, winter weather is only going to make them worse. Water can get into those cracks and holes and then freeze once the temperature drops. Freezing will make the cracks and holes bigger. Now is the time to fill and seal them. You can buy everything you need from your local DIY store.
7. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Cooler weather means furnace heat and fires in the fireplace. Keep your family safe by checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors before the cool weather sets in. If the batteries need to be replaced, do so right away. Remember that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives.
Fall is now at our doorstep. Though you have had a very good summer, it is time to start preparing for the change of seasons that will ultimately lead to winter. Take advantage of the remaining weeks of summer and the good weather it affords to get those fall projects done. If My Divine Concierge can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.