Take 5 to Take Care of Fall and Enjoy the Rest of Your Summer

We’ve all heard horror stories about unanticipated home issues during the chilly months. Why risk a mishap (and some serious denial) when we can address potential issues right now? Check out some of these to-do’s to get your home ready for the cold stretch.

Before diving in, start getting into the maintenance mindset with these easy to-do’s. All of these tasks take five minutes or less: 

• Change your furnace filter
• Clean your dehumidifier filter
• Change the batteries in your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
• Lay rodent traps

If you have five minutes to start these quickies, then you have five minutes to Make a Request on GetAssist for the following home maintenance & weatherproofing suggestions! 

Indoor maintenance 

Caulk, insulate, or replace windows

If you notice that a room or area remains chilly during the fall and winter months, it’s highly likely that you have some outdoor air seeping in. Drafty windows are one of the main inconveniences for homeowners during fall and winter and can be remedied in a few different ways depending on the severity of the draft. While in some cases you may only need to put a fresh layer of caulk, in others you may need to insulate or completely replace the windows.

Have heating units checked

No one wants their heat going out during a cold northern winter.  Whether you use oil heating, gas, or an electric furnace, it’s important to have it checked out to ensure its safety and efficiency…similar to a car tune-up! Without heating system tune-ups, your important investment begins to work less effectively and there’s a higher risk for breakdowns. The carbon monoxide alarm (that you just put a fresh battery in) will also help detect any potentially dangerous furnace leaks in your gas furnace.

Protect your hardwood flooring

Along with Canadian autumns and winters comes plenty of moisture, dirt, decomposed leaves and icy sidewalks and driveways (which ultimately results in plenty of salt, too). When you carry dirt and salt into the house from the bottom of your shoes, you’re slowly damaging any hardwood flooring that it touches. To prep your hardwood floors for the elements, we suggest having a protective sealant professionally applied to ensure longevity.

Alleviate allergens by deep cleaning

Many people suffer from asthma and allergies, and according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, their conditions are exacerbated by indoor allergens such as dust mites and animal dander. Since so much more time is spent indoors during the upcoming seasons, we suggest having your home deep-cleaned regardless of whether you have blatant allergy symptoms or not. Pets are some of the main sources of indoor allergens, but other culprits include wall-to-wall carpet, soft furniture, stuffed toys, bedding, damp areas, etc. Make a Request on GetAssist and get in touch with a local professional cleaning company that will help make your home shine from top to bottom!

 Outdoor maintenance

Tree limbs & gutters

Sprucing up your tree limbs and purging your gutters is essential for both safety and functionality. You don’t want to risk a limb breaking from being weighed down by wet leaves and snow, and you definitely don’t want to risk having clogged gutters. Clogged gutters can ultimately result in damaged foundation, causing water to pool around the foundation rather than be discharged away from it. The cost of repairing foundation is astronomical compared to the cost of hiring a professional to help with your gutters and limbs once or twice a year.

Deck and siding protection

As summer winds down, take some time to reflect on how much “wear and tear” your deck has endured. Plenty of foot traffic (human, pet, and miscellaneous critter) has crossed your deck, along with rain and you-name-it. Remember dropping that can of soda? Believe it or not, the acidity in the soda could have contributed to some of the wear. Be sure to explore your options and seek assistance to determine whether you need a sealant, a new coat of stain, plank repairs, or a whole new deck. The same can be said about your siding – it inevitably becomes less strong and vibrant over time, so having your deck and siding repaired at the same time would kill two birds with one stone.

Repair sidewalk cracks

The old saying “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” actually has some seriousness to it – it’s not just superstitious. So many injuries, whether minor or major, can be avoided by simply repairing those unwelcoming cracks in your sidewalk. Falling leaves and snow will just mask the cracks, making them even more dangerous when they can’t entirely be seen. They’re not only inconvenient and ugly, but they can also be a liability.

Patio furniture

Many people opt for storing their patio furniture during the cold stretch. However, space becomes an issue depending on the amount of furniture you have. If you find yourself limited in the spare space department, why not consider building a shed or taking advantage of a storage unit? A little bit of extra space can go a long way.

Last but not least….clean your garage! Not only will a clean garage make you feel much more organized, it will also create more space for your vehicles during extreme weather.

Whatever your house needs, don’t do it alone and miss out on the end-of-summer fun. Make a GetAssist request for any and all home maintenance projects. The help you need will fall in your lap!