As the dog days of summer are quickly coming to a close and we begin to turn our attention all things fall, there is much to look forward to. From apple picking to corn mazes, from chunky sweaters to boots, and lest we forget, all things pumpkin spice, the signs and symbols that tell us another brilliant New York autumn is just around the bend are plentiful. While we rush fill our weekends with adventures to the countryside, football in the den and hearty meals in the Crockpot, we must also carve out time to care for our homes. Winter will quickly sneak up on us and if we haven’t taken the time to adequately prepare, our homes will surely let us know.
Starting on the outside of the home there are a number of tasks that we should address before the snow begins to fall. Take time to tend to your landscaping by cutting back plants, raking leaves and trimming bushes and trees. Pay special attention to those trees that look as if they could be vulnerable to losing branches in a wintertime storm, especially if they are close to the house.
The fall is also an excellent time to do a final walk around your property before the snow covers everything to look for areas of the roof and siding that could be susceptible to leaking. Patching a weak spot in the roof or caulking cracks in the siding that have crept up on you over the summer can be all it takes to keep moisture out of your home during the winter months and interior water damage at a distance.
Finally, if you have an exterior air conditioning unit, make sure you cover it to protect the unit from the elements. Patio furniture, grills and other outdoor summertime staples should also be either stored inside or at the least, covered to ensure that they are in excellent working order when spring once again knocks on our door.
As we wrap up the work on the outside of our homes and move inside, we can start at the very door we use to enter the house. We want to check the quality of the seal between the door and the frame to ensure that it is not cracked or dried out. Seals that are showing signs of aging are an invitation for heat to escape and energy bills to soar. To fight back against energy loss, simply replace the seal around each exterior door, as well as the windows to help keep your home airtight and reduce your heating expenses.
Autumn is also an excellent time to schedule annual routine maintenance for your furnace, as well as changing the air filter. Regularly having an expert come into your home to clean your furnace will also allow you the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns and get a timeline for when you may be likely to experience problems. This will allow you to budget for repairs as well as have any issues addressed before they escalate and you find yourself without a heat source in the middle of a long winter’s night.
In just a few weekend hours, spread out over the course of a couple of weeks even, you can have your home, both inside and out, ready to take on another New York winter. With this maintenance behind you, there will be plenty of time for stress-free evenings and weekends in front of a roaring fireplace while surround by the ones you love.