11 End of Summer Home Checklists

END OF THE SUMMER HOME CHECKLIST

Vacations have been completed, kids are back in school, and we’re heading towards the cooler weather that Fall brings. Did you make your End of Summer Home Checklist yet? Now marks the perfect time to focus a little more on home life and preparing your home for a busy and fun holiday season. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years celebrations will be here before you know it. Don’t let home maintenance or repairs inconvenience you when you are busy later in the fall and winter. Here are a few recommendations of items to attend to towards the end of Summer.

Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected

Before you set fire to logs in your fireplace, make sure that your chimney is clean and safe to use. Each year in the US over 20,000 homes suffer from chimney and/or fireplace fires according to the Chimney Safety Insitute of America. These fires could have been prevented if the homeowners were more diligent about keeping their fireplace or chimney clean.

Change your air filters

According to most heating and cooling experts, air filters should be changed at the very minimum every 3 months. To help you remember – you should change the air filter at least every time the season changes. Staying stocked up on air filters is the easiest way to avoid putting off the task of replacing these filters in your home. Buy your filters now so they are ready to go on September 23rd. Keep in mind that replacing air filters regularly can help reduce the amount of dust and allergens in the air. It can also improve efficiency with your heating and cooling system. Every home is individual, so keep an eye on the filters you are replacing to get an idea for how often you should replace them.

Clean up and tune up your lawn mower before it takes a much-needed break

Lawn mowers and other yard maintenance equipment may be heading to the shed for a bit of R&R. Before you lock up the shed and throw away the key make sure to give them a little TLC. Sharpening your lawn mower’s blades can help produce a cleaner cut which will keep the grass from growing back as fast. You also want to refer to the equipment’s user manual to determine other specific maintenance requirements to perform in the fall. Always put safety first when servicing or using lawn equipment.

Check your gutters and remove any debris

It’s important to verify your gutters are clear of leaves, sticks, and wildlife at the beginning of each season. We may not often experience rain in North Texas, however when we do it’s usually raining hard. Gutters help direct water away from your home which is extremely important to homes with wood siding.

Re-seal windows and replace weather stripping on doors as needed

Over time the caulk that seals the outside of the windows tends to deteriorate and comes away from the brick or siding.  It’s very important to seal out wind, rain and debris.  If it’s not sealing eventually there will be damage to the interior of the home like dry rot.

Clean and sanitize your outdoor garbage bins

This may seem unimportant, but can you remember the last time your outdoor garbage bins were sanitized and cleaned? Every week they sit in front of or behind your home and they can become an eyesore if covered with dirt or dust. You could even repurpose the soapy water you use to wash your car to give your bins a quick scrub down on the inside as well. The smell and bacteria growth can be very bad if the inside of the big trash bins are not cleaned often.

Inspect your fence for damage, weak spots, or broken pickets

Fences serve many purposes from keeping pests out and keeping pets in to allowing children a safe place to play away from streets or cars. Routine fence maintenance can prolong the life of your fence.

For assistance with repairing your fence, call Fence Makeovers for a free estimate at 972-769-2555.

Evaluate whether your home or eaves need to be repainted

Fall time is a great time to repaint your home and eaves area.  The weather can be a lot more pleasant as it is not as hot and the paint will dry better. Call your painter to get an estimate.

Inspect your deck or patio and repair any damages from wear

If your deck or patio is made of wood, Fence Makeovers can come out and give you a Free estimate to clean and update the look of your Arbor, Pergola and deck.  Clean it up before winter comes that way when spring arrives one less honey-do project.

Patch or seal your concrete & asphalt driveway areas

Overtime concrete can crack, get worn and crumble etc. Just like the major roads we drive on daily pot holes can be very damaging to your car and alignments. Make sure your driveway is in great shape and make any repairs sooner rather than later.  This can prevent having to replace the entire driveway.