Fall is officially here, and we are so excited. With the changing leaves comes changes to your yard maintenance plan. To help you adjust, we are sharing some beneficial tips for winterizing your home and tips that will help extend the life of your home. Let’s get started!
Trim Trees & Bushes
As you are walking around inspecting your yard, look for weak, low branches. Ask yourself:
- Are there any branches that are touching the house or roof?
- Are there any limbs close to power and telephone lines?
- Are there any bushes that have overgrown and are touching the home and covering windows?
- Are there any diseased trees or bushes?
If so, invest in an inexpensive bow saw; they come in varying lengths. If you have tall trees, invest in an extendable tree lopper. These are tools that every home should own and are simple to use. If you have large trees, many will invest in a chainsaw. You can also hire someone to cut and trim trees and bushes. Trim any, and all limbs and bushes that are touching the house and roof, or ones that are diseased and will fall or snap with wind gusts.
Also, bushes that are touching the house need to be trimmed back to prevent mold and mildew from growing. Mold loves dark and damp spaces. Plus, this will also help with air circulation.
Clean Gutters
This task should be done once or twice times a year, depending on how many giant trees you have in the yard. Cleaning your gutters also makes the appearance of your home look clean and neat. Another positive for keeping your gutters clean is to cut down on mold and mildew. For help cleaning your gutters, be sure to read our blog post here.
Cold Drafts
As the Ohio nights start getting cooler, walk around the house and run your hand around all doors, windows, and fireplaces checking for drafts. Check all lights and switch plates for drafts. If you find drafts seal them off with caulk, foam, or weather stripping. Also, please know that if you have leaks in these areas, warm air is also entering your home during the summer. Sealing the leaks will keep your home warmer or cooler, and you will save on electricity!
Happy fall, and be sure to check out our other articles here.
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