As fall draws to a close and the winter sets in, you'll need to take a look at your home maintenance checklist, as there are quite a few home repair projects you should consider tackling before Jack Frost makes his appearance. Whether it's inside or outside of the house, we came up with four home maintenance jobs you'll need to tackle as fall comes to a close.
4 Home Maintenance Jobs To Complete As Fall Comes To A Close
Deal With Fallen Leaves
Leaves are great for the garden as it's naturally occurring compost, and there is nothing wrong with raking them in your yard, either. However, lots of homeowners fail to remove the leaves that build up in their gutter system, and this can lead to big problems during winter. If you don't get clear debris from gutters, it could block any rainwater that runs through them, causing ice dams. This can lead to damage inside your home that you may not see until it's too late, which is why you'll need to clean out your gutters before winter. In addition to checking gutters, make sure you look for clogs in your downspouts as well. You also need to check any drains and call in a blocked drains plumber if leaves have clogged up the pipes. Make sure that you clear leaves off the lawn too because they will stop the grass from growing back properly in Spring if they sit on there for too long.
Leaves are great for the garden as it's naturally occurring compost, and there is nothing wrong with raking them in your yard, either. However, lots of homeowners fail to remove the leaves that build up in their gutter system, and this can lead to big problems during winter. If you don't get clear debris from gutters, it could block any rainwater that runs through them, causing ice dams. This can lead to damage inside your home that you may not see until it's too late, which is why you'll need to clean out your gutters before winter. In addition to checking gutters, make sure you look for clogs in your downspouts as well. You also need to check any drains and call in a blocked drains plumber if leaves have clogged up the pipes. Make sure that you clear leaves off the lawn too because they will stop the grass from growing back properly in Spring if they sit on there for too long.
Trim Trees
When it snows, the weight of snow and ice can cause broken, damaged or dying limbs and branches to break and fall, potentially causing major issues to your home and property. Now that most trees have lost their leaves, you are better able to assess your trees (and even taller or heavier shrubs) for damage. Take the time to trim any trees and hedges that you think may be a problem. If you're unsure (or don't want to take on this project yourself), consult an arborist or tree specialist in your area for advice.
Check Your Pipes
When temperatures drop, the chances of the pipes in your home freezing increase exponentially. You'll want to keep cold air away from your plumbing pipes, especially in unheated areas of your home, like a basement, attic or garage, and keep your thermostat set at the same temperature day and night, most especially during a cold snap (say, 20 degrees F or less), regardless of whether you are at home or away. Additionally, you can insulate your pipes with insulation tape or a heated cable made for such a reason. If you find yourself with a burst pipe, don't panic. But do address the issue immediately by calling a trusted plumbing professional before the matter becomes a costly repair.
When temperatures drop, the chances of the pipes in your home freezing increase exponentially. You'll want to keep cold air away from your plumbing pipes, especially in unheated areas of your home, like a basement, attic or garage, and keep your thermostat set at the same temperature day and night, most especially during a cold snap (say, 20 degrees F or less), regardless of whether you are at home or away. Additionally, you can insulate your pipes with insulation tape or a heated cable made for such a reason. If you find yourself with a burst pipe, don't panic. But do address the issue immediately by calling a trusted plumbing professional before the matter becomes a costly repair.
  Heating Cable for Metal And Plastic Home Pipes, Assorted Lengths, amazon.com |
  Insulated Spiral Pipe Wrap, amazon.com |
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Repair Exterior Cracks & Potholes
Driveway cracks happen on account of soil settlement beneath the surface, or from lack of appropriate reinforcement when installed. Cold air and frozen water can cause even the smallest of cracks to expand and become hazardous, causing slips, trips and falls, and an even worse, more costlier situation when spring rolls around. If you have any cracks in your driveway or walkways, you'll need to repair them before the first frost sets in. For cracks in asphalt, you can use a simple waterproof asphalt filler & sealant with a caulk gun & trowel (check out YouTube for DIY tutorials). For potholes, you'll need something a bit more heavy duty, like Aquaphalt and a tamp.
Driveway cracks happen on account of soil settlement beneath the surface, or from lack of appropriate reinforcement when installed. Cold air and frozen water can cause even the smallest of cracks to expand and become hazardous, causing slips, trips and falls, and an even worse, more costlier situation when spring rolls around. If you have any cracks in your driveway or walkways, you'll need to repair them before the first frost sets in. For cracks in asphalt, you can use a simple waterproof asphalt filler & sealant with a caulk gun & trowel (check out YouTube for DIY tutorials). For potholes, you'll need something a bit more heavy duty, like Aquaphalt and a tamp.
These are just four home maintenance jobs you should tackle before winter sets in. Do you have any others you'd suggest? Let us know in the comments below.
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