Fall is about to start. We have a month and a half tops before we get to experience the cold weather once more. For many, this means preparing the home for the invasion of cold temperature. What you need to do varies state-to-state. It depends on how cold it gets in your state or if you even get snow at all. But in general, people prepare for the changing seasons, so their homes remain to be in tip-top shape. Realizing you have a roof problem during winter, after all, is the worst kind of home maintenance issue.
Take stock of the things you have to prepare. Do you have a deck, outdoor fire pits, and a swimming pool? Do you have a fireplace? These will require special care during fall and winter. Do you use heavy drapes on your windows? You may want to remove them in spring and summer when you want to get as much natural sunlight as you can get.
Fall and Winter
Once fall starts in October, the temperature will dip and by December, you’ll be near the freezing point. You can start preparing your home in September when there’s still plenty of light and warmth. You can take time preparing for fall and winter because it usually starts slow.
- Prepare your bedding and linens. You’ll use a lot of them during fall and winter because you want to wrap yourself as much as you can. You’ll even throw a blanket on your sofa for those cold nights when you’re watching TV.
- Complete your emergency supplies. It’s usually in the fall and winter that cities and towns experience a power outage. Make sure you have extra food and water in your pantry. The food should be ready to eat. Stock up on essentials, too, like toilet paper, medicines, and other toiletries.
- In some areas, people may be advised to stay indoors because of a snowstorm. Make sure you have everything you need in your homes in case of this situation.
- Clean the fireplace and chimney. If you have one in your home, prepare it for the fall. You never know when the temperature gets too cold that you have to fire it up during Black Friday. A neglected fireplace, however, can be hazardous to your health. Clean and prepare it for fall and winter.
- Protect your pipes. By this time, you should have already used insulation for your pipes. You’ve gone through many seasons, it’s about time you realized how bad the cold weather is for your pipes. They are susceptible to cracks because of the pressure from the cold water. Insulate them so you won’t have water damage problems in the middle of the season.
- Fix your roof. The roof is another problem that needs to be addressed. The snow is heavy and can break shingles on the roof. Make sure it’s ready for the harsh weather.
Spring
It’s time for some spring cleaning. What should you focus on? What does your house need after battling the cold temperature of fall and winter?
- Check your roof. You’ve prepared your roof before fall and winter, but what did the heavy snow do to the shingles. Inspect the roof now that you can climb safely on it. Make sure that everything is in place.
- Protect wood trims. If you use wood trims around your windows, doors, and railings, protect them with sealant, oil, or wax. The outdoor wood trims are especially vulnerable to the rain that usually comes with spring.
- Fix the gutters. Since there’s going to be a lot of rain during spring, make sure that the gutter spouts are pointed away from the building. Rainwater runoff can cause water stains and streaks on your home’s exterior. They can easily make the home look old and dirty.
- Reseal the driveway. Asphalt and concrete can survive snow and cold weather. But in some cases, your driveway’s pavement could suffer from the transition from cold to warm temperature. If there are cracks and potholes, fix them once spring arrives.
Summer
Finally, warmer months are here. For some states, they only get a couple of months of this kind of weather, so make the most out of it. This is a good time to fix things around the house, too.
- Do renovations. This is the best time to do renovations in the house. There’s no snow or rain that you have to worry about. You can work outdoors without worrying about how moisture will affect the woodwork. It’s generally a dry season, which makes it the perfect time for some major home restoration.
- Check your plants. While summer is great for home projects, the high temperature may be detrimental to the health of your plants. Move them inside the house if they suffer from heat exposure too much.
- Prep your outdoors. It’s more likely that you’ll host some summer parties during this season. Clean your yard. Ready the barbecue grill. Get party supplies such as buntings, paper plates, paper cups, and disposable utensils.
Make sure your house is ready for the changing seasons. There are a lot of things you need to watch out for when you’re a homeowner. Prepare a list of these things so you don’t miss anything.