It’s official, fall has arrived and while the calendar says it’s so, it doesn’t quite feel like Autumn yet. That said, it won’t be too long before the chill creeps in and we find ourselves craving pumpkin spice, decorating with gourds, and enjoying the respite from the summer heat. Before that day arrives though, we should already be preparing our home for the season. With that in mind and before the threat of hurricanes, tornadoes, and other inclement weather arrives, let’s discuss fall home maintenance.
A few, fairly simple tips to get your home ready for fall
Preparing your home for the coming fall doesn’t have to be intimidating. Just as you spring clean the house, prepare your garden, perform pool maintenance, and tackle other chores each season, it won’t take too long to check items off your fall home maintenance list.
Schedule the necessary services
Let’s face it, you’re busy. Life is busy and while there is some satisfaction in taking care of your home on your own, there is a time and a place for professional services. Two jobs we highly recommend recruiting experts for are HVAC cleaning and maintenance and chimney cleaning. Both of these tasks are must dos for the fall and are best done before you switch from cooling to heating or light a fire in the fireplace. And if you want to get a jump start on the spring, make sure you have your lawn care team aerate and fertilize this fall.
Winterize your yard
In order to protect your outdoor HVAC unit and whole house from being damaged by blowing debris or falling limbs, we highly recommend pruning dead branches and trimming back limbs that are already touching your house. You should also clear away leaves, twigs, landscaping, and other organic debris that could prevent your condenser from breathing or clog your gutters, shut off and drain outdoor faucets to prevent plumbing problems, and put away hoses, pool gear, and other items that could become airborne during bad weather. You might also consider securing trampolines (Alabama’s state bird according to James Spann) and outdoor furniture as well as repairing your fence if necessary.
Stop pests from getting
If you’d prefer to spend the next several months in a home free of insects and rodents, you should spend some time sealing cracks on the exterior of your home, installing door sweeps, and making sure your garbage cans are not easily accessible to hungry pests.
Don’t have an HVAC team yet?
While we can’t help you complete all of your fall home maintenance tasks, we are certainly ready to help you take care of your HVAC system this fall and all year round! Offering affordable and reliable heating and cooling services in Alabaster, Hoover, and throughout Greater Birmingham and Central Alabama, our locally owned and family-operated company is equipped to handle all of your HVAC needs! Available 24/7, fully licensed and bonded technicians are ready and willing to provide you with outstanding service! Call the Bear today to schedule your HVAC cleaning!
