Getting Our House Ready For Fall

A quick Google check confirms it:  The first day of fall is September 22.

I had to look that up just to be sure, because the high today was 91 degrees, which is decidedly un-fall-ish.

In just a few weeks (hopefully!) the weather will turn and fall will be here.  In preparation, I’ve been working hard to get our house ready for fall – and the winter to follow.

Outside –

Rain Gutters – At the end of summer and winter, I clean out our rain gutters.  With several large oak trees in our yard, it’s important to routinely remove fallen leaves from our rain gutters.

Vinyl Siding – Our house has vinyl siding and I pressure wash the siding (at least) twice a year.  I’ll do so this week, washing off the dust of from summer mowing, so that house will look nice for fall.

Tool Shed – The summer is a busy time in the yard – and that means that tools get used – and often misplaced.  I like to take the time, while the weather is still nice, to organize my tools.

Lawn Mower – I use my lawn mower year round – to mow the grass in spring and summer – and to mulch leaves in fall and winter.  So, at the end of each summer, I sharpen (or replace) the blades, change the spark plug, drain and refill the oil, and replace the air filter.  I’ll repeat this at winter’s end.

Pipes and Spigots – We rarely have to worry about long periods with freezing temperatures, but I’m still mindful of the need to insulate exposed pipes and outdoor water spigots.

Shrubbery – We have a few shrubs which require annual pruning, which I’ll take care of, as soon as temperature drop.

Inside –

HVAC – We have electric heating and air.  I recently replaced all HVAC filters throughout our house.  This is important, because a clogged filter reduces efficiency, which increases electricity costs.

Refrigerator Filter – Our refrigerator has a water filter which needs replacing every 6 months.  I replace at the end of each summer and winter.  These things can be quite expensive – so I buy the 2-pack and save a few dollars.

Carpets – We have a mixture of carpet and hardwood in our house.  At the end of each summer, I’ll clean the carpet in our den.  I’ll also spot-clean throughout the year.  We don’t have pets, so we’re dealing mainly with foot-traffic.

Detectors – There are several smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our house – and I change their batteries each year, on the first day of school.  It’s an odd habit, but it’s my way of always remembering!

Laundry Room – I visually inspect the hoses that connect our washing machine to the water supply.  I also clean out the dryer vent and dryer vent hose.

Clothing – Our kids just keep on growing, which means they have clothing that no longer fits.  Now is a great time to sort through their closets and get rid of, via charitable donation or yard sale, clothes they do not need.

I love the fall, with milder temperatures and lots of football.  It feels good to get the above mentioned tasks taken care of – so that we can better enjoy the season to come.  Blessings.