Maintenance Tips to Prepare your Home for Fall

 Guest Blogger #652, Entry #1557, September 4, 2012

With the weather changing as we hit September, it’s important to start making some preparations for your fall home. These changes can range from everything from doing some summer cleaning, through to making sure that a garden is ready for the Fall and Winter months. Moreover, it’s important to check heating and water systems, and to organize and clean out rooms, while checking for leaks in roofs and windows before it gets colder.

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Cleaning

The first step in cleaning your home for the Fall is to check for any summer specific items that will no longer be in use. These items include any children’s toys and garden furniture, as well as barbecues that are left outside, and can be safely locked away in a shed or garage. You should also look to perform a light cleaning and dusting around the house, and particularly for any rooms that you are less likely to use in the colder months. Conservatories might fall into this category, as well as spare bedrooms that might be unoccupied.

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Gardening

The Fall represents a rest period for a standard garden, with the exception of seasonal vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, and potatoes being maintained. A lawn should be cut back in anticipation of being left for several months, and any weeding put off during August and early September completed. Herbicides can also be put down to prevent the spread of insects and other pests. Some seasonal plants and flowers can similarly be moved into a greenhouse or indoor room if you feel that they won’t survive the Winter.

Check Heating and Water

Check your heating and water systems if you haven’t been using your boiler as much during the Summer. Particularly check that a boiler isn’t due for a service, and check any filters for chimneys, as well as the performance of radiators. The early Fall is often a good time to get heating and water systems serviced, and particularly if a cold Winter is expected. You can also run your own tests to see if radiators need to be bled, and if there are any leaks that need to be fixed.

Organize and Clear Out

You can use the start of Fall as a good item to go through your home and perform a clearing out of any items that might become more of a problem in the final few months of the year. This can include putting any summer sports equipment and clothes into storage, as well as checking through your kitchen for similar items. Check tinned food to see whether it is still usable for the winter, and box up any utensils like barbecue tongs that you don’t feel you will be using as often.

Check Leaks and Roofs

Make sure that you check your roofing for any leaks, and particularly do for so older houses. Similarly, clean out your gutters prior to the beginning of trees shedding leaves in the Fall. Inspect ceilings and an attic or loft for signs of water damage or mold, and check windows for any significant warping and cold spots that might become more serious later in the year. You can also test the roof for any loose tiles and slipping hazards that may be a risk if you’ll be hanging Christmas lights in December.

Serena, who works with one of the UK’s leading product design agencies, has a vast range of knowledge on the evolution of product designs throughout the past century. She writes for many other industries including fashion, décor and education.

For more fall decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.