By Kimberly Barton, REALTOR®
The Autumnal Equinox is a solar event and falls on September 23rd this year. Both day and night will be balanced as it begins to get darker earlier. The Equinox has traditionally been a celebration marking the final crop harvest in preparation for winter. And many communities mark the change of seasons with festivals, bon fires, gatherings in fields and decorating homes to mirror nature’s seasonal reds, golds and oranges. Nature’s seasonal changes can serve as a reminder for us to take time to acknowledge where we’ve been, enjoy the present beauty and make preparations for our next season.
My mother transitioned our home from summer to fall with subtle changes that marked the beginning of shorter outdoor playtime and many of these traditions remain with me today. She would rearrange the living room and bedroom furniture to “freshen” the home and bring new energy to the rooms for the coming shut-in months. She placed a variety of polished, unshelled nuts in a bowl on the living room table with a silver-handled nutcracker. Apples were plentiful. We would bob for them and make candied or caramel apples. Pinecones and acorns would replace the summertime themes. She pulled out the fall china and table settings changed to warm reds, oranges and browns. All the bed and bath linens were changed to deep, warm cozy themes. My father packed the freezer and stocked up on firewood. And the storage pantry would be stocked well with canned and packaged goods and a dozen gallons of water.
This seasonal change was always a good marker to remind us to say goodbye to summer and welcome the cooler days ahead. It was also a time to prepare our homes for the coming winter months. While there may be some fair weather still left ahead of us, it is never too late to begin preparations for the colder months.
Here is a basic home checklist to help you prepare and preserve your home for the coming cold months:
- Inspect and repair your exterior siding, fascia and eaves for loose items, holes or pest infestation.
- Check that your downspouts are affixed well, are free of cracks and draining away from your home. This will help eliminate water seepage into the foundation and walls of the property.
- Inspect your gutters for alignment, dents, bending, breaks and clogged areas. As the leaves on the trees begin to fall, they can clog the gutters and cause water spillover damage to the home. Be sure to monitor gutter drainage performance during a rain for hints at failing or clogged areas.
- Make sure that the pathway to your home and garage is clear and smooth. It makes shoveling snow easier when you don’t have to deal with broken concrete or crumbling asphalt.
- Check your bricks and foundation areas for splitting, cracking or separation. Repair as appropriate.
- Inspect the condition of your plantings and make sure that they will winter well.
- Check your railings and secure as necessary.
- Oil the hinges and locks of all your entry doors.
- Clean the windows inside and out and make sure all of them open and close properly.
- Winterize your spigots and hoses before the first frost. Many put this off during the fair weather and then forget it once the foul weather has moved in.
- Look for dead limbs and trees hanging over your home, car or other property. Have them removed before foul weather. If something falls during the inclement weather, not only will you have to deal with damage but it could cost you more for removal.
- Have your HVAC or furnace system serviced, change filters and make sure everything is in working order.
- Make sure you have firewood for the fireplace.
- Inspect and clean your chimney before first use.
- Check to make sure that your home's number address is clearly visible and present on your home.
- If you have a generator, be sure that it is easily accessible, working, and you have everything you need to make it work when needed.
- If you have a garage, get rid of the clutter inside so that you can actually use it to pull the vehicle inside during inclement weather. This also helps you stay out of the weather when you need to do minor auto maintenance, such as adding windshield washer fluid, checking the oil or antifreeze levels.
- Go into your attic and inspect for water seepage, stains, or indications of any roof problems. Also be sure that your attic insulation is intact to reduce heat loss during the winter. And check for indication of birds, bats, mice or other unwelcome guests expecting to winter in your home.
- Clean out your dryer vent and be sure the whole line is clear back into the dryer to reduce any fire potential.
- Take stock of your pantry, freezer and household needs to be sure you can manage a power or storm emergency.
- Make sure your sump pump is working and if possible, have it hooked up to a battery back up system in case of power outages.
- Clean out debris from any drains inside and outside to reduce the likelihood of water overflow into your basement or low-lying areas of your home.
- Check exposed areas of the basement flooring and walls for water or moisture. Locate source, clean and seal as necessary.
- Remove and store all flammable items in a safe area away from heat sources or areas that may become hot due to inside temperatures, HVAC or fireplace use.
Consistently conducting routine maintenance on your home will help it hold value and avoid costly repair bills. Then you can celebrate the fall colors and enjoy your home more fully knowing you’ve done the preventative maintenance.