Regardless of what the thermostat reads, the first signs of fall are upon us. Shorter daylight hours, a fallen leaf here and there, and a certain something in the air that tells you these summer days won’t be around for much longer.
Which is why now is the perfect time to start preparing your home for the colder weather ahead. How to start? By lining up home maintenance pros now vs. waiting until the last minute when they are booked solid. Of course, if you’re the handy type, make a “to-do” list of your own with the higher priority items scheduled first, and so on.
- Add Attic Insulation
If your attic insulation is lacking or non-existent, you’re paying more to heat and cool your home than need be. The best time to schedule an inspection – and, if needed, new insulation or insulation repair – is when the temps begin to level off and insulation pros have the capacity to take on more jobs. By starting now, you also have the time and ability to get multiple quotes.
- Repair the Driveway
Cracks in a driveway will only get worse through the winter due to melting snow and ice freezing and expanding, thus making existing cracks bigger and more problematic. Whether you need a patch job or a complete re-paving, schedule it with service providers like Handyman Hunter or their likes, right away, before the weather takes a turn for the worse.
- Chimney Inspection and Cleaning
Soot and creosote build-up increases the risk of a chimney fire. Before you light your first fire of the season, have your chimney checked and cleaned by a professional (just like those from Milwaukee Chimney Flashing). Scheduling with them now ensures that your fireplace could be safe and ready to use all season long. Waiting, on the other hand, can mean the job won’t get done until well after the cold weather arrives, especially since icy, snowy roofs make the task more difficult.
- Firewood
Speaking of fireplaces, if yours is wood-burning, now is the time to buy wood before the weather turns cold – when inventory shrinks, and prices typically soar. You’re also likely to get a better species of wood like oak, ask, or maple, which burn slowly to produce more heat.
- Home Facelift
Whether it’s a smaller project like painting or floor refinishing, or a large scale remodel, start scheduling contractors now so you’ll be among the first to get service once they complete their fall slate of projects.
- Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Just as you scheduled your HVAC inspection in the spring before the chaos of the summer heat began, so should you schedule your furnace inspection now before everyone else has the same idea – or worse, your heating systems fails in mid-January.
- Refill Oil and Propane Tanks
Prices of oil and propane tend to fluctuate in part due to demand. Waiting until a cold snap could end up costing you a pretty penny. Plus, delivery services are often booked or seriously back-logged during the colder months which could place you dangerously close to a temporary heating outage. So ensure you book your oil or fuel delivery from a company like Bonded Oil or the likes earlier than later! Also, make sure to purchase enough to last you the whole cold season.
- Overseed the Lawn
Late summer and early fall are ideal times to reseed cool-season grasses, giving the new grass time to develop healthy roots before going dormant once the cold hits. If you are planning to use the help of say, Waukesha Grounds Maintenance Service or one within your locale, for such projects, get on their schedule now for a lush lawn come spring
At Pann, we could write a long article or short story on all the ways we can help you prepare for fall, winter and, for that matter, every season of the year. Boiler and furnace check-ups? Absolutely. Home remodeling and handyman work? Two of our specialties. Ensuring you have enough hot water for your family’s growing needs? You betcha.
Contact us today for the service you need, when you need it.
