Written By:
Taking care of some chores now, like pruning your trees, can prevent potential issues in the fall or winter.
While it is still summertime across the country, August is actually an ideal time to begin preparing your home for the fall months. The weather is still nice enough to get outside to do inspections or maintenance, and you still have plenty of time to schedule any assistance from outside vendors before the full force of autumn arrives. Even if home maintenance is not your forte, we have a few items even beginners can take care of in order to prepare your house for a new season.
Home Maintenance and Safety Tasks
The summer months feature extreme temperatures and humidity, which can be brutal on your home. While many people realize that winter weather and frigid temperatures take a toll on pipes, siding, roofing, and other parts of your property, the summer season can be just as damaging.
You can notice any damage as well as prevent further issues from popping up in the autumn months by taking care of certain home maintenance and safety tasks now.
Inspect Your Roof
Animals are their busiest in the summer and fall seasons, which means you might have some roof damage from critters scurrying across it. August is the perfect time to take a good look at your roof to see if you notice any damage. Check for discolored shingles, damaged shingles, or any other signs of potential damage.
Don’t worry about getting on the roof yourself. You can often observe roof damage with both feet on your lawn. If you aren’t quite sure if you see damage or not, call a local roof technician to schedule an inspection. It is worth the small investment to ensure your roof is ready for the next season.
Upgrade Your Locks
While you don’t have to change your locks every year, this is a great time to look back on when is the last time you upgraded your door locks. If you have loved ones or neighbors who grab packages for you while you are on vacation, you might consider ditching the traditional key and instead choosing a locking system that uses a code. It’s convenient and you never have to worry about giving out your keys again. Even better, you can change your code easily and whenever you want.
Pressure Wash
The weather is perfect for power washing, and chances are your sidewalk, driveway, and back porch or deck could use a good scrubbing. Clean concrete and wooden surfaces are less likely to pose a fall risk; dirty sidewalks and decking can become slick with mold or other debris.
You can rent a power washer if you don’t already have one in the garage. Or, hire someone local to take care of it for you.
Prune Your Lawn and Garden
You don’t have to cut back your vegetable garden quite yet if you are still harvesting, but August is a good time to evaluate your full landscaping plan for the upcoming months. Take time to schedule any tree maintenance or removal as well as cutting back any bushes so that you aren’t attempting to do it once the weather turns colder.
Clear Out the Gutters
Call a local professional now to schedule an appointment to clean out your home’s gutters. If you live in a part of the country where autumn means falling leaves, your gutters can become clogged quickly which can cause flooding issues during the fall and spring months.
Take Care of Wasps, Mosquitoes, or Other Insects
Have you noticed a wasp nest on your property this year? Or perhaps you are having an especially high mosquito population in your yard this month. In any case, it is best to take care of the problem now before fall arrives. Work with local insect abatement companies to clear out any unwanted nests, take care of any drainage concerns, and keep your property insect-free as you head into the new season.
Organize the Porch and Foyer
Fall and winter mean lots of wet boots and shoes, coats, hats, and mittens. Take time to make your front porch and home entryway as organized as possible for the new season. Install a few hooks for coats and invest in a boot tray that will catch rain or melting snow so you don’t risk slipping in a puddle on your floor.
An organized pantry is easier to use and can keep rodents away
Clean Up the Kitchen
Autumn is prime rodent season and mice are looking for food anywhere they can find it. Don’t let your kitchen be welcoming to mice or other creatures. Take time now to clean out your pantry and cabinets. Consider decanting items that are in cardboard boxes (such as cereal or flour) to airtight plastic or glass bins that are harder for mice to detect.
Deep Clean the Floors
August is an excellent time to schedule a deep cleaning of your home’s floors. Call a local carpet cleaner or hardwood expert to visit. Your floors will look great and you might even notice a difference in your allergies as fall approaches.
Clean or Replace Showerheads
When is the last time you took time to clean your showerheads? If you are like most people, it’s probably been too long! Proper showerhead maintenance can not only give you a better shower experience, but it can also increase your water pressure or even decrease your water bill!
Test and Change Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Finally, test and switch out the batteries in your home’s smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors. If you don’t have these devices on each floor of your home (including smoke detectors in each bedroom and the area right outside of them), this is your reminder to purchase and install them asap.
If this list of home maintenance and safety tasks feels overwhelming, take one item at a time, and don’t forget to ask for help! Your family members and friends are excellent helpers, and you can always support local businesses by hiring them to help you out as well.
