Homecare Tips

Autumn/Winter Seasonal Tasks

Furnace: Do a trial run on your furnace early in the Autumn. This way, if your furnace needs maintenance, you will have time to service it before cold weather sets in.

Fireplace: Inspect your fireplace and damper for proper operation before use each year.

Doors and Windows: Make sure all exterior doors and windows are properly sealed at the doorjambs and sill plates with waterproof silicone. Also, check all door and window weather stripping and caulking for tight seals or cracks and gaps.

Lawns: Apply fertilizer and weed pre-emergent to cool season grass (fescue) lawns in the Autumn.

Garage: Keep garage doors closed as much as possible to prevent heat loss from the interior of home.

Gutters: Remove all leaves and twigs from your gutters and down spouts to prevent drainage problems.

Decks: Know the right time to reseal your deck. Pour some water on your decking. If the water puddles up, then the sealer is still working. If not, then reseal. Reseal the deck a minimum of once a year. Also, cleaning leaves and branches from deck on a regular basis will help prevent wood rot.

Faucets and hoses: Cut off the water and remove hoses to your exterior faucets before outside temperatures get into the thirties and forties to stop possibility of freeze breaks.

Spring/Summer Seasonal Tasks

Air Conditioner: Do a trial run on you air conditioner early in the Spring. This way, if your AC needs maintenance, you will have time to service it before warm weather sets in. Also, replace your filters at this time.

Irrigation: Test all zones on irrigation system for correct operation.

Chimney: Close the chimney damper as soon as you are done with the fireplace for the season.

Air Flow: Adjust floor and ceiling registers for optimal air distribution for cooling.

Door Locks: Check and tighten dead bolt locks on exterior doors.

Foundation: Fill in dirt around foundation at any areas that show settling. Dirt height should cause water to flow away from foundation.

Mulch: Apply mulch around trees, shrubs and flowerbeds

Roof: Inspect roof for loose, damaged or missing shingles.

Fertilizer: Apply fertilizer and weed pre-emergent to warm season (bermuda, zoysia) grass lawns.