Fall Outdoor To Do List

Fall is just around the corner. –Try telling that to the marketing people in our inbox. They keep sending emails that say, “Fall is officially here.” Um, no, not until next week; try again.– That said, in most areas of the country, the triple-digit days are over, and it’s time to head outside and check things out and work on your fall outdoor to do list.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Over the next few weekends, while the weather isn’t deadly hot:

• Take a slow, careful walk around the perimeter of your home. Look for cracks and holes. Pests consider these neon vacancy signs*.
• While you are walking, look up at the gutters and down at the downspouts. Do these need attention? Cleaning the gutters in no fun when it’s 30 degrees out. Best get it taken care of now.
• Check the caulking around windows. Expansion during the heat of the summer may have caused cracks. Re-caulk if needed.

• Wash the windows. If they are really grimy, check out Window Washing 201.
• Clean patio furniture for storage -well, around our house, the fall is when we actually use our patio furniture, so we clean it for use.
• Check the propane tank. Do you need more for grilling? Autumn is my favorite time to cook out of doors. It’s nice not to return to the house a melted puddle.
• If you have a deck or patio, clean it. Use oxygen bleach on wood decks. After the deck has dried, sprinkle a few drops of water on it. If the water doesn’t bead up, it’s time to reseal. Yes. Again. Don’t wait too long after cleaning to seal, or you’ll need to clean it again before sealing. In most areas, the fall is better than the spring for this project as it’s often a drier time of year.
• Take a good look at your entryway. Is it inviting, or are the hanging baskets wilted and scary? Have spiders and wasps taken over your porch? Give the front door & windows a wash, too.
• If you live in an area that gets cold, roll up and store the garden hoses. Cover the spigots, and if you have a sprinkler system make sure the water is blown out to prevent pipe ruptures.
• Check your smoke detectors. We change our batteries out when the time changes, but reminders never hurt anyone.
• If you have a fireplace, it’s time to get the chimney inspected and cleaned. Creosote from fires builds up in the chimney, which is a fire hazard, and you never know what type of winged critter might have decided to build a nest in there.
• If you live in an area with a lot of snowfall, it’s time to start readying your property for that as well.
• It’s almost time to plant bulbs. We plant in November at the very end of the season for spring. Otherwise, they might bloom too early.
• When was the last time you had the HVAC maintained? Twice a year is optimal — it will save money in the long run. Trust us on this.

*A note to renters, in many cases, your landlord takes care of many of these tasks. However, being aware of and alerting your landlord to potential problems (such as cracks or holes pests may use) can minimize the inconvenience of the situation for both of you.

Ok, Home Eccers, what would you add to the list?