Fall is officially here, and many of us are beginning to prepare our homes for the season to change. We’ve put together a list of the top 10 ways to prepare your home for the fall. Here’s what you’ll want to remember to do this year:
1. Clean your gutters and check your downspouts for any obstructions.
This one is easy to forget, that is until the rainy season hits and you’re dealing with a flooded yard or garage. Once you’ve cleared out any obstructions, it’s a good idea to get a gutter guard. While you’re at it, do a roof check to look for missing or damaged shingles and remove any debris. If you find any cracks or tears at the joints of your shingles or roof tiles, you might want to think about using some seam tape on those areas to seal them up before the heavy rains come through. After all, this is Oregon.
2. Plant bulbs for the Spring and fertilize your lawns.
By the time warmer weather comes back around, you’ll be greeted with lush lawns and colorful flowers to usher in the season! A little maintenance of your grass at this time of year can really pay off later. A good place to start is the right lawn fertilizer for your grass. You’ll want to snag a fall lawn fertilizer that will keep the roots growing strong through the winter. It’s a good time to grab those tulip bulbs too! Not all tulip bulbs are the same – Remember to snag the tulip bulbs that will do well here in Beaverton, since this part of Oregon is USDA Zone 8.
3. Inspect the trees around your home and property.
Assess if there are any damaged or weakened limbs, especially if they’re over power lines or near the roof and walls of your home. If the tree is in your yard, you could use a tree pruner, or a tree saw. But, if it’s too much for you to handle, then you’ll need to look at contacting a certified arborist in Beaverton to help you out. If you see a damaged limb on a tree at street level, you can call the City of Beaverton’s Arborists to come out and take a look. If it’s an issue that might affect a power line, then reach out to Portland General Electric (PGE) for some assistance.
4. Turning off your outdoor spigots and store garden hoses.
Doing this as soon as it starts raining and getting cold can prevent issues resulting from water freezing inside them. Storing hoses in a storage box on your deck or patio could keep the hose in good condition while also still being aesthetically pleasing. Even if you manage to store your hoses, your spigots may still freeze, which could cause permanent damage to the valve. A great solution to this problem is to buy an insulated spigot cover that will protect the spigot from freezing temperatures.
5. Clean your outdoor furniture and either cover it, or bring it inside.
Outdoor furniture may not be able to withstand the rain and winds so it’s best to be cautious. Plus, it’s easier to clean in the spring when you’ll start sitting outside a lot more. So, if you have a shed to store that stuff in, then now’s a good time to start thinking about doing that. If you don’t have a shed though, there are some great lawn furniture covers for small furniture and lawn furniture covers for larger pieces, to consider getting before the heavy weather hits.
6. Check for drafts around windows and doors.
According to the US Department of Energy, heat loss can be responsible for increasing energy usage by up to 25-30%. An easy way to check for drafts is hold up a lit candle and see if the flame flickers. If you discover a draft, it’s wise to consider weatherstripping and adding all-weather caulking around the edges and cracks around doors and windows.
7. Replacing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
This is another good one to check off your list before the end of the year. Replacing your smoke detector batteries should be done annually. Some smoke detectors take 9V alkaline batteries, while others only take AA alkaline batteries. Either way, if your smoke detector is not hardwired, then you’ll want to make sure to use high quality alkaline batteries that will last throughout the year!
8. Inspect your furnace, fireplace, and chimney.
Inspecting your furnace should be done seasonally, and includes changing filters and checking for leaks. Similarly, if you have a fireplace you might want to clean it out using a chimney brush, otherwise, you can call a local chimney cleaner in Beaverton to inspect and clean the chimney for you. When the cold weather hits, you’ll be so glad that you got all this done ahead of time!
9. Make sure your flashlights work, and stock-up on candles and batteries.
Get ready for winter storms and possible power outages by checking your flashlights and stocking up on candles and batteries. If you don’t have any flashlights, then it’s a good time to get a strong multi-use flashlight or torch. If you have a generator, test it out and purchase extra gasoline so you’re ready if the power goes out.
10. Wash comforters, blankets, and your warm clothes.
It’s time to wash those things that keep us warm during those cold winter nights. Get out those warm blankets and cozy sweaters that have been hiding in the back of your closet for the last few months. Now you’re ready to enjoy the cooler weather and gorgeous outdoors and fall foliage of the PNW!
