Maintenance Tips: Your Winter Opportunities

Maintenance Tips: Your Winter Opportunities

The following is a contribution from another author.

Winter is coming. It’s almost knocking on our doors. Sure we’re currently in the depths of Fall, but that doesn’t mean we’re quite there yet. Before it comes, it can pay to take care of some very important home improvements and maintenance responsibilities. Why is Fall the best time to do this? Well, often it’s your last chance to prepare yourself against the harsh weather of winter, and the hard downpours of early Spring. It can be a great time to get a wonderful last-minute deal on work conducted or a unit of your choice. It’s also nearing the time of year where work will die down for the year as far as most contractors are concerned, meaning that you may be able to gain the use of services in a very timely fashion.

Also, it’s just good sense to take care of issues at any time of the year, and it just so happens to be this time of year in the present moment. Without further ado, we hope to list a number of suggestions that might help you rectify any outstanding duties before the winter rolls in:

Roofing

Roofing is best taken care of before the intense cold sets in. Thankfully, last minute work is often in full supply thanks to many people taking care of this in summer, so if you haven’t yet conducted this inspection, it might be a great time to do so now. You may be able to secure a wonderful deal at this time of year, or perhaps double down on the insulation to save plenty of heating costs throughout the year. No matter what you choose to do, be sure to apply it now, and then when the true cold months start arriving you’ll be well prepared.

AC

You most likely will not need air conditioning in the winter. However, Spring and Summer are usually both here well before you know it. That means taking advantage of some professional air conditioning installation now could help you turn on the AC when you need it on that very first, hot blistering day. It can also be that because of the low volume of AC installations taking place at this time of year, you may be able to negotiate the better deal, but don’t push for this too hard. Sometimes the time convenience and ability for a quick, painless installation can be all the convenience you need, from top to bottom.

Garden

Of course, you’re unlikely to begin curating a beautiful planting row in the dead of winter, depending on the type of plant it is. Most positive garden work obviously takes place in the early spring or summer, excluding some specific vegetables. This means that functionally, your garden isn’t somewhere to really relax and enjoy for most of these cold months. That is until snowman season arrives.

This means that before the cold months start coming, it can be worthwhile to protect your garden. Cover your pool from the elements using patio enclosures or a motorized pool cover, even draining it if necessary. Cover your garden furniture, or store some of the cushions in your shed. Oil your outdoor machinery, such as a sit-on lawnmower. Also, be sure to purchase grit that helps you provide roughage to your garden path both front and back, preventing any dangerous slips and falls you might just encounter.

Then, when your garden is preserved and begins thawing out, the real enjoyment of your green space can once again resume.

Windows

Consider the window insulation of your household. How long has it been since it was repaired or replaced? Now and then, silicon can be used to cover cracks, particularly in old buildings. In negative cases, rot or other forms of moisture-based degradation can mean the fitting that seals the arch should be completely rejuvenated and replaced, and you just can’t do that well in very cold or wet weather. Before the opportunity passes, try and take care of this with a real sense of urgency, so that you will be warmer and more snug in the winter weather.

Pipes

Enact a pipe care process now. For example, running the hot tap for ten minutes morning and night can allow the pipes in your home to heat up, allowing you to ensure that the boiler doesn’t freeze up. Also, paying attention to the leaves clogging your drain pipes, or potential ice hazards can help you protect your family and the water supply throughout the entire season.

With these maintenance tips, you’re sure to make the most of your home before winter.

Author

Eric is the creator of At Home in the Future and has been a passionate fan of the future since he was seven. He's a web developer by trade, and serves as the Director of Communication and Technology for a large church in Nashville, TN (where he and his family are building a high tech home in the woods).