The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting a little bit cooler. Before long summer in Atlanta will be long gone and colder weather will be the norm. With the change in temperature also comes the perfect opportunity to tackle some seasonal home maintenance tips to keep your home in great shape for the coming months. Some of these chores are necessities before fall and winter, and others are just going to be a lot more pleasant now that the summer heat has lightened up a bit!
Check Your Fireplace Before Fall Use
You want your fireplace to function perfectly on the first cool night when you decide to use it. If you own an electrical fireplace this should be an easy task – simply turn it on and you will know immediately whether or not it is working. If you have a traditional fireplace instead, you have some work to do. A thorough fireplace cleaning is recommended every year to get rid of any buildups of ash and soot. When this task is not done regularly, that build up can become a fire hazard. If the thought of cleaning the inside of a chimney sounds like an incredibly daunting task, hiring a professional may be a better option.
Another possible consideration for your chimney is a cap to prevent birds from nesting inside. If you have a professional conduct your cleaning, ask about the need for a chimney cap. They may already be seeing evidence of nesting. And while you are focused on your fireplace, now is a great time to order your firewood if your fireplace is wood burning.
Late Summer is the Perfect Time to Paint
Is there a room in your house that has been in need of a fresh coat of paint for awhile? If so, now is the perfect time to settle on a shade and tackle this job. Humid summer weather can cause paint to take longer to dry, but the humidity tends to drop as we head into fall, making the drying process much faster. Also, now that temperatures have cooled off, you can leave windows open while you work so that the fresh air can help rid your home of the often overpowering smell of fresh paint.
Changing the look of a room could boost your stress levels and mental health now too. We’ve all been spending a lot of time at home, and for some, this leads to higher levels of anxiety and stress. Giving your living room, bedroom, or other room where you spent a great deal time an all new look can make you feel refreshed and invigorated. Try a subtle blue or light green in a bedroom to promote relaxation. If your living room is in need of a new look, consider a bright color on an accent wall, complemented by a coordinating color on the remaining walls.
Clean Your Windows and Check Their Seals
Few people love cleaning windows, but you’ll be able to tolerate the job more now that the weather has cooled off a bit. Lower temperatures are not the only reason now is the perfect time to tackle windows – you are likely going to be spending even more time inside due to weather and those streaks and marks will start to drive you a bit batty after awhile. Sparkling clean windows will allow you to make the most of the sun’s natural light as the days grow shorter, and they will also look much more attractive alongside seasonal lights and decorations. If your home is multiple stories, many of you may want to consider having this job done by a professional crew who is used to working on at significant heights, but if you feel you can manage the task yourself, make sure your ladder is safe and that your work carefully.
Whether you work on the windows yourself or hire a crew, the next step after cleaning is to check all of the caulking to make sure your windows are properly sealed from the outside. A tube of caulk costs about $5, but drafty rooms caused by improperly sealed windows can cost you hundreds of dollars every year in unnecessarily high energy costs. And as it turns out, sealing these leaks in the summer is the best time to do it, since caulk flows and dries best in warmer weather.
Clean Your Gutters at the End of Summer
A lot of debris can build up in your home’s gutters over the spring and summer. Before fall’s rainy weather arrives, it is important to remove all of the leaves, dirt, and anything else that has gathered. While we don’t normally experience much snowfall in north Georgia, if we do have a rare 2-3 inch coating of the fluffy stuff, you’ll want it to melt and drain away easily. Once you’ve removed all debris, run a hose through your gutters and check for additional blockages that may have been missed.
While cleaning, also look carefully at your gutters to find any cracks that may need to be repaired. The longer you put off such repairs, the more expensive and time consuming they will be. When your gutters are in disrepair, you are faced with possibility of roof and stucco damage, along with damage to other exterior elements of your home. Keep in mind that gutters are another home repair item that are often best left to professionals, especially if repair or replacement is needed.
Inspect and Repair Driveways and Walkways
Now is the time to inspect your driveway and any concrete or asphalt walkways around your home with a keen eye, looking for any cracks or loose pavement. All driveways will show the occasional crack as they age, but in the south we don’t have to worry about quite as much damage caused by weather as you will find in colder climates. Even still, minor cracks can become larger over time, so the sooner you spot and repair damage, the longer your driveway will last without needing expensive resurfacing.
Cold weather can cause small cracks to become much larger, especially after wet weather when gathered water can freeze and expand. Seal up any cracks you find with concrete crack sealant, cement, or other filler. This will prevent bigger headaches when winter comes. Plus, this is a job you can easily do yourself, unlike a major resurfacing which requires a professional work crew and can be quite expensive.
Celebrate the End of Summer by Cleaning Out Your Garage
Did you know that only 30% of homeowners actually park their cars in their garage? For most of us, there’s simply no room for the car with everything else we are storing in our garages. And if you’re like me, the things in your garage just seem to continuously multiply. This can make the process of cleaning it out seem like an incredibly daunting task. However, if you commit to doing so at least once per year, you will find the process much more manageable. And why is this the perfect time of year for a garage clean-out? For starters, if you have any vehicles that are forced to park outside the garage due to space issues, getting a place cleaned out for that car will be beneficial before the weather turns colder and wetter. Also, Christmas is coming right around the corner and many of us will no doubt accrue additional items for the garage, so we need to make the room.
Begin by sorting through everything and tossing to the side anything that has not been used in 2 years. When you’ve amassed your “trash” pile, further separate these items into categories to sell, donate, or to throw away. Post everything you have in the “sell” category on a neighborhood resale site immediately. If anything does not sell in 2 weeks, seriously consider donating those items instead. Even if you do not make money off the transaction, you will have freed up valuable space in your garage.
Next, organize everything that remains by type – tools in one place, sporting goods in another. See-through stackable bins are great for organizing smaller items, and a built-in garage shelving unit is helpful for larger pieces. Once everything has been organized, give your garage a thorough cleaning. Sweep out corners and vacuum, and consider coating the floor with an epoxy paint. This will make the floor easier to clean and shield it against grease and oil stains, both of which are common issues in the garage, especially once you are able to park your cars inside.
This same process should be repeated for any other location that tends to accrue items throughout the spring and summer. Clearing out and organizing your garden shed and any utility closets once each year will help you stay on top of the clutter that can build up.
Hose Out and Clean the Garbage and Recycling Cans
It’s a dirty job but you need to do it. Rodents and other pests have a strong sense of smell, and they will be more tenacious in the winter months when other sources of food become scarce. While the weather is still warm, go ahead and tackle cleaning these containers so that you do not attract small rodents into your garage or bin area outside. You can spray the inside with a mixture of bleach and water, then rinse well. The outside and handles can be wiped down with Clorox or similar wipes.