It’s a time of transition. Summer’s heat gives way to mellow, golden days and cool nights. Take care of these projects now to ensure a smooth transition from cooler to colder weather.
1. As the Days Shorten …
Now’s the time to think about outdoor electric. Do you have an outlet ready for your evening fall lighting? Or is this the winter you want to have an outlet ready for holiday lights or install heating cables on the roof to prevent ice dams? Now’s the time to get those outlets installed while the weather is still agreeable. Schedule an electrician today
2. Keep the Home Fires Burning … Safely!
Wood fireplaces aren’t the only ones that need maintaining. Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) advises that gas fireplaces require an annual chimney sweep and inspection. For your safety, let’s explore why a sweep and inspection on a gas log burning fireplace is very important. For a chimney sweep you can trust, contact us.
3. Your Garbage Cans Shouldn’t Smell Like Garbage!
Before you put your hose away and the cold weather sets in it’s time to give those garbage cans a final cleaning. If you need help installing or building a garbage can corral to keep this area clean and organized, Get Dwell can help.
4. Plant Bulbs in September, Enjoy Flowers in Spring
Bulbs are the best way to have early spring color in your yard. When planting bulbs, make sure they’re in a place where they’ll get at least six hours of sunlight each day. Bulbs like well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter or compost. When you’re ready to plant, the rule of thumb is to plant each bulb three times as deep as the bulb is tall, making sure the pointy part is facing upwards. In general, plant bulbs when nightly temperatures reach between 40–50 degrees F. Shop your local, family-owned hardware store for a variety of bulbs!
5. Don’t Strain Your Drain
Outdoor drainage and exterior drain tile systems need to be regularly checked and managed to make sure they’re free and clear. Natural debris from gutters, drains and the ground can clog up and corrupt these systems, sometimes causing even bigger issues that are expensive to fix. Don’t neglect this. Contact us to schedule an inspection
6. Safety Standby
Home backup generators eliminate all the worry by automatically switching on when the electricity goes off. They operate on natural gas and can power your whole house or just your most necessary systems. You now have the electricity needed to keep your sump pump operating, heater/air conditioner on, refrigerator, lighting and WiFi operational when you need them most. Schedule backup generator installation now
7. Tamp Down the Damp
Your HVAC system is probably equipped with its own humidifier with a water pad that needs replacing at least once a year. The upcoming heating season will be making good use of your humidifier to keep your home more comfortable and your heating bills down. This system can be susceptible to mold and other issues so it’s best to keep a regular cleaning schedule. A water pad can be purchased from your local, family-owned hardware store or notify your HVAC service provider to assist you. If you want help, please contact us.
8. An Ounce of Prevention
What’s the value of a hose clamp? It’s a little piece that costs about $2.00, but if you have a humidifier attached to your HVAC system and the connection fails, it could really cost you! Check the drain hose connection under your HVAC system. Does it have a pipe clamp on it? If not, it should. Loose or disconnected hoses are more common than you think. Over time, the water that would have drained will flood a basement. If you’re on vacation and the hose attached to the HVAC humidifier in your attic loosens or disconnects, your entire home can flood and require renovations. If you need help assessing the drain hose connection at your home, contact Get Dwell.
9. Don’t Ignore Your Chimney
Chimneys are exposed to lots of abuse from the elements. Extreme temperature variations really stress chimney materials, which can lead to cracked or failing chimney caps, loose or spalled bricks, and defective or missing mortar joints. Left unchecked, these conditions can infiltrate so much of the structure that a much more expensive rebuild becomes necessary. Keep your chimney in good repair at all times to avoid more costly and serious issues down the road. Schedule chimney repair today
10. Protect Against Storms and More
Inspect your storm windows. In many homes these are one of the best and most efficient ways to keep your home warm and sealed in the coming cold weather. Broken or failing storm windows and their screens can be taken out and brought to your local, family-owned hardware store for repair before the cold weather starts. If you have stationary screens or you do not want to do this task yourself, schedule a professional here.
September can be warm and mellow. But never forget that harsher weather is around the corner. We’d love to help you prepare for it.