Protect Your Home and Lawn from Old Man Winter

It is a little cooler at night, the days are not as long as they were, and the kids are back in school. Old man winter is sneaking up on your lawn and home. Before you get too comfortable in your recliner watching football some fall home and lawn maintenance will save you many headaches not to mention dollars. So let us look at a few things you need to take care of in your yard and home.

Starting in the yard a little preventive tree maintenance can keep your home safe and your family. Look for old and rotting branches that might become loose and break away if weighed down by ice or snow. If you have a teenager and can get them to do this, raking the yard is very important. Leaves have a tendency to smother the grass in your yard when they become layered and packed down. You also need to check your sprinkler system. When the air-cools plants need less water. So you will need to adjust your timing on your sprinklers. Also, do not forget to drain and put up any hoses you are not using so they will not freeze in the winter and burst.

In the house, the first thing to check out would be your heating system. You need to make sure all your heating ducts are clear of obstructions and it is a good idea to have your ducts cleaned. If your heating system is older than twenty years you should consider replacing it with a more modern, efficient unit this will heat better and save you money in the long run. If you have window air conditioners installed you will need to apply covers to them or remove them from the window completely. If you have a chimney, especially if you utilize it you should have it cleaned by a chimney sweep. You can usually find one in your local yellow pages. To keep out drafts make sure you replace any cracked or broken windows. Also, caulk around doors and windows.

To keep out drafts make sure you replace any cracked or broken windows. Also, caulk around doors and windows. Make sure all doors to the outside shut tightly, replacing weather stripping if needed. Once all this is done you should be set for old man winter to come on in while you relax in your recliner in the warmth of your home.