Hopefully it’s been a fantastic summer and you and your family and friends had a relaxing summer in the Hamptons. However, now is the best time to get your house in order for the winter so that everything is ready to go for the off-season and next summer.
You may be thinking, “why now, next summer is nine months away.” There are several reasons we advise our clients to do off-season maintenance at the end of the season rather than wait until next spring:
- Your home was well used for the last four months, it deserves a little tlc before sitting idle for the fall and winter.
- Seasonal labor at local contractors are still here to help and have at least a season of experience under their belts.
- Beat the rush of next spring and have your home ready to go for the winter holidays and avoid scheduling delays next spring when all your neighbors are scrambling to get their house ready for the summer.
Our clients often ask what our end of summer suggested maintenance are for our homes. All homes are used differently, and you know best how you use your home but these are some of the most important items to think about before you have to leave for the fall/winter:
- Clean stove hood. A season of heavy stove use will result in material grease buildup in your range hood. This can be a messy job but if you clean it once a year it’s a very manageable task and will keep your kitchen clean and sanitary.
- Inspect and clean chimney. Cleaning your chimney ahead of the winter season ensures it is clean when fireplaces and fireplace contractors are in highest demand. You will avoid scheduling headaches and guarantee safe fireplace usage for the winter season.
- Gutter cleaning. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean, clear and fully operational ahead of fall and winter weather preventing winter ice dams and roof damage from poor drainage.
- Clean garbage disposal. Ensure food particles are clear from your disposal so your kitchen smells fresh in the off-season. Run ice cubes and a quartered lemon through the disposal followed by hot water and a few tablespoons of baking soda.
- Roof inspection. Have a professional inspect roof shingles and flashing.
- Change air filters. It’s good to do this yearly, we like to do it after heavy summer usage.
- Smoke alarms. Test and replace batteries in smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
- HVAC. Have forced air system/radiant heating system inspected by a professional before you realize you have a problem in the winter. Additionally, vacuuming heat registers and vents will guarantee they are fully operational for the winter.
- Clean carpets. Eliminate summer dust and grime with a thorough carpet cleaning.
- Clean dryer vents. Improve the efficiency of your dryer and prevent lint buildup that could lead to a vent fire over time.
- Vacuum refrigerator coils. You should do this more than once a year but we always advise our clients to add coil vacuuming to their end of season maintenance list.
- Winterize outdoor plumbing; showers and irrigation. Turn off outside water sources and drain outdoor showers and hoses. Have your lawn care professional schedule a closing date for your irrigation system.
- Schedule pool closing. Have your pool company schedule a winterization and closing date for your pool.
- Dethatch, aerate, overseed and fertilize lawn. This is the best way to build thick turf in your lawn.
- Store deck furniture or cover. Move your deck furniture to indoor storage or cover it up for the winter to protect and extend its useful life.
Give us a call today to talk through your end-of-summer needs, we’re happy to help get your home cleaned up from an amazing summer and ready for the winter.
