It’s hard to believe that it’s already the end of August! Soon those long summer days will just be a memory as we begin to prep for the fall season ahead. As you get ready to transition from summer to fall, it’s important to tackle seasonal chores around your home. By staying on top of these maintenance and cleaning tasks you can help head off any potential problems as temperatures drop. Over the next few weeks, we recommend accomplishing these chores as you say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn.

Have your HVAC system serviced

Your home AC is the unsung hero of summer, helping to keep you cool during these end-of-season days. That’s why it’s so important to have your HVAC unit serviced before cold weather arrives. This will get your AC ready to rest during the winter months. It will also ensure that your furnace is ready to tackle the dropping temperatures. Be sure to change your furnace filters and hire a professional to do a service and tune-up on your system now to beat the rush.

Prune dead branches

Harsh winter weather can cause dead branches in trees and shrubs to break, which can lead to damage to your property. While the weather is still nice, prune all dead branches out of trees and shrubs around your home. Not only will this make your yard look better, but it will also help to spur new growth on those plants in the spring.

Clean gutters

We know that cleaning the gutters is nobody’s favorite job. But giving your gutters a good cleaning now before the leaves fall is a smart idea. Summer storms can deposit a surprising amount of debris in your gutters. By cleaning them now you’ll get a jumpstart on your gutter cleaning in the fall which will make the job easier later.

Don’t forget about pests

August is the peak season for flying pests like mosquitos and wasps. To better enjoy these last few weeks of summer weather, deal with bugs before they become a bigger problem. Mosquitos breed in standing water, so empty birdbaths and fountains regularly. Check your yard for standing water and empty those spots, too. If you have a wasp problem, then find where they are coming from. Once you have located the nest, you can get rid of them.

Clean your gardening tools

As summer winds down, it’s time to turn your attention to your gardening tools. After the last grass cutting, clean your mower and empty the gas tank. This helps to keep your carburetor from clogging over the winter, which can cause big problems next spring. It’s also a good time to clean and sharpen your gardening tools so that you’re ready to garden next year.

Scrub the grill

Finally, we know it’s sad to say goodbye to grilling out on warm summer nights. But as the season comes to end, you should scrub your grill before storing it for the winter. If you’ve used yours as much as we have, then it probably has caked-on grime you’ll need to remove. You’ll thank yourself next year when you’re ready to fire it up for the season.

Compliments of Virtual Results