Fall Maintenance: 4 Chores to Protect Your Home

Although it might not feel like it at the moment, fall and cooler temperatures are on the horizon. Summer’s reach may seem to extend into September, but before we know it leaves will be begin to fall, the wind will start to pick up, and sweaters will become a necessity.

Before fall hits in full force, consider taking care of the following home maintenance items. These are simple chores that can go a long way in protecting your home and your family during the cooler months. Completing them now, while they are less of a hassle, as opposed to in the future when you may be faced with turbulent weather and other obstacles, is a smart move.

Gutters

It’s a good idea to clean your gutters or eaves every few months. Dirt and debris can easily accumulate in these spaces over time, preventing water from properly flowing through them. Gutters exist to collect precipitation and move it away from the home. When rain can’t move through your gutters it will spill over onto your roof, which can cause leaks and water damage. Long story short, cleaning your gutters regularly can save you a lot of money and frustration.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Cracks/Windows

If you don’t seal foundation and window frame cracks in your home you may notice autumn’s cooler temperatures sooner than your neighbors. Caulking cracks not only helps to keep warm air in and cold air out, it also helps protect your space from rodents looking for a winter home. Fall is the time when our furry frenemies start looking for places to survive the winter. Help make sure you aren’t unsuspectingly sharing your space by sealing cracks – or as rats/mice see them: entryways!

Image via Apartment Therapy

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors

We encourage readers to test their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms on almost every maintenance blog we write. Here’s why: it’s really important! These devices save lives, yet they are so easily overlooked. To help make sure they’re functioning properly they should be tested every month, and their batteries should be changed twice a year. 

Image via Bob Villa

Pro Tip: Change your smoke detector batters when you change your clocks for Daylight Saving’s time. It happens twice a year, and you’re already going around your home resetting the clocks – it’s the perfect time to get it done.

Organizing Storage

Seasonal changes are the perfect time to get some organizing done. As you put away your summer clothes and bring your jackets and boots out of storage, why not switch other storage items around? You can restructure your storage spaces to bring upcoming holiday decorations to a more accessible spot, and move summer stuff to the back. It’s also a great time to assess your stuff. What summer items did you use or wear this season? What stayed on the shelf? Get rid of unused or unwanted items while the memories are fresh, instead of during spring cleaning when you’re excited about the potential of using/wearing these things during the warmer weather.

Image via Brit + Co

Once your maintenance is complete, it’s time to update the inside of your home for fall. Get decor ideas and inspiration to help refresh your space at the Marketplace Events Home Show nearest you. Connect with us on Facebook to see what events are happening in your area and get exclusive ticket discounts. Happy Fall Y’all!

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Safety First: Simple Tips For Holiday Safety

With the growing excitement of the holiday season it's easy to spend a little more, eat a little more, and do a little more than you had originally planned. Getting into the festivities is great, it's called the most wonderful time of the year for a reason, but it's also important not to lose your head where it matters: you and your family's safety. We've outlined below some simple things to keep in mind this season to help protect yourself and your loved ones.

1. Don't leave candles unattended - This tip might seem incredibly obvious, but the holidays are a time filled with distractions. Between the last minute guests, irritating requests from in-laws, tons of cooking, and more, it's easy to leave your candles alight when you leave the room.

Image via Buzzfeed

2. Travel smart - If you're going out of town for a few days to visit with friends and family or to escape this horrible cold weather there are some precautions you should take to secure your home. Consider:

• Putting your lights (indoor and holiday) on timers to make your home appear occupied.
• Recruiting a friend or neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers; nothing says "no one's home" like a collection of papers and unopened letters.
• Being careful about sharing #TMI. Predators can access your social channels and take advantage of the information you post. So please refrain from tweeting "On the way to #Hawaii! Not back til Dec 30 @ 2pm! #EmptyHouse #KeyUnderMat"

3. Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors - When was the last time you tested and changed the batteries on your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors? If you can't remember the last time you did it, do it now! They should be tested about two or three times a year, with the batteries changed as needed.

Image via Pretty Handy Girl

Expert tip: Did you know that smoke alarms have an expiration date? They last approximately 8 - 10 years, after which point they become far less sensitive to smoke.

4. Shovel the right way - Shoveling your driveway and walkway can be really hard on your body. It's a high intensity workout, done in harsh conditions, at a heightened pace. A frequent cause of cardiac arrests and cardiac episodes in the winter is shoveling. Don't hurt your heart or your body: warm up before you shovel, take breaks as you need them, and shovel frequently as opposed to lifting mountains of snow.

We hope the simple advice above helps to keep you and your family a little safer this season. Are there any other safety tips you think readers should know to help them prepare for the holidays? Let us know below!

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