-
Autumn Home Hacks
12 Ideas to Save Money and Improve Quality of Life this Fall!
Our houses are in a constant state of decline and disrepair. Seasonally they call for our attention and a short, intentional spurt of care. In the spirit of decreasing expenses and increasing home enjoyment I offer these home hacks.
Clear the gutters of leaves and tree debris with your shop vac! The wet-dry vac is a home tool essential (read this article for all the other tools a home owner should have on hand). This may involve buying an extension hose to reach. Set the ladder at the eaves and go for it. I bought a candy-cane like extension to help reach with two drawbacks – it is hard to see what you are extracting from the gutters and if large amounts of debris are present the attachment gets blocked.
Perform drain maintenance. Driveway drains tend to collect a lot of debris. Pull off the grate and clear the dry gunk built up in the drain basin. It is so much easier to do during the dry season! After clear, fill with water from your hose and ensure it is properly exiting rather than backing up. Presto! No unwanted and damaging puddles in the coming rainy season. (Again, another article on this very topic!)
Clean the furnace filter or mini-split screens. Let the heating system do more heating with less effort. Less wear and tear means less maintenance. Shorter heating cycles mean lower energy bills.
Crack a window – figuratively! Strategically choose a window that will permit fresh air to enter the house and not be a nuisance as the weather cools. When bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans operate this will pull fresh air in as the stale, moisture-laden air is expelled.
Test your smoke, moisture and CO detectors. Put your ear plugs and noise-canceling Air Pods and ensure a (muted) chirp comes when you push the test button. Hear an annoying chirp every 3-minutes after the test? Replace the back-up batteries.
Gather leaves for 20-minutes. Some folks have massive magnolia trees that drop incredible amount of leaves on their front drive and grass – grumble, grumble. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the task or wait until they all fall. The three top areas to collect leaves: Rooftops, walkways and driveways. These are high traffic areas where vegetation can become matted, slick and stain. They also can clog drains and gutters permitting water into the wrong areas.
Replace outdoor porch and exterior light bulbs. Often the photo-sensitive bulbs are difficult to assess with the long days. Go outside after dark and note any dimming or non-functioning. As most have realized, LED bulbs do not have the dependability and durability they were promised when they showed up a decade ago. Changing burned out bulbs is still a thing in 2024!
Reset timers to adjust for the shortening days. These may be outdoor lighting timers or hot water tank recirculation pumps. The sun no longer rises at 4:45am and is asleep long before 9:30pm. Stay ahead of the seasonal transition.
Call one service contractor. Furnace and heating systems are at the top of our mind as the weather becomes cooler. There may be other items in need of repair. Roof needing replacement in the next year? Call and get a bid. Minor leak under sink at drain? Call a handy man. Are you looking for the name of some good contractors? I have some folks I have met, know well or have seen their handiwork firsthand. I would be glad to suggest them along with others you find.
Restock needed supplies. Top autumn items to add to your inventory: Extra yard waste bags, a good lawn rake, comfortable yard gloves, moss treatment for surfaces, light bulbs and batteries.
Clear items stored against the side of the house. Ladders, wheel barrows, yard furniture, scrap boards, kids’ toys, and sprinklers often live in unsightly locations under the eaves and on the ground. Come next summer they will be a bright hue of slimy green, offer sheltered locations for rodents and are step one in a junk storage problem. Really high achievers have nothing (not even the BBQ or garbage cans) stored against their house!
Make one junk run. Drop off a trunk-packed donation at the thrift store, get permission to borrow your neighbor’s trash can when they are on vacation, or make the exciting trip to the dump yourself. We are always accumulating stuff. A seasonal junk run is both practical and therapeutic!
