It may seem counter-intuitive to start thinking about winter during the summer and fall months, but taking stock of your home and yard before the onset of winter can save headaches in the coming months. A leaky roof in January may mean waiting until spring before it can be fixed. Winter home clean outs are just as important as a spring cleanout or a summer back yard clean up. Now is the time to consider if you need to remodel anything on your home, or even the demolition of something on or around your house. Construction during the winter months is notoriously tricky, so time is of the essence. It’s best to do a winter yard clean up while the warmth of the summer lets you move around without the need for several layers of clothing. Here are some ideas for getting your home and yard ready for winter.
You are inevitably going to have a lot of unwanted items and yard debris of which to dispose of. Your first step should be to contact us here at Dumpster Maxx for a dumpster rental. Our experienced and friendly staff will advise you on what kind of dumpster to use, we have a variety of roll off dumpsters to fit your needs.
Once you have received delivery of your dumpster, it’s time to get to work. The top priority should be preparing your home’s exterior and yard for the long winter months. As previously mentioned, it is unlikely you can have a leak fixed in your roof during the winter. Get on a ladder and visually inspect your roof, if there are any loose or damaged shingles they should be removed. A handyman can remove and replace shingles on small jobs and a contractor where large numbers of shingles need to be replaced. If your roof has a consistent leak during the winter months, it may cause structural damage and mold to grow in the walls. Next, inspect the gutters around your home to see if they need to be replaced. Rusting gutters can fill with ice and break which could potentially hit someone underneath them. Holes in the gutters can cause ice to form in unwanted places around the house, creating slip hazards or structural damage to the home. If the gutters are sound, clean out old leaves and debris to prevent water from pooling and to freeze in them. Clear your chimney of leaves or objects blocking it to prevent smoke from backing up into your home. If your home does not have frost-proof faucets, dispose of the old faucets and replace them with frost proof ones to minimize the risk of pipes bursting. Dispose of any garden hose that is cracking and replace them with new ones to prevent hoses from splitting in freezing temperatures. Drain your sprinkler system so that underground pipes to not burst in the cold.
Particular attention should be paid to your yard during a winter clean up. Branches too close to your home or dead branches should be cut down to prevent breaking under the weight of ice and damaging your roof. All dead limbs and sticks should be picked up and disposed of before the first snowfall. Leaves should be raked, bagged, and disposed of while it’s possible. Any junk that could be a hidden hazard underneath snow also needs disposal. Once your yard is taken care of, its time to focus on the interior.
Inside your home, remove any unwanted furniture or items to create more space and combat cabin fever. Perhaps turn a room into a gym, in Finland, exercise is prescribed to prevent depression caused by the gloomy winter months. Clean out your cabinets and refrigerators of expired canned food and perishables; replace them with new stock in the event you are stuck inside for an extended period of time due to a blizzard or other adverse conditions. Unpack winter clothing to see if they are wearable, dispose of frayed or moth-eaten clothes.
Following these suggestions for a winter clean out will have you well prepared by the time the first frost falls. There is no need for your winter to be a bleak or cluttered one!