Naperville Fall Inside and Out

Ah the leaves are changing, the weather is cooling off, it looks like fall is officially here. Now is a great time to do those outdoor "winterizing" chores and enjoy the nice fall weather. These are easy things to do that will save you time and money later. Of course over the years, I've learned some of these things through first hand experience...the hard way.

In the YARD- Trim those trees away from the house and wires, this helps prevent damage from falling branches and keeps bugs and animals away from the house. Fall is a great time for planting, plant those spring bulbs now! Move wood piles away from the house to prevent bugs. Clean and store your garden tools. This includes the lawn mower-drain out the gasoline before you put your mower away for the winter.

Clean out those Gutters- get rid of all those beautiful fallen leaves, then run water through the gutter to make sure they're not clogged. This is much easier to do in the fall, then it is to get up on your ladder in the middle of January.

Lawn Furniture- This sounds like common sense, but sometimes after a busy fall I've looked outside after the first snow to see my lawn furniture still out and uncovered. Also be sure to empty your favorite planters, especially those made of clay/ceramic, and store them inside so they don't crack or break.

Roof- Replace missing or loose shingles to prevent leaks.

Air conditioner- you can purchase a cover for your AC unit-similar to a vinyl grill cover, to protect it from the elements. This can be put on after you're done using your AC unit for the summer. Also be sure to clean the condenser and filters-shop vac works well. Make sure the condensate drain is clear as well.

Water systems-drain and disconnect your garden hoses, this prevents freezing pipes and/or faucets, even if faucet is in the garage! Underground sprinkler systems are fabulous, but they need maintenance too, be sure to drain them as well.

Feel free to print this out as a honey do list, coming soon indoor preparations for winter.

Remember a little home maintenance goes a long way towards preventing larger problems.