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Winterize Your House This Upcoming Autumn Spring cleaning is normally something many people do, but probably only a few people understand what it is to winterize your home. It is a good idea every fall, to take a look at the house and see if it is prepared to get through another winter. Fall, with the attendant dying out of leafy growth, is a great time to examine your home's walls, since it will be easier to spot any shrubs that are becoming invasive. House siding is very easily damaged by roots and vines that cling to the surface - even bricks aren't immune - and they should be cleaned off. Should they be no longer needed to do any watering, the hose should all be emptied and rolled up to be put into storage for the winter. The water supply to faucets outside the house really should be cut, and after that these can dry out. After you believe that you won't make use of the garden furniture once more that year, get it cleaned and stored in a dry place. You should shield any young trees you have with mulch, particularly in their first year of growth. To allow for excess rainfall, you should clear away any drainage ditches that you have. http://scottscleaning.com.au/commercial-cleaning/index.php Fireplaces pop into your head when the weather starts getting colder. Try to get your chimney swept in time, before the first cold spell, because that's usually when everyone wakes up and wants it done. If you are most likely to need firewood, search for a source and put in a good stock early. If you realize you are in a rural area, look out for local residents selling firewood without advertising. Although you don't use a fireplace, make sure that any smoke alarms are working. If you leave your Xmas lights set up for the whole year, check that the cords are still flexible. If you usually install storm windows, this is the time to do it. Warm weather dries out weather-stripping, and so check if they need replacing. Confirm the good working order of the cooktop hood filters, since during winter the windows are mostly closed. Do a examination of the ground-slope all around the home, ensuring that it falls away from the walls. When water appears to drain into the basement, or the foundation, that can be bad news for your house. The first deterioration is wet rot, which sooner or later leads to dry rot, and this is definitely something to be avoided anywhere in your home. Regularly examine your home for indications of seepage. Leaks can't be kept at bay forever, so check the places where leaks most commonly occur, these being the roofing, the guttering, the downpipes and the interior plumbing. If you find any type of leaks, you should obviously get them fixed. Minimize a draft by safeguarding air-conditioning units, and look at wrapping exterior pipes, especially if the house is older. It is a good idea to shampoo the carpets and rugs, since dust is more noticeable in the winter. Finish off by just cleaning the windows.