Prepare Your Home For Fall! It’s Around the Corner

The kids are heading back to school and it’s time to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. Before those first cool days hit, it’s important to prepare your home. The professionals at United Window Cleaning suggest having these five essential seasonal chores complete before the first leaves turn.

Gutter Cleaning and Downspout Check

Gutters and downspouts work in tandem to protect your home from water damage. When a gutter becomes filled with leaves, twigs, and other debris, rainwater can’t flow through properly to the downspout to be diverted away from the home. The water overflows the gutter, collects at the foundation of the home and over time, this leads to foundation cracks. Foundation cracks lead to basement leaks, mold issues, and other costly damage.

Depending on the number of trees on your property, gutters can need professional cleaning up to four times a year. A professional will safely and properly clear the gutter of all debris and alert you to any issues with the flow to the downspout. It’s also critical to make sure your downspouts direct the water away from the house. The drainage slope from the foundation should be at least six feet.

Window Cleaning

The holiday entertaining season will seem to arrive in the blink of an eye. Don’t get caught at the last minute with a home that’s not ready to receive guests. Schedule professional window cleaning now as part of your fall home clean-up. A professional team like the United Window Cleaning do the work for you. They’ll come out and thoroughly was all the home’s windows, removing heavy dirt and any debris with the right products and tools, no streaks or smudges. Even your window sills and frames are wiped dry for a perfect finish.

Chimney Inspection and Cleaning

If your home has a chimney it needs to be inspected and cleaned annual. In a single year, more than 22,000 residential fires are due to chimney issues (CSIA.org). The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends calling “CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps, since they are regularly tested on their understanding of the complexities of chimney and venting systems.”

Don’t put off having the chimney inspected and cleaned. It’ll give you peace of mind and as the days tick down to the holidays, it’s one less thing left on your to-do list.

Inspect Trees

Heavy fall winds and storms annually cause damage to homes throughout the Midwest, while winter ice storms can be even more dangerous. Before the weather turns, inspect the trees on your property. Look for limbs that may be near power lines, windows, or the roof. Dead branches or limbs that are too close to the power lines and your home should be removed/trimmed back for safety. Look to a professional for job like this, especially when power lines are involved.

Prepare Faucets and Hoses

This is one of those later tasks, but one to remember. All garden hoses need to be drained and disconnected from the home before cold weather hits. This is a good time to turn off the exterior faucets as well, once that water is no longer needed. Store the well-drained hoses in a dry place to prevent any freezing.

In the Cincinnati area, look to United Window Cleaning for both professional window and gutter cleaning. We’ll help you cross some of those pre-season chores off your list today.