Once the heat and humidity of the summer has passed, and it’s safe to go outside again, it’s easy to focus more on all the events, festivals, and concerts along the Emerald Coast. The Gulf is almost too cold to swim in, so you have to have fun in other ways. In the middle of your fun, take at least a weekend to get your home ready for the colder temperatures.
Do it now and you’ll have less to worry about later, and you’ll be dry and warm once the weather temperatures arrive.
Check Your HVAC
After a summer of running your air conditioner almost non-stop, you need to have it serviced so that you know it’ll last through the winter. While our temperatures on the Emerald Coast aren’t cold compared to more northern climates, the temperature can definitely dip, and you want your heater to work. A service technician will check to make sure your HVAC unit is working properly, and they’ll fix small problems before they become big ones.
You should also change your filters at least every 90 days and up to once a month if you’re running your heater a lot. Once the filter gets dirty, you lose efficiency and heat. Seal up the cracks and crevices around your windows and doors and consider adding more insulation in your attic or crawlspace. This will keep your home sealed tight and your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard in winter (or in summer next year).
Check Your Roof and Gutters
While the weather is still mild, start looking up and checking out your roof for loose shingles, leaks, or any other problems. Make sure to check around your chimney if you have a fireplace, too. You’ll also want to clean your gutters since falling leaves have probably packed them full making them almost useless to you.
The last thing you want to do in the middle of December is deal with a leaky roof or a gutter that’s clogged and creating problems. Call in the professionals if the job is just too big or you notice major problems with your roof. It’s better to get it done right and pay a little more than to make it worse because you don’t have the right tools or expertise to fix it.
Take Care of Your Lawn
With fall temperatures here, you probably haven’t had to mow your lawn as often as you did during the summer. Watch the weather and make sure you get one more mow in before winter hits. Cut the grass a little shorter than usual to prevent any leaves from piling up on your lawn. Now is also a good time to mulch because it will protect the roots of your trees, plants, and shrubs when the temperatures drop.
You might get a break on mowing the lawn for a few months but the weather really gets cold, you’ll be raking more often. This is also a good time to put away lawn furniture, tools, or anything else that you pulled out for spring and summer. Your lawn will be neater and nothing will be exposed to the cold rain or freezing temperatures we’ll probably get.
Taking care of your home now will keep you from having to worry about fixing things once the weather really gets cold.
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