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Fall maintenance tips

October 29, 2020

There is no better motivation to winterize your home than late October flurries. And now that we got that out of the way, what should you focus on first?

These indoor and outdoor fall maintenance tips from Symphony Farms should help guide your efforts whether you are spending your first winter in Gardner or have lived here for a while.

Protect your pipes

When you are finished with your garden hoses, disconnect them from the spigot and put them away. This simple task can help to protect your pipes because water can collect in connected hoses and put extra pressure on your home’s plumbing system. Cracked or damaged pipes are some of the most costly repairs for homeowners.

This is also a good time to blow out your sprinkler system, drain outdoor faucets and turn the shut-off valve that leads outdoors. 

Show your lawn some love

Finding and applying a winter fertilizer can keep your lawn healthy even when it stops growing in the late fall. It is best to apply this winterizer after your final mowing when the grass is still green to help your lawn store food and grow back quickly in the spring. Look for an option with a 2:1 or 1:2 ratio of nitrogen to potassium. 

Sand your sidewalks

Even though it is a popular choice, skip the salt on your driveway and sidewalks because it causes an array of damage ranging from surface discoloration to corrosion of the rebar. Concrete is crafted to withstand a certain amount of freezing and thawing, but it is the presence of extra chemicals that accelerate aging. 

Instead, we suggest using sand because its abrasion will still help to provide traction and is effective at any temperature. Other options you may have around the house already are table salt (100 percent sodium chloride), pickle brine and sugar beet juice. 

You may also consider applying a salt guard to these surfaces to protect from treatments made by the city that you may carry in your tire treads.

Focus on fire safety

Daylight Savings Time provides a convenient schedule for changing the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year. This is especially important since Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are three of the leading days for home cooking fires. 

If you choose to purchase a live tree, make sure to keep it well-watered and keep heating elements away. Candles should be blown out when you leave the room. 

Breathe easy 

The Fall is also a great time to change the air filters in your furnace when you are finished with the smoke detectors. This can help to extend furnace life, reduce energy bills and improve indoor air quality by filtering out allergens that can exacerbate asthma and allergies. 

For more tips on optimizing your home for the holiday season, check out the Symphony Farms blog. Call (913) 884-6300 or contact us with questions about the Symphony Farms community.

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