The end of summer is at an end and the chores associated with the end of the growing season are here. Storing your gardening tools, lawn mower, tractor, etc., for next year are important chores during this time of year. Cleaning the gutters of your home though is a very important chore you cannot neglect. Making sure the gutters are clean of debris and the water flow is not blocked can save you lots of headaches and money in the long run. To read more about this follow the links below.
How to Store Your Lawn Mower for the Cold Season
Gas-powered lawn mowers and trimmers take their share of abuse during the warm months, so some care at the end of the season—or at the start of spring—is vital to keeping their parts in good working condition. Replacing the oil, spark plugs, and air filters on mowers and applying a bit of elbow grease to grimy recesses, preferably before storing them for the winter, will ensure that they rev up with a pull of the cord next year.
Here, Audrey Meinking, owner of Mineola Bicycle, Fitness, and Mower in Mineola, New York, demonstrates the proper servicing on a push mower; the same process also works for other small gas-powered machines such as trimmers and snowblowers. “If you don’t take an hour or two for maintenance or bring your machines to a pro for servicing,” she says, “there’s a big chance you’ll be stuck watching the grass grow come spring.”
The importance of clean gutters
Keeping eavestroughs clean and clear can prevent a host of messy, and expensive, problems from cropping up.
Every autumn, trees and shrubs take on their brilliant display of reds, oranges, purples and yellows that mark the end of the growing season. Fall foliage may make for ideal photo backdrops and scenic days in the countryside, but closer to home leaves may be more of a hindrance than an aesthetic pleasure.
The hundreds of leaves that adorn the maples, oaks and other trees near homes will eventually fall as autumn turns into winter. Some will float down to lawns, while others will get lodged in gutters and downspouts, posing problems that can cause substantial and potentially costly problems for homeowners.
Homeowners know that gutter cleaning is an important part of fall home maintenance, but they may not completely understand why. Gutter cleaning can be a messy and time-consuming project, making it a project many homeowners are apt to put off.
Gross gutters mean hidden costs for homeowners
The problem with clogged gutters is more than just those annoying waterfalls that pour off the roof on rainy days, or the pretty icicles that hang around in the winter.
This excess water wreaks havoc on the integrity of your home’s structure. Thus, having your gutter cleaned of leaves and other debris will protect your home from water damage.
When neglected, experts say that gutters can turn from a necessity to a nightmare.
A gutter clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home. Contractors say that gunked-up gutters also make nice homes for pests, rodents and bugs.
