Autumn is here and winter is approaching. You’re nearly at the time of the year when you head inside and “hibernate” for the cooler months. The outdoor areas of your home tend to be neglected as a result, and they can look quite the worse for wear and cause a few headaches as well. Gutter clearing is just one of the things you should take care of, but because it involves climbing a ladder and working at height, it is a service best left to the professionals. But there are some things you can easily handle yourself.
One of them is to clear your external drains of fallen leaves, grass cuttings and other garden debris that might have built up over the warmer months. This will stop rainwater collecting where it shouldn’t and causing overflowing drains, which can be common during the wetter months. While you’re at it, you might want a plumber to check for potential blockages deep within the drains and pipes.
To keep your home warm and cosy, a spot of pre-winter draught-proofing wouldn’t go astray. It’s a relatively cheap and easy thing to do and can shave quite a few dollars off your winter power bill. Check around windows and doors for any gaps that might allow cold air in and warm air out, and also take a look around any pipework that leads outside. Self-adhesive foam tape is easy to fit around windows and door frames, while a plastic or metal strip with a brush or wiper is probably better at the bottom of doors. Big gaps around pipework that run through an outside wall should be filled with a silicone sealant or even an expanding polyurethane foam.
You’re much less likely to use your barbecue over the winter months, so give it a really good clean before covering it and then moving it to the shed for a few months. Uncleaned barbecues act as a food source and place of shelter for undesirable visitors like rodents and cockroaches, so it really makes sense to clean it up and hide it away. It’s also the perfect time to wash down garden furniture and spot clean stains on cushions and store them somewhere dry until spring.
Finally, as we’ve already mentioned, you should clear your roof gutters of leaves and twigs, and wash away soil and grime that has probably caked onto the guttering. Any obstructions, be they leaves or dirt, can cause blockages and leaks which can lead to water running down the exterior walls and even infiltrating your home. Meanwhile, a gutter that is full to overflowing with vegetation is another place of shelter, and a food source, for birds, rodents and insects. That’s why it’s important to contact us and get the gutter nice and clean before your winter hibernation begins!
