The Weather Outside Isn’t Frightful – Yet!
October 31, 2013 by
Filed under Blog
It’s about this time of year that we’re well into preparing for little spooks, goblins and ghosties. While handing out all of that candy is dandy (unless you don’t like Tricks or Treats), we’re also well into the season for winterizing your home.
Now is the best time to give your home those last minute winter treats, so you’re not tricked during winter! Here are four tips for keeping that frightful winter weather outside and the ‘warm’ inside!
Tip No. 1: Heating System Tune-up
It’s time to call for a professional inspection of your furnace system. A well tuned furnace will not only save you money in energy costs, but is safer too. By calling a professional now to inspect your furnace, you won’t be at the end of a long line of other homeowners who also had this idea! This inspection protects you from more than just high energy bills and fires. Because homes are so well insulated and sealed, carbon monoxide is a danger if your furnace is not running properly. That’s the kind of trick you DON’T want. And speaking of carbon monoxide and smoke…
Tip No. 2: Check your alarms and detectors
Most of us think to check the battery on the smoke detector when Daylight Savings begins and ends. This is also a great time to test 
your carbon monoxide detector (or install one if you don’t have one). As mentioned earlier, it’s more important than ever for your safety to have the proper detectors installed and working. If you have other kinds of alarms, test those too. Better safe than sorry!
Tip No. 3: Reverse your ceiling fan blades
Did you know that those fan blades can keep you warm too? In summer fans draw the heat upward to keep you cool. By adjusting the blades from their summer position, your fan will push warm air downward. This simple adjustment is a surprisingly little known way to help you feel warm and toasty in the winter. Who knew?
Tip No. 3: Add extensions to downspouts
The last thing you want is a flood of water around your foundation during a big winter storm. Consider adding extensions to your downspouts to direct the water away from your home. This simple fix will help keep moisture out and also discourage the scariest spooks of all…termites.
Bonus Tip: Remember to pay attention to the rain.
Your sprinklers have served the garden well, all summer long, but now is the time to think about setting them for winter. UC Davis offers a nifty watering guide here.
In addition to our other suggestions and tips this month, conserving water in the winter is another way to keep your money from mysteriously disappearing.
Need help winterizing your home? Maybe your ceiling fan is so high you don’t feel comfortable adjusting those blades. Do downspout extensions seem like a good idea but too much work? We’re here to help!
Read on for our October “Winterize Your Home Special.”
?>What’s ‘Bugging’ You?
Now that it’s officially fall, this is a great time to prepare your home for winter. Last time we gave you some tips on keeping the four legged critters outside, but maybe something else is “bugging” you.
Bug proofing your home now, while the weather is still nice, will make the chore easier and prevent those 6 and 8 legged creepy crawlies from paying you a visit this winter. Here are five ways to get started.
1. Check outdoors.
Did you know that mosquitoes can breed in pretty much anything? Anything that will hold water for a few days is a likely candidate. Of course there are the obvious culprits, like empty fishponds, swimming pools, birdbaths, pots and buckets, but there are other locations that may surprise you. Places like:
• Plastic childrens’ toys
• Tarps used to cover wood, cars or other items you want to protect from the rain
• Gutters
• Old tires
• Holes in trees
• Leaking Spigots
• Pet water bowls
Make a thorough inspection of your yard to be sure that aren’t any “hidden” places for standing water and dump any that you find. Take steps to make sure that these items won’t capture water when it rains.
2. Seal and screen all windows and doors.
You wouldn’t leave your windows and doors open to burglars! It’s tempting when the weather is nice to open doors or windows to let in the fresh air, but without properly maintained screens, you’re asking for bug burgling trouble! Even the tiniest hole can let in mosquitoes, flies, gnats, moths etc! Repair or replace screens on doors and windows now to prevent tiny flying objects in your home.
And speaking of tiny objects, be sure to seal all doors and windows with caulk to prevent icky crawling things (like ants and roaches) from invading your home. An added bonus? This will also help with energy efficiency! Consider it a “two fer.”
3. And while you have that caulk gun out…
Seal around any pipe protrusions etc. When your cable, internet and phone wiring were installed, the installer probably sealed the wires as they came out of your walls for aesthetic reasons. But what about the outside? Even if this was done originally, chances are these seals are showing signs of weather aging. Inspect your homes exterior to be sure that anything going through a wall (on the roof) is properly sealed to keep the bugs out!
4. And if bugs do get inside – don’t give them an excuse to stay
An unkempt house offers 6 legged intruders lots of reasons to stay and way too many places to hide. Besides being unsightly, clutter is an open invitation for all kinds of things, from silver fish and earwigs to ants and roaches. Don’t make it an overwhelming task that never gets started. Spend a few minutes each day to de-clutter your home. Sort any items into three categories, “Put Away,” “Give Away,” and “Throw Away.” And then make sure they are distributed accordingly.
One mistake people tend to make is thinking that they need to have a giant garage sale to recover some of the money spent on things that are perfectly good and that they no longer need. Consider the amount of time you’ll have to spend sorting and pricing everything, not to mention the time you’ll spend manning the store. Our experience is, that it isn’t worth it. Why? Most people severely overestimate the worth of no longer needed items, and garage sale hunters are looking for cheap bargains.
Instead of worrying about all of that, consider that there are those in your community who would love to have these items – so why not gift it to them. By using services like Freecycle or donating to charity, you can feel good about getting rid of clutter and help others!
5. Finally – encourage natural predators.
Birds, bats, toads and frogs eat a tremendous number of insects. Encourage these creatures by providing things that attract and 
protect them. Birds will appreciate seeds and a water source. Adding a Bat house may not seem like a good idea, but remember that bats are only active at night and feed upon the seemingly endless supplies of mosquitoes and other night flying insects.
Toads and frogs may be attracted by adding a night time insect light. Think of it as a froggy buffet!
If you liked any of these ideas, but they seem like a lot of work, never fear. We’re here to help! Our September Varmint Special can be used for any of these projects as well.
